The CASBYs 2006
Nov 22, 2006
Kool Haus

Everyone knows that award shows suck, you might watch them when they’re on, but they never hold your attention for very long. Clearly the people that set up the CASBYs realize that because the focus is never actually on the awards. If you’ve never been to one or have no idea what it is, the CASBYs are Canadian Artists Selected By You, which is basically a euphemism for you vote for the winners, we’ll grab some of the best Canadian bands from this year and put on a huge party, all done by Toronto’s 102.1 The Edge. The best part is you get to see a bunch of mini sets by great bands that are selling out shows left and right, for free.

This year’s line-up of bands was more varied than most years with K-Os headlining along with performances by Mobile, Ill Scarlett, Neverending White Lights, Hostage Life, Champion, Evans Blue and Sam Roberts. Instead of having everything on one stage, there were three set up in the Kool Haus, which seemed to not only keep things running relatively close together, but it seemed like there was something going on regardless of which direction you were looking in.

With each band getting two songs, except for K-Os who got four, it was a parade of singles that everyone was able to sing along to, along with singles just getting ready to hit airwaves. Mobile opened the show to great response and things went up from there.

Ill Scarlett played “Heaters” and “One-A” and got people moving, Neverending White Lights did a Dallas-less “The Grace” which sounded good, albeit not quite the same as it sounds on the radio and then pulled Supergarage frontman Marco DiFelice onstage to sing their new single “Age Of Consent” which is sung by 311’s Nick Hexum on the album.

Hostage Life got the only little mosh pit of the night, at least that I could see, during their set of “Sons Of Hostage Life” and “This Song Is Written By A Committee.” The crowd danced around during Champion’s set like they were in a club and then came really, the only band disappointment for the night.

Evans Blue are a band whose CD I really liked, but though I hadn’t seen them live previously I also hadn’t heard anything good about them live. The singer just seemed slightly uncomfortable during their set of “Cold (But I’m Still Here)” and “Over.” Somehow I think that’s a band where I’ll stick to the CD.

Sam Roberts was definitely a crowd favourite, especially during “Bridge To Nowhere,” which is probably one of the best songs he’s ever written and it comes across live. And K-Os was K-Os. That man has more energy than most bands could ever dream of and of his four song set, “Sunday Morning” was the crowd pleaser.

But bands weren’t the only entertainment of the night, Dean, Jason and Todd from The Edge’s Dean Blundell Morning Show pulled out all the stops with a little help from their friends like the Tartan Terrors, a trio of bagpipers one of which played while downing two pints of beer; the Gong Show winner James McAndrew, showcasing his, um, talent of farting on command and Derek the blind movie reviewer who was there to accept all the awards on behalf of the bands who won.

They also held a Miss CASBY 2006 contest, with intern Beef as one of the contestants and just to stir things up Jason and Todd pulled some random guy out of the crowd (he happened to be a government worker) and shot him with paintballs.

Oh yeah, there were awards too. Billy Talent won Favourite New Album (Billy Talent II) and Favourite New Single (“Devil In A Midnight Mass”) and weren’t there because they were making their debut on American TV that night on Conan. City And Colour won Favourite New Artist and Alexisonfire won Favourite New Indie Release. They were in England, so obviously couldn’t be there either, which is too bad because the actual awards included things like Tropicana Orange Juice and a dildo among other things which Derek the blind movie reviewer took for them.

For an award show it’s amazing how little of the focus is actually on the awards, I say next year scrap the award idea and just keep the party, I think as long as the bar is open everyone will be ok with that.

- Alyssa Caplin 

For more pics of bands, presenters, etc.. from the night go here.

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