Always a good bellwether for who'll be the next big thing out of Boston, Thursday's Boston Music Awards heaped blessings on local darlings Godsmack as well as on indie outfit C60.

Last year's big winner, Godsmack (see [article id="1428146"]"Sheila Divine, Godsmack Sweep Boston Music Awards"[/article]), made a decent showing again this year by picking up four of the seven awards they were up for. Among their winnings for the night, Godsmack beat out LFO, Staind, Vertical Horizon, Jo Dee Messina and Powerman 5000 to win Act of the Year honors. The win marks the second year in a row Godsmack walked away with that award.

"Being the band's home, it's kind of special. So many people that are actually pretty successful [attend and are honored]. Carly Simon was there. Everyone knows Carly Simon," Godsmack drummer Tommy Stewart said on Friday (April 20). "Aerosmith, Rob Zombie and Staind, all those guys are a part of it as well."

The ceremony honors outstanding achievements in the Boston music scene, which can sometimes be awkward for hometown pals.

"We were up against our friends in Staind for a lot of them, so I thought we were gonna have to break out the boxing gloves and get into a ring or something," Stewart joked.

The night's Cinderella-story act was longtime Boston band C60. The band, known in the '90s as Cobalt 60, took away five of the six awards for which they were nominated, including Outstanding New Rock Band, Outstanding Song and Outstanding Club Band.

"We pulled five out of six, I was really kind of surprised," said Keith Smith, lead singer for C60. "I'm quite happy about it."

C60 took four of the five awards in the indie label category, beating out the likes of former Dinosaur, Jr. frontman J. Mascis and his new band the Fog for a Debut Album win.

While they're thrilled to have won such a prestigious award, C60 considers the tag of "new" a bit dubious.

"I look at it this way: it's like the band's born again. [But] it is kind of funny," Smith commented. "What I find more humorous is the people who go 'Wow, you guys just blew up overnight.' Thirteen years lucky, that's what I always say."

Billboard charters Vertical Horizon beat out Aerosmith ("Angel's Eye") and Mighty Mighty Bosstones ("So Sad to Say") for Single of the Year with their hit "Everything You Want."

American Hi-Fi, whose self-titled debut is currently at #81 on the Billboard 200, took the Rising Star Award (see [article id="1442146"]"American Hi-Fi: Flavor of the Week?"[/article]). Last year's BMAs Rising Star honors went to Powerman 5000, the band fronted by Rob Zombie's little brother, Spider.

Founded in 1987, the BMAs are part of the annual NEMO Music Showcase and Conference. Past shows have featured such musically prolific Bostonians as Aerosmith, James Taylor, Phish, Donna Summer and Pat Metheny.

The complete list of winners from the 14th Annual Boston Music Awards: