Best Male Solo Artist

Matt Mays

El Torpedo, alright. Since Mays’s much-bandied-about divorce from bandmates The Guthries, he’s taken off—pardon the Shakin’ Stevens rip-off—like the first stage of a Cape Canaveral rocket. Backed by the four rockers who make up El Torpedo—Jarrett Murphy, Andy Patil, Brad Conrad and Tim Baker—not to mention prestigious taggers-along like Mike O’Neill and Blue Rodeoer Bob Egan, Mays has a “solo” record under his belt that’s vying for the top-10 lists of more than a handful of music critics, locally and beyond. Mays comes by his talent legit. And he comes by your votes the same way.

Runner-up: Buck 65