Crowd couldn't care less at the 2008 PLUG Independent Music Awards
March 6, 2008, in NYC
By Joey Hood
Published: March 9th, 2008 | 2:30pm
The Williamsburg trustafarians didn’t bat an eye at fourth annual PLUG Independent Music Awards. They didn’t so much as flinch. Held at the sleekly redesigned multilevel venue, Terminal 5 in Midtown Manhattan, the PLUG awards are geared toward fickle indie-rock fans.
The stereotypes are unfortunately true: During lively performances from paroxysmal flowsmith Dizzee Rascal and acoustic pearl-clutcher Jose Gonzalez, the Oh My Rockness-faithful looked like they were at a wake.
Dressed in Midwestern pants most likely found at Old Navy’s half-off sale, the adorably pudgy King of Queens comic–turned–indie–Messiah Patton Oswalt squirmed in his host role, attempting to find the middle ground between recent Oscar host Jon Stewart and an Eastern Star roaster. “It’s a whole evening of fascinating no-shows,” Oswalt said. “It’s the anti-Grammys.”
Fresh off her win for Female Artist of the Year, indie chameleon St. Vincent (nee: Annie Clark) plucked through well-layered gems with a road-worn confidence. Clark has previously worked with Sufjan Stevens and The Polyphonic Spree, but the crowd answered with a resounding “meh.”
The “meh” mentality could easily be explained. In an award season capped by last month’s Academy Awards, the star wattage at the PLUG Independent Music Awards was scraping-the-bottom-barrel dim. Saturday Night Live’s Fred Armisen, fourth-fifths of the National, one dude from Vampire Weekend and kidcore punk-rock scenesters Tiny Masters of Today were all in attendance.
A few boos erupted from the audience as well after religiofolkists Arcade Fire predictably nabbed Album of the Year. “These guys not indie enough for you?” Oswalt quipped. “These guys can afford to buy soap now. Fuck them.”
Show headliner Nick Cave gave the show a long-needed kick in the balls. Cave teased new songs from his upcoming record Dig Lazarus Dig!!! (Mute)with a ferocious keyboard stomp. As a slightly older (and balding) crowd lurched forward, Cave croaked out propulsive blues-punk, finally teaching the indie kids how to dance.
2008 PLUG Independent Music Awards winners:
Album of the Year: Arcade Fire, Neon Bible
New Artist of the Year: Justice
Female Artist of the Year: Annie Clark (St. Vincent)
Male Artist of the Year: Andrew Bird
Indie Rock Album of the Year: Animal Collective, Strawberry Jam
Americana Album of the Year: Iron & Wine The Shepherd’s Dog
Metal Album of the Year: The Dillinger Escape Plan, Ire Works
Hip-Hop Album of the Year: Aesop Rock, None Shall Pass
Punk Album of the Year: Gogol Bordello Super Taranta!
Electronic/Dance Album of the Year: Justice, †
DJ Album of the Year: Hot Chip, DJ-Kicks
Avant Album of the Year: Liars, Liars
Artist of the Year: Radiohead
Song of the Year: The National, “Fake Empire”
Live Act of the Year: Arcade Fire
Music Video of the Year: Battles, “Atlas”
Album Art/Packaging of the Year: Menomena, Friend and Foe
Record Label of the Year: Merge
Live Music Venue of the Year: Bowery Ballroom, New York, N.Y.
Music Festival of the Year: Coachella Valley Music Festival
Music Website of the Year: Pitchfork Media
Music Blog of the Year: Stereogum
Magazine of the Year:Paste
Online Radio Station of the Year: KCRW
Record Store of the Year: Other Music, New York, N.Y.
Zine of the Year: Wax Poetics
Online Record Store of the Year: iTunes
College/Non-Comm Radio Station of the Year: KEXP, Seattle, Wash.
Specialty Show of the Year (Commercial Radio): Sirius: Left of Center – Blog Radio (New York, N.Y.)
Issue #35
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