Polaris Short Listers Suggest Future Nominees

09/22/09 4:20pm

by Aaron Brophy and Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

"I call bullshit!" Chad VanGaalen shouted from the stage just after he pieced together that Leonard Cohen, who turned 75 that day, didn't make it to the short-list at Monday night's Polaris Music Prize gala.

Cohen's Live In London double CD/DVD package made this year's Polaris Music Prize long list and was a bit of a contentious pick amongst jury members.

VanGaalen launched into his performance and continued to rant about Cohen not being at this year's gala before he made some comment about no one noticing he was a "sloppy Susan" (he was among the last performers and had been drinking) and some other comment about "gelatin" before he left the stage to laughter and loud applause.

Speaking of people who should have been at the gala, this year's short listers had a lot to say about who should be recognized by the Polaris Music Prize in the future.

Patrick Watson guitarist Simon Angell was particularly adamant that Mike Feuerstack, better known as Snailhouse and who made the long list this year, should be on a future Polaris short list. Watson thought Lhasa, who also made the long list, should have been short listed this year.

"I think that's the one miss of Polaris this year," he said. "They really fucked up by not having that album on the list. It's crazy. It doesn't make any sense."

Joel Plaskett said he thought Prince Edward Island folk-rock singer/songwriter Al Tuck should be recognized by Polaris.

"I'd love to see Al in there because I love his stuff so much," Plaskett said. "I love The Deep Dark Woods. I played with Said The Whale recently and I was really impressed by them, too. I felt like there's a ton of stuff going on."

Elliott Brood drummer Stephen Pitkin concurred with Plaskett on his Deep Dark Woods recommendation, saying he thought they were "great to watch."

"I think Dan Mangan will be standing here next year," Elliott Brood frontman Mark Sasso said. "Chad [VanGaalen] will probably have another one."

Malajube were enthusiastic about fellow Montrealers Clues.

"We've seen Clues play in a really tiny place in Quebec and it was such an amazing show," bassist Mathieu Cournoyer said.

"The album's sooo good," keyboardist/singer Thomas Augustin interjected.

"Yeah, they're gonna be there next year for sure," Cournoyer agreed.

Hey Rosetta! frontman Tim Baker was full of praise for his fellow east coasters.

"I just watched Jon McKiel play the other day, and my favourite band is from St. John's. The Pathological Lovers," he said. "They're amazing."

K'Naan thought Feist would end up being nominated again next year or at least very soon in the future, and also thought a fellow hip-hop artist should get his dues.

"Maybe a K-OS record [should be short listed] or something," he said.