MOG

I sauntered down to the NME Awards at the El Rey Theatre in LA last night, intent to see if it would live up to the golden hyped hype. After all, there was a red carpet and all! Hosted by the Brit Music mag (that has a wicked monopoly on music across the pond and is trying to break ground here) and Myspace (yes, Tom was there), the NME Awards is definitely still in the growing stages here in the US. (It's the first year). First off, it felt a bit like they were making up awards (“And the Awards for Best International Track Goes To….” “And The God-Like Genius Award Goes To….. Jane’s Addiction.”) Second, the Aussie announcer was a flat-out douche-bag who won’t stop haranguing Kelly Osbourne, who no one else gave a hoot about. Sienna Miller threw ice at him when he started to berate her new boyfriend. Who is dumb enough to piss Sienna Miller off? Regardless, the Mag showed its star power and its unbelievable control over the music industry right now.

(Does It Offend You Yeah Performing) The place was packed with every band that happened to be in town for Coachella to attend. A music lovers dream really. Who was there? MGMT, Does It Offend You Yeah, The Killers, DataRock, Justice, and Vampire Weekend. Evan Dando did an acoustic bit, Mick Jones rocked out, and Sienna Miller looked break-takingly rocking in a skin-tight black leather get up.

(Sienna Miller Huggin Mick Jones) The Klaxons had apparently taken too much ‘medication’ and were bored (not a good combo)…so they started to throw paper in the air in 5 minutes intervals and then randomly got on stage and just stared at the announcer before one of them fell over flat ass-backwards.

(Mick Jones Performing) NME also had the American Idol-esque idea that fans could vote for their own winners online. So I am questioning you moggers out there for the suspicious winnings as The Killers as Band Of the Year (WTF? You mean Best Band of 2004?) Other winners were MGMT, Kate Nash, etc...i.e. not huge surprises. But I still think this year it may not have been a coincidence that they put all the media in a far-away tucked balcony so we couldn't see so good (hence the birds-eye-view shots. sorry folks :) ).

(Jane's Addiction Accepting "God-Like Genius" Award) But the cream of the cake? The modus opperundi for hauling ass to downtown LA for closed-bar fiesta? The Jane’s Addiction reunion. For the last act, chairs were moved, the crowd gathered and the front, and the whole Jane’s crew rocked the house. Perry did his famous rock-ballet pirouetting and lunging and diving, while Dave Narravo steamed up the crowd with intense riffing. It was a spot-on performance, 5 stars, 3 thumbs up, and caused the hodge-podge crowd to go home with starry eyes.

Jane's Addiction Reunited! check out NME for more info: http://www.nme.com/news/nme-awards/36198