On Sunday, March 20th, the Ninth Annual High Times Doobie Awards were co-hosted at Emo’s by Bobby Black and Rob Cantrell. The indoor/outdoor nature of the venue and the cooperating sunny weather conspired to create a wonderful vibe that flowed throughout the event. As joint after joint made the rounds, all I could see were smiling faces and happy attendees and vendors. The free beer ran out pretty fast, but performances by Smoker’s Club (featuring Curren$y and Smoke DZA), Blower, Honky, Valient Thorr, Suplecs, the Contrabandits, Chief Greenbud and Jet Baker kept the crowd thoroughly entertained. Other attendees included Austin City Council candidate Kris Bailey, Willie Nelson’s Teapot Party, Asher Roth, Babu and Rakaa, Kim Manning (of P-Funk), and comedians Brody Stevens, Chelsea Peretti and, of course, Doug Benson, who treated the crowd to a few minutes of stand-up before presenting the first award.
Trophies were given in 11 categories (check out the winners list below), including the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award, which was posthumously awarded to the late, great “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, founding guitarist of Pantera and Damageplan, who was tragically shot dead onstage by a deranged gunman in 2004. Bobby put together a touching tribute to the fallen guitar hero, presenting his widow, Rita Haney, and former Pantera bandmate Rex Brown with a smokeable trophy bong (crafted by Austin’s own Jay Massey) shaped and colored to evoke Dimebag’s beloved Dean Dixie Rebel guitar.
“I know Dime would be moved beyond belief to be getting this award,” Rex said.
After accepting the trophy, Rita surprised Bobby by asking him to take the first hit from Dime’s award. The emotional ceremony took place shortly after they left the stage and was followed by hugs and words of gratitude from all involved.
DOOBIE AWARD WINNERS – 2011
POT SONG OF THE YEAR
“MARIJUANA” — KID CUDI
BEST HIP-HOP ARTIST
CURREN$Y
BEST REGGAE ARTIST
DAMIAN MARLEY & NAS
BEST ALTERNATIVE ARTIST
THIEVERY CORPORATION
BEST ROCK ARTIST
TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS
BEST JAM BAND ARTIST
LITTLE FEAT
BEST METAL ARTIST
PANTERA
BEST STONER ROCK ARTIST
SUPLECS
BEST LOCAL BAND
HONKY
BEST NEW / UNDERGROUND ARTIST
THE CONTRABANDITS
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
“DIMEBAG” DARRELL ABBOTT
