Last night's Polaris Music Prize gala offered two hours of solid entertainment, with musical performances by shortlisters Cadence Weapon, Cold Specks, F--ked Up, Grimes, Kathleen Edwards, Feist and YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN.
CBC Radio 3's Grant Lawrence hosted the event, as he has since the award began in 2006. After the party that was Polaris, we caught up with Lawrence to get a recap. From powerful speeches to a popular pole dancer, here are his top five moments from last night's gala (all photos by Connie Tsang):
5. F--ked Up's gala performance of "Queen of Hearts" and "The Other Shoe."
"In the past I haven't been the hugest fan of F--ked Up, but I thought they just completely exploded. One of the elements of F--ked Up is that the vocals are really polarizing, to use an apt pun. That band just absolutely rocks. They are just a really, really great rock 'n' roll band with an outrageous singer. I thought it was a really tough, energized rocket launch to kick off the show. In the middle of the performance [Damian Abraham] jumped off the stage to kiss his three-year-old son. The only thing that made me a little nervous was, very conscientiously, the baby was wearing protective headphones. But, I don't think those are made for toddlers, but the baby loved every second of it."
4. Alexei Perry's speech on Handsome Furs' nomination.
"All of the artists have an opportunity to say whatever they want. They all have their three minutes ... some artists completely blow that opportunity, others take those three minutes and make it a performance. We didn't get to see the Handsome Furs live because they're broken up. But Alexei Perry ... that is singlehandedly the most poignant and rawly emotional moment involving music, relationships, art, love and the end of an era that I've ever seen at Polaris."
3. Feist's performance of "The Bad in Each Other."
"F--ked Up and YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN were supposed to be the heaviest bands nominated for Polaris. That performance of 'The Bad in Each Other' was way heavier than anything YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN did. If this was an anime cartoon, Feist just knocked YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN on their asses. She was like Black Sabbath or something."
2. Gary the Grimes pole dancer.
"We're taught in radio to provide surprise and delight. I think Gary the pole dancer provided complete surprise for everyone. Nobody expected Grimes's show to involve this guy. I think it provided a break in tension when it was revealed by my innocently idiotic curiosity that they didn't even know each other. She didn't even know his name! His name was revealed as Gary, and I thought a contortionist like that would be named Sebastien, or Nicholi, but it was just Gary. Love her or hate her, Grimes did provide for a really memorable moment, a take-away image."
1. Kathleen Edwards's performance/speech.
"Feist said this morning that the person who makes the most eloquent speech comes out the winner ... Kathleen, better than anyone, recognized the positivity in the room, and recognized the artistic efforts and potential that the Polaris Music Prize allows to flow. Kathleen also mentioned the range of performers. And she mentioned musicians who choose not to walk in the 'shit parade' of the music business."
Tune in for Grant Lawrence Live tomorrow on CBC Radio 3 (noon ET/9 a.m. PT). Lawrence has promised to dissect all of his failed Polaris gala hosting jokes.
Related:
CBC Radio 3's Polaris Music Prize gala podcast
Feist's Metals wins the Polaris Music Prize [Photo wrap]
Handsome Furs' Alexei Perry makes heartfelt speech at Polaris 2012