Tuesday marked the second annual XM The Verge Music Awards, a satellite radio-sponsored indie music evening at Mod Club which saw performances by Hey Rosetta!, The Weakerthans and Metric and two $25,000 prizes awarded for best artist and album of the year.
The former went to Vancouver folk rocker Dan Mangan, the latter to St. Catharines-based hardcore heroes Alexisonfire for their Old Crows/Young Cardinals.
The nominees were selected through online voting, but both victors took their time to thank Joel Plaskett, a heavy favourite who - like Metric - also emerged empty-handed from the Polaris Prize proceedings a night earlier.
Hey Rosetta! Took home 2008’s album of the year prize for Into Your Lungs (And Around In Your Heart And On Through Your Blood) while The Weakerthans were the previous year’s top artist.
Dan Mangan (right) accepts his award
Alexisonfire with Robb Reiner of Anvil (above, far left)
The Weakerthans
Metric
aaron.miller@citynews.rogers.com