The Kensington set migrated south Saturday night, stomping their boots all over the posh carpets of the Royal York Hotel for the 8th annual Indies (more formally known as the Independent Music Awards), honouring the best in Canadian and International independent music as chosen by the fans themselves. It's fitting, then, that those same fans — given the opportunity to attend (a rarity when it comes to award shows) — came out in droves, transforming the swank Royal York from black tie to second-hand flannel and skinny jeans.
Kicking off the show, Montreal's Young Galaxy roused the crowd with a short set of two songs from their self-titled debut, including album opener "Swing Your Heartache." With dramatic lights and fancy screens aplenty, the performance stage seemed more Grammy than indie. Over on the podium stage, the evening's host Jeff Leake of The Verge on XM Radio (one of the night's many sponsors) opened the awards by introducing Joe Rockman, friend and colleague of famed Canadian musician Jeff Healey. Rockman dedicated the night to the recently deceased Healey with a tear-filled salute, joking that if Healey were alive and with him tonight, he would surely greet the audience with "It's nice to see you."
After the night's first award for favourite rock artist or
group went to Neverending White Lights, the critic-voted rising
stars award was presented to an enthusiastic Jenn Grant for
her
Orchestra For The Moon.
"I'm surprised," Grant told
SoundProof backstage
before running off for her show at the Rivoli. "There were
so many nominees in this category and they were all great.
I'm thrilled."
Favourite jazz (Sophie Milman), blues (Little Miss Higgins),
world (Alex Cuba) and children's artists were not afforded
the honour of being presented onstage, but that did not stop
children's artist nominees Sandie Thomson and Suzanne Nicks
of the Smudge Fundaes from squealing in excitement at their
Indies win, sharing the moment with anyone within earshot.
Following a performance by Attack in Black and the awards for favourite urban (Classified), metal (3 Inches of Blood), punk/hardcore (Silverstein), electronica (Holy Fuck), and, yes, website (Major Maker), local heroes The Cliks gave a quick yet high-energy set, themselves dedicating a number to Healey.
The young crowd seemed uninterested in awards for favourite classical (Jasper Woods), folk/roots (Corb Lund), country (Aaron Lines) and francophone artists (Tricot Machine), showing mild interested in favourite pop artist Suzie McNeil, who thanked Canada for her award, laughing backstage about how "no one got my joke." Favourite single of the year went to State of Shock for "Money Honey."
The crowd, seemingly growing younger by the minute, was surely left out in the dark when it came time for an induction into the Indies Hall of Fame. Following a short presentation highlighting the band's career, the members of Lowest of the Low hit the stage for a set that included "a song we both hate and love at the same time," proclaimed frontman Ron Hawkins. "It made us famous but it made us bitter," Hawkins concluded, prompting the band to break into "Rosy and Grey." It was only then that you could see a slight recognition in the eyes of the young audience members.
"It's interesting to be inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame," the 43-year-old Hawkins told
SoundProof backstage, noting how he feels challenged by the same industry that is honouring him tonight. "The Canadian industry is really myopic. They've supported us, but when we want to go further, such as with our solo careers, we get boxed in with Lowest of the Low. We haven't had the chance to grow … it's an honour and an epitaph. It feels great, but it feels like it's over. And it's far from over."
All but one of the remaining awards of the evening were handed out following the Hall of Fame induction, with favourite group going to The New Pornographers.
"Those are the speeches that really make me tear up," joked host Leake, after the band accepted their award without a word of thanks. International winners included Silversun Pickups for artist or group. Radiohead's
In Rainbows took home favourite international album, and who else but Feist herself picked up top honours for both favourite album and solo artist of the year, the latter being an award she took home last year as well.
The Besnard Lakes capped off the awards portion of the evening with a set much darker than all of the straightforward rock before it. Despite a lack of liveliness on stage, the band gave a haunting and energetic performance that ended with the announcement of video of the year, Alexisonfire's "Rough Hands."
Closing out the event with the night's first full set, Tokyo Police Club emerged to rapturous applause from a crowd now pushing its way closer to the stage. It was then very clear who most of these kids were here to see. Previewing a number of tracks from their upcoming full-length debut
Elephant Shell, the band from suburban Newmarket (a hometown they share with yours truly) seemed to breeze their way through the evening, looking very much the indie rock stars they have so quickly become. The irony of such a young band introducing their next song as "an old one" seemed lost on the audience, all of whom the boys of Tokyo Police Club seemed to have in the palm of their busy hands.
"We are glad to support Canadian music and really excited to do a whole set," bassist/vocalist David Monks told Soundproof before taking the stage. "It's recognition within a community. You can see yourself as a peer with so many other great artists and it's great to see everyone together."
By the time headliners The New Pornographers set up shop, much of the crowd had left. The older audiences had faithfully made it through the night and moved in for the kill, taking over the trenches that had belonged to the kids for so much of the evening. The band, sans Neko Case, ploughed through anthem after anthem, joking about how they couldn't beat their own song in level 58 of the videogame Rock Band. Closing the night with "a song we learned in France," said frontman A.C. Newman, "because they told us they wanted to hear a classic rock song," the band broke into Electric Light Orchestra's "Don't Bring Me Down."
With long breaks between performances and presentations; a peculiar venue choice selling $7.55 domestic beers (bottled) to independent bands with empty pockets; and presenters as diverse as Magneta Lane, Tenacious D's Kyle Gass and an ever-smiling Miss Canada complete with crown and sash, the official close to Canadian Music Week was difficult to pin down. But despite all that, a crop of memorable performances from noteworthy acts and a handful of truly deserving award winners produced a classy smoke-and-mirrors effect that made the nearly five hour long marathon a success.
"The performers and guests have been spectacular," said Canadian Music Week organizer Bessie Bullard, reflecting on both the Indies and CMW in its entirety. "We've had an amazing turnout for the festival shows, amazing turn out for delegates and an amazing turn out at the Indies."
This is the first time CMW has closed with the Indies, a decision that Bullard says reflects the strength of Canadian music.
"The independent scene is so huge right now," said Bullard, "there are so many big names attached to it. We thought ending with the Indies would be the perfect closure … one big finale."
Canadian Music Week 2009 will take place March 11 to 14 in Toronto.
- by Bill
Alexander -
