Critics Choice Awards 2011

So this year’s lineup was curiously similar to 2010′s. Not breaking any new ground when I pin the word ‘formulaic’ on the NZMAs, but I noticed a number of others who had pointed it out. Last year had an indie underdog (Street Chant), an up-and-comer (The Naked And Famous) and a ‘diversifying’ novelty pick (Homebrew). This year, in the same order: Popstrangers, Kimbra and The Unfaithful Ways. You might’ve heard by now that the underdog didn’t take it away like last year (instead, ‘quirky’ ‘indie’ ‘diva’ Kimbra was the prize winner), probably because the atmosphere was a bit less full-on than Street Chant’s raucous provocations in 2010. But you can’t blame Popstrangers for not living up to that, who are kind of a bit more mellow overall – but no less enjoyable to anyone who’s into the Street Chant side of noisy. Having said that, I showed up late so I missed them – I can only assume they were as loud as I’ve ever seen them, which might be what put some of the older judges off. Which, come to think of it, isn’t even that strong a speculation, as there would be few other reasons to disqualify them from winning. Maybe they just played poorly, because their volume is fucking cool.

Alt-country Unfaithful Ways were boring. Kimbra is a notedly charismatic performer, and broke more barriers than anyone else on the night so I think she was a pretty safe selection for the winner. Predictable, sure, but no less deserved. She was an endearing personality on the night, as I drunkenly gazed from afar (creepy) – I had assumed she took a while to reach the stage because she was vainly holed up in the green room prepping herself and her clean-cut session ‘muso’ backing band. But as it turns out, she was actually just running late, as I noticed her shyly hurry through a back entrance with her parents following behind her. And in waiting for the winner announcement, she quietly waited on the skirts of the building with her parents and her grandma, cute. What wasn’t cute was her shitty management, who followed her every step and had to double check their industry bigwig agenda before confirming every awful interview she was subjected to. Quote of the night goes to an overexcited figure of total translucency, who put the hard question to Kimbra: “So what’s the best thing about being a Kiwi?” Music journalism.

One of those nights where you meet up with your friends afterwards and you’re like “yeah, it was alright but”. Last year was better. See you in 2012, Critic’s Choice, after I’ve taken a couple hundred showers.