Everyone knows the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and all the record-industry awards shows are bullshit. I always thought that kind of recognition also belonged to lesser-known bands, minus the record industry influence. I was unwilling to do just another, “Top Whatever of 20xx,” show, though, so, I thought- Why not do my own awards show? It couldn’t be any worse than the Grammys, right?
The awards would be given to mostly underground bands much more deserving of your attention than the typical fodder being force-fed to those unfortunate souls still listening to terrestrial radio (really?). So, throughout 2013, I kept records of nearly every release that came across my radar, in preparation for the first Manifesto Awards show of 2013 releases. It would take place in January of 2014.
The goal of the Manifesto Awards was to help bring about even more attention to great bands that deserve it. It was another way to showcase these great talents out there pouring their heart and soul into these albums and songs that become the soundtrack to our lives.
The first year, there was not a lot of thought put into it. There was no digital representation of an award developed for it. It was just a glorified, “top whatever,” list, after all, and I wasn’t sure if I’d be doing it again.
I had a much smaller audience back then, but the first Manifesto Awards show received enough positive feedback for me to want to do it again the following year, and the show grew every year since then.
By 2021 the Awards became extremely time-consuming with all of the social media engagement, and I knew I couldn’t possibly match that same energy for 2022, so I decided to take them back to their roots and do fewer awards.
After much consideration, I decided to bring the Manifesto Awards to an end in 2023. A decade seemed like a good time to put them to rest and do something new.
Below is a list of all the Manifesto Awards recipients, by year.
2014 – The 1st Annual Manifesto Awards™
Best Colored Vinyl- Beltones- On Deaf Ears Splatter Vinyl
Best Reissue- Oxymoron- Fuck the Nineties, Here’s Our Noize
Best Rock & Roll Single- Torpedohead- Shanghide
Best Punk EP- Dwarves- Trailer Trash
Best Power Pop/Pop Punk EP- Ex-Gentlemen- Better Late Than Never
Best Roots/Americana EP- Black Eyed Vermillion- Box of Pine
Best Rock N Roll Album- Hits- Hikikomori
Best Punk Album- Miscalculations- Miscalculations
Best Hardcore Album- OFF! Wasted Years
Best Power Pop/Pop Punk Album- The Muffs- Whoop-De-Doo
Best Rockabilly/Psychobilly Album- Memphis Morticians- Bereave it or Not
Best Country Album- Old 97’s- Most Messed Up
Best Comeback Album- The Meatmen- Savage Sagas
Best New Artist- Miscalculations
Album of the Year- Hits- Hikikomori
Lifetime Achievement- Sonny Vincent
2015 – The 2nd Annual Manifesto Awards™
Beer of the Year- Otter Creek Overgrown Pale Ale
Best Slab O’wax- Filthy Thieving Bastards- Our Fathers Sent Us (Orange Creamsicle vinyl)
Best Country Song- Beaumonts- Change My Name
Best Metal Song- Venom- The Death of Rock N Roll
Best Pop Punk Song- Teenage Bottlerocket- Dead Saturday
Best Rock N Roll Song- Biters- 1975
Best Punk Rock Song- Disco Lepers- God Bless Mark David Chapman
Best Comeback Album- the Sonics- This is the Sonics
Best Live Album- Off!- Live at the BBC
Best Reissue- Legendary Shack Shakers- Cockadoodledon’t
Lifetime Achievement- Keith Morris
Best Country Album- Palominos- Sweet Misery
Best Hard Rock/Metal Album- Danko Jones- Fire Music
Best Pop Punk Album- The Fuck Off & Dies- Dear Liver
Best Psychobilly Album- Gutter Demons- Unfinished Business
Best Rock N Roll Album- Biters- Electric Blood
Best Punk Rock Album- Miscalculations- A View for Glass Eyes
Best New Artist- the Beggar Belief
Single of the Year- Born Loose- I Loathe You
Album of the Year- Dr. Boogie- Gotta Get Back to NYC
Ass Kicker of the Year- Sangomas- Giddy Up and Destroy
2016 – The 3rd Annual Manifesto Awards™
Beer of the Year- Avery- Raja Double IPA
Best Roots/Blues/Folk Song- Preacher Boy- Blister and a Bottle Cap
Best Country Song- Wayne Hancock- Divorced Me C.O.D.
Best Metal Song- Airbourne- Breakin’ Outta Hell
Best Rock N Roll Song- the Jolts- Microwave Kids
Best Punk Song- Gaggers- Don’t Follow Me
Best Power Pop EP- Fashionism- Subculture Suicide
Best Hardcore EP- G.L.O.S.S.- Trans Day of Revenge
Best Streetpunk EP- Legion 76- Brick and Bone
Best Rock N Roll EP- Lovesores- Rock N Roll Animal
Best Punk EP- SA90- Johnny on the Phone
Best Comeback Album- Preacher Boy- The National Blues
Best Roots/Blues/Folk Album- Urban Voodoo Machine- Hellbound Hymns
Best Power Pop Album- Telephone Lovers- Telephone Lovers
Best Ska-Punk Album- Interrupters- Say it Out Loud
Best Hard Rock/Metal Album- Torpedohead- III
Best Hardcore Album- Bum City Saints- Bum City Saints
Best Streetpunk Album- Hard Evidence- Hard Evidence
Best Rock N Roll Album- Fret Rattles- Pedal to the Metal and Damn the Consequences
Best Punk Album- Disco Lepers- Sophisticated Shame
Best Rock N Roll Anthem- the Me-Thinks- Rock Deaf
Best Punk Anthem- 390- I Hate the Government
Lifetime Achievement- Batmobile
Best New Artist- Telephone Lovers
Single of the Year- Jim Jones & the Righteous Mind- Aldecide
Album of the Year- The Jolts- No Paradoxes
Ass Kicker of the Year- SA90- Johnny on the Phone
2017 – The 4th Annual Manifesto Awards™
Best Country Song- Sarah Shook & the Disarmers- Nothin’ Feels Right But Doin’ Wrong
Best Hardcore Song-Bum City Saints- One More Song
Best Rock N Roll Song- JJ & the Real Jerks- Out of My Means
Best Punk Song- Black Mambas- Saturday Night Fist Fight
Best Garage Single- the Judex- Cult of Judex
Best Power Pop Single- Sick Things- Sick Things
Best Rock N Roll Single- Dr. Boogie- She’s So Tuff
Best Punk Single- Zex- No Sanctuary
Best Split Single- Bum City Saints/Topnovil split
Best Streetpunk EP- Legion 76- Banners Fall
Best Punk EP- J.O.N.- Bringing Back the Dough
Best Comeback Album- Cock Sparrer- Forever
Best Live Album- Henri Herbert & the Fury- Live at the Gypsy Hotel
Best Reissue- Ramones- Rocket to Russia 40th Anniversary
Best Country Album- Sarah Shook & the Disarmers- Sidelong
Best Power Pop Album- Bulletproof Lovers- Shot Through the Heart
Best Glam/Pub Rock Album- Crazy Squeeze- Savior of the Streets
Best Hard Rock/Metal Album- Bitch Queens- L.O.V.E.
Best Psychobilly Album- Batmobile- Brand New Blisters
Best Hardcore Album- Phosphorus Bombs- Cancers
Best Streetpunk Album- Cock Sparrer- Forever
Best Rock N Roll Album- Wyldlife- Out on Your Block
Best Punk Album- John Chopper Harris- Punx & Drunx
Lifetime Achievement- Joey Shithead Keithley
Best New Artist- The Judex
Anthem of the Year- The BC Experiment- FOADUC
Single of the Year- Sick Things- Sick Things
Listener’s Choice Award- Sarah Shook & the Disarmers- Sidelong
Album of the Year- Sarah Shook & the Disarmers- Sidelong
Ass Kicker of the Year- J.O.N.- Bringing Back the Dough
2018 – The 5th Annual Manifesto Awards™
Best Country Song- Stevie Tombstone- At Least I’m Genuine
Best Hardcore Song- Total Massacre- This Dumpster is a Country
Best Rock N Roll Song- The Ringleaders- One Bullet, One Hipster
Best Punk Song- Beggar Belief- Burn it All Down
Best Country Single- Sarah Shook & the Disarmers- The Way She Looked at You
Best Power Pop Single- Telephone Lovers- Two Dollar Baby
Best Streetpunk Single- NOi!SE- Mass Apathy
Best Rock N Roll Single- Tiger Touch- El Gato
Best Punk Single- Ravagers- Drowning in Blood
Best Pop Punk EP- the Suck- the Suck
Best Hardcore EP- Phosphorus Bombs- Blank Slate
Best Punk EP- Criminal Kids- Criminal Kids
Best Collection- Dirty Truckers- Best Of
Best Comeback Album- the Waldos- Wacka Lacka Boom Bop a Loom Bam Boo
Best Country Album- Sarah Shook & the Disarmers- Years
Best Roots/Blues Album- Preacher Boy- The Rumble Strip
Best Garage Album- the Morlocks- the Mesmeric Condition
Best Pop Punk Album- Jagger Holly- Last of the International Playboys
Best Power Pop Album- the Peawees- Moving Target
Best Hard Rock/Metal Album- Hank Von Hell- Egomania
Best Hardcore Album- Total Massacre- Total Massacre
Best Psychobilly Album- Gutter Demons- No God No Ghost No Saints
Best Streetpunk Album- Sniper 66- Annihilator
Best Rock N Roll Album- Lovesores- Gods of Ancient Grease
Best Punk Album- The Wheelz- Top 10 Super Hits
Lifetime Achievement- Scott “Deluxe” Drake
Best New Artist- the Suck
Anthem of the Year- the Filaments- Fuck the Alt-Right
Single of the Year- Amyl & the Sniffers- Some Mutts Can’t Be Muzzled
EP of the Year- Tommy & the Commies- Tommy & the Commies
Listener’s Choice Award- Sick Things- Sick Things
Album of the Year- Sick Things- Sick Things
Ass Kicker of the Year- The Wheelz AND Total Massacre
2019 – The 6th Annual Manifesto Awards™
Best Country Song- Stevie Tombstone- The Ghost of Our Love
Best Power Pop Song- Mystery Girl- Heartbreaker
Best Rock N Roll Song- Poison Boys- Out of My Head
Best Punk Song- Amyl & the Sniffers- GFY
Best Hardcore Song- Total Massacre- Presidential Harassment
Best Glam/Pub Rock Single- Mad Rollers- I Need Your Love
Best Punk Single- the Unknowns- Dressed to Kill
Best Rock N Roll Single- Tiger Touch- Hawthorne Boogie
Best Garage EP- Forsooth!- Dimension Flex
Best Rock N Roll EP- Killer Hearts- Killer Hearts
Best Street Punk EP- Priorities- Priorities
Best Punk EP- C.O.F.F.I.N.- Be Gone
Best Hard Rock/Metal EP- Charger- Charger
Best Live Album- Beaumonts- This is Austin
Best Comeback Album- The Manikins- Hard Times
Best Roots/Folk Album- Bridge City Sinners- Here’s to the Devil
Best Garage Album- Cutthroat Brothers- Taste for Evil
Best Pop Punk Album- the Suck- In-Cog-Neat-O
Best Streetpunk Album- Hard Evidence- Last Gasp
Best Glam Rock Album- Indonesian Junk- Spiderbites
Best Power Pop Album- Jordan Jones- Jordan Jones
Best Rock N Roll Album- Bitch Queens- City of Class
Best Punk Album- Berlin Blackouts- Nastygram Sedition
Best Hardcore Album- Total Massacre- the System Works
Best New Artist- Sick Bags
Song of the Year- Miscalculations- Monochrome Sunset
Single of the Year- Mad Rollers- I Need Your Love
EP of the Year- SA90- Overkill
Listener’s Choice Award- Amyl & the Sniffers- Amyl & the Sniffers
Album of the Year- Total Massacre- the System Works
Ass Kicker of the Year- Manikins- Bad Times
2020 – The 7th Annual Manifesto Awards™
Best Power Pop Song- Reflectors- Baby It’s You
Best Garage Song- Killer Kin- Bad, Bad Mind
Best Pop Punk Song- Real Sickies- Washed My Hands
Best Rock N Roll Song- Killer Hearts- Get Some
Best Punk Song- Gross Polluter- Just Here for the Violence
Best Glam Rock Single- Smash Fashion- Got Da Hee Bee Gee Bees (at CBGBs)
Best Power Pop EP- Brad Marino- False Alarm
Best Punk EP- Sick Bags- Only the Young Die Good
Best Split EP- Rock N Roll Manifesto 7″ Single Series Vol. 1
Best Split Album- Thee Evil Twin/Missile Studs- 10 Piece Feed
Best Roots/Blues Album- The Westside Sheiks- Eleven Rounds
Best Garage Album- Low Rats- Year of the Rat MMXX
Best Glam Rock Album- Nice Guys- Time to Be Nice
Best Pop Punk Album- Proton Packs- Paradox
Best Streetpunk Album- Oil!- Really Skrewed Up
Best Hardcore Album- Ramallah- the Last Gasp of Street Rock N Roll
Best Rock N Roll Album- Deathtraps- Stole Your Rock N Roll
Best Punk Album- Stolen Wheelchairs- the America
Best New Artist- Brand New Luddites and Vicious Dreams
Song of the Year- Preacher Boy- The Damned (So Many More of Us Than Them)
Listener’s Choice Single of the Year- The Judex- Midnight Bruiser
Single of the Year- the Judex- Witch Coven Boogie
Listener’s Choice EP of the Year- Rock N Roll Manifesto 7″ Single Series Vol. 1
EP of the Year- The Judex- Long Live the Judex
Listener’s Choice Album of the Year- Stolen Wheelchairs- the America
Album of the Year- Miscalculations- Perfect Candidate
Ass Kicker of the Year- Sangomas- Nowhere Ain’t Too Far From Here
2021 – The 8th Annual Manifesto Awards™
Best Garage Song- Killer Kin – Sonic Love
Best Power Pop Song- Some Hearts – Black Cherry Soda
Best Pop Punk Song- The Suck – No Bingo! All Nerds!
Best Synth Punk Song- Atomic Eater – Hope You Die Too
Best Rock N Roll Song- Indonesian Junk – Living in the USA
Best Punk Song- The Muslims- Fuck These Fucking Fascists
Best Garage Single- Killer Kin- Sonic Love
Best Hardcore Single- Total Massacre – Punching Up
Best Power Pop Single- Erratix – You Don’t Care
Best Split EP- Kool & the Gang Bangers/Atomic Eater
Best Roots/Blues EP- Preacher Boy – Six From Three EP
Best Power Pop EP Some Hearts – Some Hearts EP
Best Rock N Roll EP- Suzi Moon- Call the Shots EP
Best Punk EP- The Prostitutes – Shapeshift EP
Best Streetpunk EP- Oi!L Change – Voices of the Past EP
Best Hardcore EP- Chain Whip – Two Step to Hell EP
Best Instrumental Album- the Hamiltones – Dracula Invitational 1791
Best Reissue- 7 Seconds – The Crew
Best Live Album- Hits – Live in a Fucking Blizzard
Best Roots/Blues Album- Sturgill Simpson – Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 2
Best Garage Album- Cutthroat Brothers and Mike Watt- Devil in Berlin
Best Psychobilly Album- Gutter Demons- Ritual
Best Power Pop Album- Mystery Girl – Mystery Girl
Best Pop Punk Album- The Suck- Boris Sprinkler
Best Glam Rock Album- Indonesian Junk- Living in a Nightmare
Best Rock N Roll Album- Killer Hearts – Skintight Electric
Best Punk Album- Jimmy Vapid – Killmatic
Best Streetpunk Album – Lawmaker – All Work, No Class
Best Hardcore Album- X-Intruder – Punished for the Crime of Lacking in Judgement
Best New Artist- Some Hearts
Song of the Year- Some Hearts- Black Cherry Soda
Listener’s Choice Single of the Year – RMBLR – Main Muscle
Single of the Year – Total Massacre – Two Things
Listener’s Choice EP of the Year – Suzi Moon- Call the Shots EP
EP of the Year – The Prostitutes – Shapeshift EP
Listener’s Choice Album of the Year – Amyl & the Sniffers – Comfort to Me
Album of the Year- Sonny Vincent- Snake Pit Therapy
Ass Kicker of the Year – Killer Hearts – Skintight Electric
2022 – The 9th Annual Manifesto Awards™
Best Garage Single – Killer Kin- Kill For the Kin
Best Rock N Roll Single – Killer Hearts- Demolition Love
Best Punk Single – Cyanide Pills – The Kids Can’t Be Trusted With Rock N Roll
Rock N Roll EP – Fret Rattles – Are You Ready?
Best Punk EP – Thee Saturday Knights – Already Dead
Best Country Album – The Beaumonts – Take Three For Fun
Best Roots/Blues Album – The Urban Voodoo Machine – Snake Oil Engine
Best Garage Album – Reverend Beat-Man and the Underground – It’s a Matter of Time
Best Rock N Roll Album – Jonesy – 2
Best Punk Album – The Black Halos – How the Darkness Doubled
Best New Artist – The Trouble Seekers
Song of the Year – Killer Hearts – High Temptress
Single of the Year – Vicious Blonde – Ignore Everybody
EP of the Year – The Me-Thinks – 2112″
Album of the Year – The Trouble Seekers – The Trouble Seekers
Listener’s Choice Album of the Year – Kevin Stevenson – Reality Alley
Ass Kicker of the Year – Rear View Romantics
2023 – The 10th Annual Manifesto Awards™
Best Country Song – Stevie Tombstone – Mercy
Best Punk Song – Dwarves – Stabbed My Dad
Best Punk EP – Crime Line -Street Rips
Best Garage Album Killer Kin – Killer Kin
Best Power Pop Album – Paint Fumes – Real Romancer
Best Metal Album – Demonstöne – Demonstöne
Best Punk Album – the Oxys – Generation Irrelevant
Song of the Year – Rearview Romantics – Drives Me Wild
Single of the Year – Vicious Blonde – Big C
Best New Artist – Street Sweeper
EP of the Year – Street Sweeper – Street Sweeper EP
Listener’s Choice Album of the Year -C.O.F.F.I.N. – Australia Stops
Album of the Year – Manikins – Swedish Woods
