There was a lot to talk about at this year's Polaris Music Prize: Grimes's pole dancer Gary, Alexei Perry's tearful speech, Damian Abraham's baby kiss and Feist's big win.
CBC Music's Vish Khanna was at the gala, and he provides a complete recap of the event, including quotes from Kathleen Edwards's stirring speech about the importance of the Polaris Music Prize, and Feist's reaction to her Polaris Music Prize win.
Grant Lawrence came out and introduced his new co-host, MuchMusic's Lauren Toyota, who replaced last year's co-host, F--ked Up's Damian Abraham. Lawrence then paid tribute to Sam "the Record Man" Sniderman, the record store founder who passed away over the weekend at the age of 92. He and Toyota then listed the top 10 shortlisters, who each received roars of applause.
National Post contributor Jonathan Dekel was brought out to introduce F--cked Up, the evening’s first performers. Dekel suggested that David Comes to Life really taps into our troubled zeitgeist. Every member of F--ked Up took the stage to begin “Queen of Hearts.” Everyone, that is, except Abraham, who strolled out nonchalantly, dropping off a backpack, just in time to scream out the opening lyrics. Jennifer Castle joined the band for a raucous “The Other Shoe.”
When Lawrence came out to outro F--ked Up, Abraham berated him for replacing him with Toyota. Abraham began mauling Lawrence like a bear, kissing him.
"New baby," Lawrence said in reference to the fact that Abraham just had his second child.
"New baby, wandering eye," Abraham responded, stroking Lawrence some more.
The Grid TO's Sarah Liss came out to introduce Handsome Furs, and also mentioned the LP being reflective of discord in the zeitgeist. Alexei Perry from Handsome Furs made a tearful speech about the importance of making art and how much books, films, literature and making music saved her life. Handsome Furs have broken up, which is especially painful since it also means the end of Perry’s marriage to Dan Boeckner.
Next up, Liisa Ladouceur introduced Cold Specks and hailed her voice for being so forceful. She suggested that Cold Specks comes from “beyond” and called her music “Canadian gothic.” Al Spx then filled the room with that voice, the sparse arrangements of “Elephant Head” enabling her lyrics to rise into the balcony. She then donned a guitar for a spirited “Send Your Youth.” "Spirited" is kinda the only way to describe Cold Specks. Spx made a shy speech afterwards, saying “Cool,” “Thanks” and finally “Hey.”
Up next, radio personality Alan Cross introduced Japandroids and talked about Canada’s unique contribution to two-person bands like Death From Above 1979 and PS I Love You. He then mentioned that Japandroids are away on tour but would Skype in if they win.
Sirius Radio’s Andréanne Sasseville made a heartfelt speech introducing Cadence Weapon, who went on to tear through three songs from his stellar Hope in Dirt City.
A couple of speech highlights came next, when Bryan Acker of the Herohill blog introduced Kathleen Edwards and her LP Voyageur so solemnly, it could’ve been an “in memoriam.” But it was moving and then, after a stirring performance by Edwards, the singer made a brilliant speech about her last nomination and her improbable loss to Caribou.
She said she heard Caribou playing in a bar some time after and realized what a great initiative Polaris has been for artists. "Music is like this big commitment that we make in our life because it comes from our heart," said Edwards. "We sacrifice things good and bad to do what we do. And I’m very humbled." Edwards went on to thank Polaris founder Steve Jordan for "creating a vehicle for those of us who don’t want to march in the shit parade."
Word on the street was that Grimes had put a call out looking for a stripper to join her during her Polaris set. Sure enough, a pole was set up onstage and, as she performed “Symphonia IX (my wait is u)” and “Genesis,” a young man danced beside her – and he was amazing. We soon learned that his name was Gary and that Grimes had only met him 10 minutes before their set.
A well informed and educational intro by writer Natalie Zina Walschots set the stage for the dark, art-sprawl metal of YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN, who took the stage, faces covered in white makeup and ready to throw down. “Reverse Castle” was a surreal assault, while “Hoshi Neko” was stirring, recalling the Patti Smith Group at its heaviest. Alaska thanked her dad and all the Montrealers in the room, while Ruby thanked her mom, who just learned how to use the internet.
After a rambunctious rapped intro for an absent Drake by MuchMusic’s T-Rex Edwards, Nicholas Jennings made an impassioned plea for the earthy, elemental nature of Feist’s Metals. Backed by Andrew Whiteman’s new project AroarA and Snowblink, Feist played two riveting songs, “Caught a Long Wind” and “The Bad in Each Other.”
When it came time to announce this year’s Polaris champ, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara of last year’s winning band, Arcade Fire, were asked for an update since their victory. They made vague hints about making a new record and joked about the bank not accepting their novelty cheque.
Leslie Feist was clearly beside herself when she was declared the 2012 Polaris Music Prize winner. She thanked her support team and came off stage to try and articulate her feelings to a live audience listening on CBC Radio 3.
“I always lose in a way because truly winning is to make a great speech,” she explained. “I just never say the thing that I really feel in an eloquent way that’s quote-worthy. It just feels presumptuous to be prepared for something like this because then you'll be alone at night with your speech, y'know?"
When she made her initial remarks onstage after winning the prize, Feist suggested she was surprised to win because she was sure another nominee had it locked down, but didn't name names at the time.
"I guess I thought Grimes would win," she revealed moments later. "It was a pretty phenomenal show too. I kinda had a flashback to Peaches in 2000. Not because they have anything in common but Peach just came outta left field and was completely unlike anything else happening at the time. That's what I felt watching her show tonight, which was the first time I'd seen her."
After such a successful and busy year touring behind the Juno- and now Polaris-winning Metals, Feist said she plans to take a break. As for a new record, she says one is percolating in her mind but she hasn't physically done anything about it yet.
Related:
CBC Radio 3's Polaris Music Prize gala podcast
Stream Feist's Polaris Music Prize winning album Metals on CBC Music