The winners of the 2008 PLUG INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS (Sponsered by Dell and The Bowery Presents) were unveiled last week (Thursday, March 6) during the sold-out awards ceremony. The ceremony itself was flawed however.

For starters, there was some dude whose bleached-blonde, peacock-tail hair-do was distracting for a good portion of Patton Oswald’s self-deprecating opening monologue. Indeed, one couldn’t help but allow one’s gaze to drift warily over in that direction throughout the entire show.

Even the actual award itself was an artistic expression of ‘up yours’.

The event included performances by PLUG Award winners Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (PLUG Impact Award) and St. Vincent (Best Female Artist), along with sets by nominees Dizzee Rascal, Jose Gonzalez, The Forms, White Denim and DiVinci.

And while Patton was funny (the funniest thing you were gonna get all night, despite Dell’s efforts to produce a short film on mix tapes that Died On Arrival), the atmosphere in the joint was decidedly awkward. The ‘joint’ was New York’s Bowery Presents venue Terminal 5. The show was last week’s 2008 Plug Awards, a spirited celebration of independent song and dance for the last seven years running.

A little unorganized. A tad unpracticed. Host, presenters, winners -- everyone -- a wee nonchalant and capricious about it all. Even the actual award itself was an artistic expression of ‘up yours’. Or so we thought upon first sight of it. This year marks its physical debut. And we’ve since learned after being confronted with the shiny obelisk-like object that its designer, Larry Dean Pickering, intended for the award to represent the many layers of trial and trail in an artist’s journey. Kudos, Sir Pickering.

The Performers

White Denim – We were a little confused by White Denim’s jumbled mess of apathetic noise-making. There was a song in there somewhere, we’re just not quite sure where. It starts, it’s over, and we are thanked for ‘the exposure’.

St. Vincent – We cannot take our eyes (nor our ears) off of Annie Clarke, who has just won Best Female Vocalist, quite deservedly. Her voice seduces us, we fall victim, and then she whacks us in the face with her spastic guitar licks. Well played Madame.

The Forms – Not much to say other than it was entertaining and pretty.

Jose Gonzalez – One man, one chair, one guitar. The “very Swedish” Gonzalez played a few songs front and center under a spotlight and held our attention effortlessly. We even forgot about that kid with that hair. Hats off.

Dizzee Rascal – Bless him for showing up and doing his thing. He even pulled out his best ammunition: “Sirens” and “Fix Up, Look Sharp". But we Americans just didn’t get it. We cringed. Dizzee and his fellow MC hype man worked it for all it was worth, but all they got in response was a few head nods and a smattering of middle fingers. Dizzee sweats, crickets chirp. A true sign that this country is just not ready for his brand of independent British hip-hop. We suck.

Bat-for-Lashes – Genius. Enough said. Well, a few more words: maybe she should have won Best Female Vocalist? She stood, center stage, surrounded by an eclectic mix of instruments and blew us right away.

Nick Cave – The highlight. His set was the longest. His set was the greatest. He performed nine songs, six of which were from his new album. The Bad Seeds set included everyone’s favorite, “Red Right Hand”. We were waiting for Grindermen’s “No Pussy Blues”, but like Cave in that brilliant ode to the denial of feminine wiles, we got no such luck. Nick is mesmerizing. He plays with some of the best musicians on earth. He spits hot fire that would take a lyrical whip and beat Dizzee Rascal to a pulp (no offense man). Excuse us, we need to get out of this idol-worship head space.

The Complete List of Winners

Female Artist Of The Year: Annie Clark of St. Vincent , presented by SNL's Fred Armisen.

Song Of The Year: The National for "Fake Empire," presented by Tiny Masters Of Today, the 11- and 13-year-old Brooklyn-based duo who released their debut album last year.

New Artist Of The Year: Justice (also winner of Electronic Album of the Year), presented by El-P -producer, multi-nominated artist multiple years for PLUG and co-owner of Def Jux nominated for Hip-Hop album of the year.

Indie Rock Album Of The Year: Animal Collective, presented by Tyondai Braxton of BATTLES who were nominated for 7 PLUG Awards this year and the winner of the 2008 PLUG Music Video of the Year.

PLUG Impact Award: Nick Cave

Album Of The Year: Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (Merge)

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 (Domino)

Americana Album Of The Year: Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog (Sub Pop)

Metal Album Of The Year: The Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works (Relapse)

Hip-Hop Album Of The Year: Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass (Definitive Jux)

Punk Album Of The Year: Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta! (Side One Dummy)

Electronic/Dance Album Of The Year: Justice - † (Ed Banger/Vice)

DJ Album Of The Year: Hot Chip - DJ-Kicks (!K7)

Avant Album Of The Year: Liars - Liars (Mute)

Artist Of The Year: Radiohead

Song Of The Year: The National - "Fake Empire" - Boxer (Beggars Banquet)

Live Act Of The Year: Arcade Fire

Music Video Of The Year: Battles - "Atlas" (Warp)

Album Art/Packaging Of The Year: Menomena - Friend And Foe (Barsuk)

Label Of The Year: Merge

Live Music Venue Of The Year: Bowery Ballroom ( New York , NY )

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 , NY )

Zine Of The Year: Wax Poetics

Online Record Store Of The Year: iTunes

College/Non-Comm Radio Station Of The Year: KEXP ( Seattle , WA )

Specialty Show Of The Year (Commercial Radio): Sirius: Left Of Center - Blog Radio ( New York , NY )

See and read more about the PLUG Awards at metromix.com.

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