he sixth annual mtvU Woodie awards, the only award show that showcases the best music voted on by college students, took place on Nov. 18 at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom, near Times Square.
The event is best known for catching rising bands just before they go mainstream. With the winners being voted on by college students, the Woodies offers a unique perspective on the music industry.
As Friendly Fires stated in a red carpet-side interview, “[the Woodies] are less influenced by fans and more by normal people.” Janelle Monroe shared enthusiasm for the show, praising college students as “trendspotters” of the music industry.
This year’s awards maintained its colloquial touch with Christofer Drew, of Never Shout Never, setting the mood by bravely parading down the red carpet in a Mickey Mouse sweater.
Brooklyn-based indie band, Matt & Kim kicked off the ceremony by biking right into the lobby, along with an entourage of backup singers who were more than eager to strip down to their underwear (in typical Matt & Kim fashion) to perform the song “Lessons Learned” from their album Grand, for which they received Best Video Woodie later that evening. Kim ended the song by literally walking onto the crowd.
Pete Wentz continued the light mood by dropping the first “F-bomb” of the night, just before cracking a joke about being diagnosed with swine flu as someone in the crowd asked to share the rest of his beer.
Actress and singer, Zooey Deschanel, who struggled with reading her lines on the teleprompter, causing one of the first awkward moments of the night, presented the first award of the year. The band Never Shout Never, who rose to fame on Myspace, was given the Breaking Woodie Award, and was able to make up for Deschanel’s blunder by giving the shortest speech of the night, simply shouting “Power to the people!” before hastily withdrawing back into the crowd.
3Oh3! presented the Left Field Woodie, honoring those artists who are completely unique, and took the award too seriously by dressing the part. Donning a concealing red dress and exaggerated white bird’s nest in the style of Lady GaGa, they nearly stole the limelight from the award winner, Tech N9ne. In a red carpet interview, Tech N9ne expressed his surprise that the Left Field Woodie even exists. He expressed his surprise and delight and described his style as totally different, as he simply likes to “take a ride on left side.”
Another special award presented was the Best Music on Campus Woodie, which honors musicians from college campuses. The OverUnder, one of Baruch’s own bands was nominated for the award, but was ultimately beaten by Hotel of the Laughing Tree from Suffolk County College. One of the band member’s parents and girlfriend were in the crowd, pumping up the excitement level of everyone around them, as his mother screamed, “That’s my son!”
The real excitement of the night came from the performances. Passion Pit took the stage and performed three of their biggest and boldest electro-indie tracks, pumping the crowd for Death Cab for Cutie’s performance of their new single from the New Moon soundtrack, “Meet Me On The Equinox” and their hit “The Sound of Settling.”
Will.I.Am presented the Good Woodie Award to Jamie Tworkowki for his work with To Write Love On Her Arms, a non-profit organization that helps people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. Tworkowski, the first non-musician to win a Woodie, dedicated his award to those struggling with these issues .
“No one was meant to do life alone,” he told the crowd.
The final award of the night was presented by Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester and 80s pop-rock queen Cyndi Lauper. Meester also had some trouble working with Lauper’s free-spirited take on the introduction and then took an awkward pause when the cameras didn’t cut away to the nominees fast enough.
Kings of Leon were awarded the Woodie of the Year award, but were not present to receive it.
Jack White’s newest band, The Dead Weather, closed out the night with an epic rock performance, playing three singles from their album Horehound “Cut Like a Buffalo,” “Treat Me Like Your Mother” (which was nominated for a Best Video Woodie) and “Hang You From the Heavens.”
One crowd member was so moved by the music that he jumped on the stage during “Hang you from the Heavens” and began head banging on his knees, next to singer Alison Mosshart. Mosshart’s vocals were beautifully shrill and White’s drumming was the stand out of the band, strong and skilled. The band took a bow to the most thunderous applause of the night and exited just after White through his drumsticks to the crowd.
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