When you kick off any kind of ceremony with 3 drummers  smashing double kick pedals completely in unison backing NZ’s own rock superstar Gin Wigmore, you would think that there is no actual way that a night could start or end any better! But we wouldn’t expect anything less being that this was the beginning of the 47^th Annual Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards held at the Vector Arena earlier this month. What a way to open the ceremony, there really is no one who can get a crowd excited like Gin and I’m sure that the 7,000 people in attendance would whole heartedly agree with me!

This is a night that wasn’t just all about red carpets, fashion and those illusive Tui’s given to acknowledge our amazing musicians, Shannon and Ben kept us entertained right from the start of the show with Ben contemplating a free fall from the roof of the Vector cause that’s how they did it at the opening ceremony of the Olympics, which realistically is the only other night in a year where a big opening gimic is important! He also gave out his own special version of Tui which he called a ‘Benny.’ The first to Kimbra for being the best thing to come out of Hamilton since…. well ever and another one to Homebrew for being most likely to not remember anything the following day, to which they responded by throwing it away.

The first lot of proper Tui awards were for alternative categories, Ria Hall won best Maori Language Album, and then up on stage Te Awanui Reeder presented an award to The Parachute Band for Best Gospel Album. Interestingly enough during this time Gin has finished her performance and was out in the media room kicking back getting a beer for herself? What? And she was hanging out answering questions, totally a classic Kiwi way to spend your evening when you are one of our counties  top selling musicians. Quite different to Kimbra who was kept out of the media room until the very last award and ushered through so quickly no one really got a chance to talk to her, makes me kind of love Gin more for just keeping it real and doing what she wants. I did however get a chance to hold one of Kimbra's Tui’s and take my own photos with it. As much as I love the stage show and the excitement of the awards there is so much that goes on behind the scenes, photographers jostling for their space and not wanting to leave the prime photo spots, media personalities catching up over free wine and beer, and then the most amazing part of the media room… the candy station (all you can eat sugar high!), so much better than all the LED screens that filled the Vector's stage lighting and sound show combined! If you watched the show on TV, the small screen really doesn't do all the effects, lights, colours and amazing music that fills the Vector on awards night justice.

The Black Seeds won an award and played their new single 'Rusted Story', and to have so many people on stage all playing funky harmonies, Dan Weetmans hair and lead by Barnaby Weir’s awesome, they really are the most consistently good NZ band and have been for a long time. Another consistently good NZ Band who have been overseas making headlines and selling albums is The Naked and Famous, who were along with Kimbra awarded International Achievement Tui’s for their success. Speaking of things going international, the VIP guest presenters for the night were Ben Harper and Mumford & Sons. Ben Harper announcing the award for Best Roots Album to The Black Seeds and Best Urban Hip Hop Album which was won by the most obnoxious group in NZ Music and there is always one, Homebrew.

Next up was Anna Mac singing 'Girl In Stilettos' which was obviously a crowd favourite, although it could have been because her back up dancers were none other than her lawn bowls team from the music video. That was quite awesome. Sweet Mix Kids gave the next award for Best Electronica Album to Concord Dawn, interestingly enough Six60 were nominated in this category and I had no idea that they were classified as Electronica! A video message was played for the crowd because Concord Dawn was unable to attend the show.

I have seen a lot of live shows writing for muzic.net.nz and in all my time I am not sure that I have ever described a song preformed by a band full of guys as 'stunning and powerful' because those are words usually reserved for girls and power ballads. But seriously Six60 singing their newest single 'Lost' with the strings section of the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra and a grand piano had me absolutely mesmerised and equating that moment of emotion with seeing the Bodyguard for the very first time.  

Kimberly Crossman and Guy Williams presented awards for Best Rock Album to The Checks and Best Alternative Album which was won by Opossum. Which closely ties to the winner of Best Male Vocalist Unknown Mortal Orchestra, two Neilson Brothers, two awards - nice one. Kimbra received the accompanying Tui for Best Female Vocalist from Dominic Bowden.

I feel very sad to say that there was a time in the night where I was really unimpressed and almost embarrassed to be at the awards when Homebrew were up on stage giving acceptance speeches and preforming. For guys who pride themselves of coming up from nothing they really aren’t setting a good enough example to well anyone. They are lucky that they have a talented set of musicians behind them including Chip Matthews, who held together a disconnected performance by the self-professed bad boys of NZ music. Pfft I just found them rude.

Tame and Jamie Ridge were up next to present awards to Six60 for Best Group and the Breakthrough Artist of the Year was Kimbra of course. Fletch and Megan from The Edge were a little star stuck but managed to award the Best Pop Album to Kimbra again, I think that’s like her bazzillionth Tui for the night! Karl Urban presented the award for Best Music Video to Special Problems who were the only company nominated for Best Music Video but for 'The Sun' by The Naked and Famous, instead of the other two music videos they made.

The second part of the Benny’s were awarded to Six60 for not forgetting their roots a hilarious dig at the past year and their growing female fan base. A Benny to Marcus from Mumford & Sons who Ben thinks looks like Matiu from Six60. Also Gin Wigmore and Titanium received Benny’s for some reasons relating to commercials. Not to be left out or to leave empty handed, the Mayor of the super-city himself Len Brown got up and rapped to ensure he was awarded the final Benny.

Kimbra performed 'Come Into My Head' after a quick change from her Bjork inspired dress to a colourful puffy ensemble, accompanied by a drummer that looked equally colourful as the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. I quite liked the crazy quirky rocky side of Kimbra preforming live and makes me hope that she will be touring in her homeland again soon.

Taika Waititi got an opportunity to award some Tui’s, he was a bit funny hitting on Kimbra and being introduced as the face of the Moro commercial from 2001. Then tried to start a fight between the audience and guests. He did end up presenting an award to Six60 for Single of the Year and then while hitting on another Hamiltonian who was there to help present the people’s choice award, which I would like to rename the people choice ‘awkward’ after Taika alluded to the fact he had slept with all the nominees which would include the 6 members of the band that won, again Six60.

Nearing the end of the awards and after pretty much only seeing Kimbra all night long, with interludes by Six60 we finally get to see Mumford & Sons present the final award for Album of the Year to none other than Kimbra for Vows, in all honesty though, she was so sweet in all her acceptance speeches and she really does deserve the success she has received in the last year.

To end the night no bigger than it had begun, but in a more punkie alterative style was a tribute to Toy Love who were awarded the Legacy Tui for contribution to NZ Music over the last 30 years. Sheep fronted by Emily from Street Chant and a bunch of talented althernative punky rockers performed 'Don’t Ask Me' culminating an epic night of awarding, music-ing, laughing and enjoying!

See you next year Vector!

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• 1
  APT.
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• 2
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• 3
  BIRDS OF A FEATHER
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• 4
  TASTE
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• 5
  I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
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• 6
  ESPRESSO
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• 7
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• 10
  GOOD LUCK, BABE!
  Chappell Roan

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