“Sonic Vertigo”: Polaris Music Prize 2010

 I said it would be a game changer, and Polaris 2010 proved me right

It was a dizzying, magical night for Canadian music, but that’s what we’ve come to expect from the Polaris Music Prize.  The 2010 edition has to be the most ecclectic collection of artists yet in the award’s five year history.  There was something for everyone and every musical taste.  From Broken Social Scene‘s explosive opening performance of “Meet Me in the Basement” and “Texico Bitches”, The Sadies‘ always-awe-inspiring  set, Radio Radio‘s unique hip hop ode to yuppie footwear, Dan Mangan‘s sing-a-long “Robots”, the epic powerhouse of The Besnard Lakes‘ “Like The Ocean, Like The Innocent pts 1 & 2″, Karkwa‘s amazing performance of “L’acouphène” (my personal favourite Karkwa song) and the title track to their shortlisted Les Chemins De Verre (which I predicted would win here), Owen Pallett proving he deserves a repeat nomination with a stellar back-to-back performance of “The Great Elsewhere” and “Lewis Takes Action”, my go-to-feel-good-song of the summer–Shad‘s “Rose Garden” (featuring Lisa Lobsinger of Broken Social Scene),  Tegan and Sara‘being serenaded with “Happy Birthday” by the whole Gala audience before killing it with an acoustic “Aligator”and sharing the stage with Owen Pallett for “The Ocean”, through to Caribou‘s showstopping final performance “Leave House” (which I’m sure he played just for me) and “Odessa”, you couldn’t ask for a better night of celebration.

MP3: Dan Mangan “Robots”
MP3: The Besnard Lakes “Like The Ocean, Like The Innocent pts. 1 & 2″
MP3: Shad “Rose Garden/Yaa I Get It”
MP3: Caribou “Leave House/Odessa”

As always, I was honoured to have played a small part in the this year’s Gala.  I couldn’t be there in person, but watching the live stream on Muchmusic.com has become a bit of a tradition, and if you missed t last night, be sure to tune in on Saturday night (September 25) at 9:00 EST to catch the whole spectacle.

All of the acts brought their A-game to the Masonic Temple, but only one could walk away with the honour of being named the Polaris Prize winner for 2010.  Congratulations to Karkwa, Polaris Prize 2010 winner for Les Chemins De Verre!

MP3: Karkwa “L’acouphène”

by J. Di Gioia, Quick Before it Melts, on Tuesday, September 21st, 2010