Most Funky Band Of 2009 - Elastocitizens

On a hot sweaty July evening this band got the audience all hot and bothered with their brand of funk. Part Prince, Sly and the Family Stone, Jamiroquai - these Toronto cats are serious about their dance funk. With the whole vibe on the fun tip, leader Steve McCarthy is a bandleader channeling George Clinton. He had a serious skiing accident a few months before this clip was filmed, so that is why he is sitting down during the show. In fact Steve was the only one sitting at this show.
The rest of the crowd were up on their feet movin' to the groovin'. Check out the clip for yourself...

Most Original Band of 2009 - Hank & Lily Show

This band took me completely surprise at this years North By Northeast Music Festival in Toronto this past summer. These cats came out looking like they were completely out of their minds! Weird clowns, back-up singers dressed as nuns, a female drummer who had no drum seat and stood as she played and sang. And the guitar players looked absolutely strange with their bizarre ant eater type face masks that they wore. This iswhy the vocals sound so out of it - they sound like they are singing into a tin can.

Crazy, wacked out for sure - but boy did they entertain. Don't ask me what any of it actually means, if anything.

This band for me was the most entertaining, and frankly disturbing acts I saw all year.