Stomp Y’all’s Feet for the Wilders!

Someone’s Got to Pay, last year’s release from Betse, Nate, Phil and Ike has been named Best Alt-Country Album in the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards.

These awards are sponsored by the Musician’s Atlas, the Coalition of Independent Music Stores and Purevolume.com and, according to the Web site, are voted on by such industry giants as George Jones, Roger Daltrey and Peter Gabriel.

Other notable 2008 winners include: Jeff Healey, Mess of Blues, for Blues Album, Jamie Lidell, Jim, for Pop/Rock Album and Martin Sexton, Solo, for Live Performance Album.

 The last time I saw the Wilders and heard Betse bust the sweet fiddle jams, I definitely wasn’t thinking I was listening to “alt-country.” More “Americana” perhaps? But alas, that category was snapped up by Tony Trischka with his album, Territory.

But what do I know? I wasn’t asked to judge the competition, but this guy was:

Christopher “Play” Martin, the “Play” half of late ’80s hip-hop group, Kid n’ Play.

…and he ain’t no foo’.