Local Band Shryne Wins Album of the Year

Club Hell in Providence was the scene last Saturday night when rock music lovers and fans of Shryne were on hand to find out who would win Limelight Magazine’s 2010 music awards. Limelight Magazine provides coverage of the New England music and entertainment scene.

And the award for Album of the Year went to Shryne. The band's CD Here and Now, released on Feb. 27, 2010, features the nominated (and runner up) song When The Lights Go Down, along with 10 other tunes including Discord, Thrill of a Ride, and the title track.

Shryne is comprised of three East Providence members Jon Brennan (lead singer), Alex Tirrell (vocals and keyboard), and Jeff Cruz (drummer), along with bassist Andrew Sharp of West Haven, CT and guitarist Anthony Mattera of North Providence.  The group had been on hiatus for the past six months, but has played together for about four years.

Shryne has won multiple awards, including a win for Band of the Year in Limelight’s 2009 awards along with Best Male Vocalist for lead singer Jon Brennan in that same year. Previously, they won Best Live Act in 2008. Last year the band made an appearance on Fox Providence’s The Rhode Show, performing a song from their new  CD.  They also won the 2010 Motif Magazine's Band of the Year.

For Saturday night’s show, Shryne performed three songs: Discord, Kansas’s Carry On, Wayward Son, and When the Lights Go Down. The event also featured performances by Andrea Belanger, Keturah, Craig DeMelo, Kim Lamothe Tree-oh, Jessica Prouty Band, Structure Falls and York.

On winning Album of the Year, keyboardist Alex Tirrell said, “It was a great honor and it’s nice to be recognized for the hard work we put into that album.”

Reporter Kathy Tirrell has had the honor of getting to know most of the members of Shryne and is the mother of Alex Tirrell.