XM Radio’s The Verge threw their 2nd awards ceremony in as many years to celebrate Canadian music and how we feel about it. The 2009 Verge Music Awards were held at The Mod Club (apparently a much larger venue than last year’s choice) to hand out money and hand-claps to fairly large Canadian artists who have broken the independent ranks and made themselves known across satellite waves — and good for them! Anyone who knows me knows that I support independent music across our amazing country, but I’m not always going to be nose-first at the door for occasions like these. Regardless, it was an opportunity to have a good time AND see The Weakerthans.

Hey Rosetta! began the night (almost literally as I had just walked through the door and they were being introduced). This was my first time seeing the Newfoundland sextet and, to be honest, I wasn’t really phased in any way. They were tight, but I wasn’t blown away into a different system of sorts for these guys. People seem to like them, so I don’t go down the negative road.

The Weakerthans were the act I was waiting to see. Sadly, I have been listening to these guys play music for years and yet have NOT seen them live (at least to my recollection). The band played an amazing set! I smiled the whole time, singing along to all the tunes that I had wanted to hear; it was as if the band had stolen the set list from my head. I couldn’t have been more pleased. Hearing ‘One Great City’ was the highlight.

The final set was to be conducted by Toronto/New York/London electro-rockers, Metric. Marred by tech-problems (either that, or they were just late setting up), the band finally got on stage about 10 minutes after their posted set time. As far as the music went, it was surprisingly a little more interesting (song-wise) than I had thought they would be. Their opening songs were a good mood-setter. However, it didn’t take long for their somewhat generic sound to emerge and make me head for the back.

I listen to The Verge when I’m in the car. I’m always up for Canadian content, but I’d like to hear more of the stuff that’s unsigned and deeper in the undergrounds of our cities and towns. It all starts there.