Features

Train takes honors at California Music Awards

By Ron Harris, The Associated Press
Monday April 29, 2002

San Francisco group wins Best Album, Outstanding Songwriter; No Doubt’s Stefani named Outstanding Female Vocalist 

 

OAKLAND – Train, the Grammy award-winning San Francisco rock band, took home several top honors Saturday at the California Music Awards, including best album for the acclaimed “Drops of Jupiter.” 

Train’s lead singer, Pat Monahan, also won the award for outstanding male vocalist and the group took home the outstanding songwriter award. 

No Doubt’s energetic frontwoman, Gwen Stefani, won for outstanding female vocalist. 

The award for outstanding group went to the award show’s perennial favorites from San Jose, Smash Mouth. East Bay punkers Green Day, which made its mark in Oakland’s warehouse district, won for artist of the year. 

Even Vallejo took home an award as Papa Roach’s Tobin Esperance won for outstanding bassist. 

“I definitely wasn’t expecting this, but I guess I should thank my band for letting me do what I want to do,” Esperance said. 

Other winners included Los Mocosos in the Latin album category for “Shades of Brown” and Paula West in the jazz album category for her release “Come What May.” 

Los Mocosos, hailing from San Francisco’s Mission District where Santana got its start, wowed the crowd with their brand of Latin jazz. 

Southern California’s Alien Ant Farm won best hard rock/heavy metal album and best debut album. 

“I can’t believe we beat Tool,” said band member Terry Corso. “What up with that?” 

One curious multiple winner at Saturday night’s event was the group Gorillaz, a winner in the outstanding single and hip-hop rap album categories. 

The members of Gorillaz don’t actually appear before the audience on stage at their concerts. Instead, the band plays behind a large backdrop while their alter ego personalities are projected as cartoon characters on large screens. 

The Spirit of Rock award went to Southern California’s No Doubt. Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown won the Public Service Award.