Live Review: Choice Music Prize 2009

Last night saw some excellent live performances from many of the nominees for the Choice Music Prize 2009 (don't worry, you are looking at the ceremony held in 2010, it's just for the best Irish album of 2009), but by far the best were Dark Room Notes and And So I Watch You From Afar. Both bands are on their debut albums, so who knows what the future may hold awards-wise.

CODES opened the night strongly, before Julie Feeney toned it down a notch. Feeney had been the darkhorse when nominees were announced, but crept up to become favourite with PaddyPower heading into last night's show. Her outfit last night was definitely note worthy, probably moreso than her performance. (Check it out here.)

Dark Room Notes were next up and impressed many people who may have missed them first time around, or else wrote them off. Their live show is so much better than the album. Duckworth Lewis Method released one of my favourite summer albums of 2009, but with Neil Hannon already having a gong in his possession, it was always a longshot to see them winning. Their live stint last night was fantastically entertaining though.

Valerie Francis was also very impressive. It was a nice, subtle nuanced performance which contrasted well with the all-out rock of CODES and the jangly pop of Duckworth Lewis Method. Her live take on 'Punches' was especially great. It was a real treat to see so many wonderful Irish acts performing a variety of genres. I suggest you grab a ticket for the Choice Music Prize 2010 Award Show as soon as possible next year.

When I saw the nominees, I didn't actually expect The Swell Season would play, but play they did and gave a fine performance. It's just a pity for Glen that his second album with Marketa wasn't a patch on the first. Last night, they were joined on 'Paper Cup' by Leonard Cohen's guitarist, unfortunately not Leonard himself, but it'll do for now.

Adrian Crowley was second last on stage, but would return later to pick up his gong. He's a damn fine performer, and definitely a worthy winner. And So I Watch You From Afar closed the night with a stonking set, infused with marvellous instrumental rock. Some people had definitely written them off before, but I'm sure they converted many last night. If I had to guess, I'd say they were probably in the running but narrowly missed out.

Laura Izibor couldn't make it last night, due to something or other, nor could Bell x1 (touring commitments) but so many other great acts played, it didn't make too much difference. It would've been nice to have them all there though. Maybe next year...

Watch the Duckworth Lewis Method at last night's show:

Live: Swell Season, DLM, ASIWYFA at Vicar Street

Great news comes my way from Jim Carroll and his On the Record blog. He announced this morning that eight out of ten cats acts nominated for this year's Choice Music Award will be performing on the night.

The show takes place in Vicar Street on March 3rd. Tickets are €27, and for that bargain price, you'll get approximately ten minutes each from all of the following:
And So I Watch You From Afar, Codes, Adrian Crowley, Dark Room Notes, The Duckworth Lewis Method, Julie Feeney, Valerie Francis, and The Swell Season.

Bell x1 and Laura Izibor are the two absentees as they're touring elsewhere. But for €27, how can you argue with a lineup like that?

Get your tickets here.

Here's 2007 winners Super Extra Bonus Party performing at that year's event:

(Video courtesy of Nialler9)

Watch: Ceol Ar An Imeall preview

Uber-blogger UnaRocks or Una Mullally as she's known to her friends launches her brand new TV show on TG4 on Thursday the 14th of January. It's called Ceol Ar An Imeall (that's Music on the Edge ás Gaeilge). It'll be on at a quarter to twelve p.m. (a terrible time, but we'll all stay up to watch it), and is bound to feature some great acts. The first edition has an interview with Speech Debelle as well as live music from Valerie Francis. I wonder will Debelle have a cupla focal for us!

Awards: IMTV Video Music Awards Winners

The IMTV Video Music Awards clashed with everything last night. I was at Bell x1, so I missed them. But I do know who all the winners are...

Best Live Video:
Act: And So I watched you from afar
Video: Set Guitars to Kill
Director: Will McConnell

Best Dance Video
Act: Le Galaxie
Video: YOU FEEL THE FIRE
Director: Killian Broderick & Le Galaxie

Best Styled Video
Act: Julie Feeney
Video: Impossibly Beautiful
Director: Vittoria Colonna

Best Solo Male Video
Act: Pearse McGloughlin
Video: Ways to Kill a Werewolf
Director:Kevin McGloughlin

Best Solo Female Video
Act: Wallis Bird
Video: To My Bones
Director:Philipp Kaessbohrer

Most Original Concept For Video
Act: Fight Like Apes
Video: Something Global
Director: Eoghan Kidney

Best Production/Special Effects in a Video
Act: Cap Pas Cap
Video: We are men
Director: Sam Boyd

Best Video by a Newcomer
Act: Bowlegged
Video: Red Lights
Director: Peter J McCarthy

Director of the Year 2009
WINNER: Eoghan Kidney

Best Video 2009
Act: Valerie Francis
Video: Punches
Director: Eoghan Kidney

Watch the best video of the year, Valerie Francis' 'Punches' (Peter will be happy):


Watch all the winning videos here:
http://irishmusictelevision.com/?p=847

Awards: IMTV Video Music Awards Nominees

The nominees for the IMTV Video Music Awards have been announced, and they feature a fine selection of Irish talent.

1.BEST LIVE VIDEO
LISA HANNIGAN - I DON’T KNOW
LISA HANNIGAN - LILLE
LADYDOLL – BUTTON
THE BRILLIANT THINGS – RISE
AND SO I WATCHED YOU FROM AFAR – SET GUITARS TO KILL


2.BEST DANCE VIDEO
LE BIEN – HERE AND THERE
NOISE CONTROL – ADDICTION
DARK ROOM NOTES – LETS LIGHT FIRES
ARVEEN & MISK - HELLS BELLS
LE GALAXIE – YOU FEEL THE FIRE

3.BEST STYLED VIDEO
DIRTY EPICS – COMING UP
JULIE FEENEY – IMPOSSIBLY BEAUTIFUL
LAURA IBIZOR - SHINE
THE CORONAS – LISTEN DEAR
THE BLIZZARDS – POSTCARDS


4.BEST SOLO MALE
YNGVE WIELAND – LITTLE BOY
PADRAIG RUHSE – GONNA BE A CHANGE
JJ – PLAYING THE GAME
PEARSE MCGLOUGHLIN – WAYS TO KILLS A WEREWOLF
ENDA REILLY – MOL AN AIMSIRE

5.BEST SOLO FEMALE
LISA HANNIGAN – LILLE
JULIE FEENEY – LOVE IS A TRICKY THING
WALLIS BIRD – HOME
MISS PAULA FLYNN – HOLIDAY IN SWEDEN
GEMMA HAYES – HOME


6.MOST ORIGINAL CONCEPT FOR VIDEO
FIGHT LIKE APES – SOMETHING GLOBAL
THE CHAPTERS – VIDEOTAPES
HERM - HEADS
GRAND POCKET ORCHESTRA – BALLET SHOES
SEAN NEEDHAM - I’M NOT AFRAID

7. BEST PRODUCTION / SPECIAL EFFECTS
SICKBOY – SILENCE IN CONVERSATION
CAP PAS CAP – WE ARE MEN
JAPE – FLOATING
HAM SANDWICH – BROKEN GLASS
202′S - EASE MY MIND

8.BEST VIDEO BY A NEW COMER (public Vote)
HOGAN – I WANT YOU
HOARSEBOX – ALL I NEED NOW
BATS – SHADOW FUCKING
BOWLEGGED – RED LIGHT
TALLULAH DOES THE HULA – BAD BOYFRIEND

9. DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
EOGHAN KIDNEY
LORCAN FINNEGAN
SIMON EUSTACE
LINDSEY BYRNES
WILL MCCONNELL

10. VIDEO OF THE YEAR 2009
DUCKWORTH LEWIS METHOD – MEETING MR MIANDAD
FIGHT LIKE APES – TIE ME UP WITH JACKETS
THE CORONAS – LISTEN DEAR
THE BLIZZARDS – POSTCARDS
VALERIE FRANCIS – PUNCHES

Watch the five nominees for Video of the Year 2009:









Except you can't embed the Blizzards - 'Postcards'. :(