Damian: I co-hosted the 2011 Polaris Music Prize and all I got was…

September 21st, 2011

To quote the Four Seasons: “Oh, What A Night!” Polaris 2011 is in the bag and now the complaining starts. But before I get into that I want to talk about the Gala itself. For those of you who didn’t huddle around your computer and watch the event on Monday night I’ll fill you in a little on what went down: ten bands were nominated, some played, some didn’t and in the end Arcade Fire won. I served as co-host of the event itself with my main man Grant Lawrence, and boy was I nervous!

It was a lot of pressure for a guy like me. This isn’t like Fucked Up where I am largely out there with no one really to answer to. Here I am co-officiating an event that could very well be the most important night in the nominees’ career. I was shaking like a leaf in the first segment but as the show went on I settled into the groove a little more and began to relax, I think I actually started to enjoy it. And of course my Wedge family was with me the whole time to capture the event.

Tonight on The Wedge you will get a good little snapshot of what Polaris was like behind the scenes. We caught up with a many of the nominees at their soundcheck and hung out a bit. If that wasn’t enough we even got one of the only conversations with the night’s big winner (it is hard to say no when you’ve toured with someone I guess ha ha) and it is the weirdest, funniest interview I have ever done. If that wasn’t enough we will also have the music of the nominees and other amazing videos (not just saying that) from Neon Indian, Cerebral Ballzy, Veronica Falls, Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Girls, among others.

Now, as far the Arcade Fire’s win, I think people would be complaining if they didn’t win. They made an amazing record and most of the other artists I talked to felt they should win. But you can never make everyone happy. Remember everyone… it is just an award…. albeit one that people take really seriously.

@leftfordamian

Tags: arcade fire, Damian Abraham, Polaris Music Prize, The Wedge