2006 Index of Winners

Laughter can cure almost anything — just ask the countless number of people whom BUBBA D’LICIOUS has helped over the years. Then, you’ll understand the power of a man in a dress. Since 1989, Jim Mark’s alter-ego has helped raise more than $3.5 million for HIV/AIDS resources. And for the last 10 years, Bubba has presided over bingo every second Thursday to raise money for PALS (Pets Are Loving Support). Even corporate America has fallen under the spell of Bubba’s over-the-top slapstick humor: Volkswagen uses his mug to sell cars, and Miller Lite’s created a Bubba bobblehead doll.
www.bubbadlicious.net.

The ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CHORUS should be counted as one of the city’s true major-league teams, alongside the Braves. With more than 100 CDs and 23 Grammys among its members, the 95-member orchestra and its allied 200-member volunteer chorus have long shaken the foundations of that old-fashioned assumption that anything truly worthwhile in American classical music must come from New York City. The Braves have Turner Field, and the Falcons have the Georgia Dome. Now, the question is whether the community will pony up the cash to build the symphony a new hall designed by Santiago Calatrava.
www.atlantasymphony.org.

Mix together a hypnotic five-key piano melody played like an arpeggio, and a growled, perfectly timed chorus. What do you get? YUNG JOC’s - IT’S GOIN’ DOWN, a brash club anthem that you heard seemingly everywhere. How did this snap music/crunk hybrid become a catchphrase among mallrats and dope boys alike? It’s all in Yung Joc’s pronunciation, as he says the title like a country-fried Fonzie: It’s goin’ dowwwwn.
www.yungjoc.com.

MySpace is the 21st-century equivalent of a Trapper Keeper binder — it’s covered in unicorns, dragons, notes from friends, and rock ‘n’ roll fantasies. Except now you don’t just scratch “MASTODON Rulez!” in red ink, you can also link to the band’s profile, make a logo background or embed a song. Fittingly, heavy music fans have embraced MySpace, and CL deems the logo worthiest of being scrawled in the biggest block letters to be our own local metal leviathans. Over the summer months, Mastodon’s profile became a compulsory click for previews of Blood Mountain, the epic album from arguably Atlanta’s sickest act. The page also features links to behind-the-scenes videos, old photos and more. Though seemingly incessant road warriors, Mastodon always maintains a home on the Net.
www.myspace.com/mastodon.

Local DJ, promoter and band manager Preston Craig launched KISSATLANTA.COM in March 2005, according to its first post, “so that people might gain a better understanding as to what the driving force is behind the music and venues in Atlanta.” In just over a year, it’s made impressive strides toward that goal, from chatting up new cultural obsessions to disseminating information on hot new local bands. The blog now features several local writers alongside Craig’s acerbic yet enthusiastic prose, all dedicated to chronicling Atlanta’s indie-rock scene.
www.kissatlanta.com.

Local drag celebrity NICOLE PAIGE BROOKS is like one big “Mindfreak” episode storming through town, taking the art of illusion to a level that Criss Angel can’t even touch. Just ask the countless number of straight men and lesbians how they felt after finding out the hottie they were hitting on was actually a dude. Even the RGs (real girls) envy Nicole’s killer legs. Beyond being a hot piece of ass, Nicole works with YouthPride, an organization that creates a safe haven for young homosexuals. And speaking of homosexuals, this year Ms. Brooks also graced the cover of David magazine. She’s also become an in-demand host for all the best gay events across the country.
www.nicolepaigebrooks.com.