Johnny Lingo works the live circuit like no other, and his loyal fanbase highly evident with a dominant tally in the Male Vox category. Lingo has been on the Rhody scene for years — he was a 2004 WBRU Rock Hunt winner with the Johnny Lingo Band. His recent solo disc Shake It Off (available on iTunes) jumps to life with mega-hooks — from the catchy riff on the opener “Step Outside” to the twinkling keys on “1 in 10” (featuring ZOX violinist Spencer Swain) to the Billy Joel-channeling “This Man,” Lingo proves to be more than just a piano-bar ham (albeit a role he relishes regularly at McFadden’s and Tazza Caffe). Lingo coasts with confidence throughout the uptempo, fun-loving Shake It Off, and voters could have been easily swayed when hearing the delicate and introspective closing track “Guess Again,” a sparse jaw-dropper that showcases Lingo’s vocal chops. The Johnny Lingo Band will begin work on a new EP in the fall.
Runners-up
2_Mark Cutler
3_Mike Gendron [Mike G. & Associates]
4_Alan Connell [Fairhaven]
