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It was the perfect evening for an awards night, funked up scenesters, small time indy players and industry big wigs lined the street out front of Metro City, the feel was electric and mood was right. Inside, rival bands shared a drink and chatted to their peers, the “WAMi Winners” steps leading up to the stage added an extra dash of excitement. Early notice that Drapht would not be appearing was a bit of a downer, but didn’t take too much away from the spectacle that was WAMi Awards 2009.
Kicking off the evening were “Best Funk Act Winners”Sneaky Weasel Gang. By the time the boys hit the stage, the bottom floor of Metro City had all but filled; Kav Temperley of Eskimo Joe fame to the left, “Best Electronic Producer” Tomas Ford to the right. All musicians, all different genres, all rocking out in support of our great music industry.
SNG baited the crowd with their funky, jazzed up tunes, it was fun, and the perfect introduction to the night.Their keys player was a nice highlight to the set, and you could have been forgiven for thinking blues legend Gary Moore had filled in with guitar licks and a style that was rather awesome.
The introduction of the evenings MC, Mr Tex Perkins, was welcomed with a haunting didgeridoo performance by indigenous act Common Ground. They invited the crowd to “Noongar Land” and ordered the crowd to “Kick back, Enjoy the night and Drive safely”. The band members mingled amongst the crowd through the night and were rather excited to be a part of the nights festivities. Perkins swaggered onstage and asked the crowd “Why the fuck am I here”, He then listed off a whole bunch of very good reasons, Turns out a lot of band members through the years have come from Perth, but does he really need a reason to do anything?, he’s Tex Perkins, He once won an ARIA, threw a punch at one of the other nominees and ditched his award off the side of a boat, luckily the evening’s nominees and winners were a little more subdued.
After a few winners pleasantries, Project Mayhem injected some fire into the night, their energy was raw and and their stage presence intense. The man on the axe, Hugh Grockman really knows how to wail, the whole band delivered the goods. A Highlight of the next few awards involved Abbe May for Best Female Vocalist -she couldnt make it to the stage as she was “upstairs in the smoking section”.
Indigenous Act Of The Year nominees Djiva entered stage right, the harmonies were as beautiful as the ladies singing them, and they were beautiful. Soaring vocals from Jessie Lloyd and Della Rae Morrison had the crowd mesmerised, they truly were a joy to watch. Djivas rhythm section was immaculate. Songs of desire filled the room and the crowd were lapping it up.
The highlight for this reviewer came when they announced Most Popular Music Website, fasterlouder -of course, a rousing acceptance speech from fasterlouder editor Sharyn Romaro was topped off with her acceptance side kick sneaking a cheeky kiss from Tex Perkins; Music awards gold. “This is Todd everyone, he’s awesome”.
Best Urban Hip-Hop Nominees The Typhoons rocked the party, by this stage most, if not all, in attendance were well past their 7 drink limit, and people were bouncing to the fat beats being pumped out onstage. These guys have one of the best rhythm sections in the WA music scene at the moment, they were tight and they showed it onstage.
The Kill Devil Hills were a fitting end to such a fantastic night, violin driven rock n roll with a country twang, they picked up a gong for best country act.
A great night that left everyone looking forward to next year.
to listen to their music now on 
