Gotye and Wagons win big at Melbourne’s EG Awards, and the Hoodoo Gurus become Hall Of Famers.
Hoodoo Gurus - Photo By Ros O'Gorman
The 2011 EG Awards hit the Prince Bandroom with a full force of schmoozing and rocking on Wednesday night.
After industry tippling, a welcome from Johnny Von Goes and editor Jo Roberts, and young sororal rockers Stonefield shaking the foundations, it was time to deliver this year’s gongs.
Wally De Backer, better known to millions of Australians as Gotye, was the big winner for the evening (possibly as an ARIA precursor?).
He was Best Male, his Kimbra-featured ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ won Song Of The Year, and he also nabbed the new Music Victoria award to recognise the achievement of the year, namely ruling the charts as an Australian. Sadly, he was flu-ridden but the awards were graciously accepted on his behalf, with specific thanks.
Beloved country crew Wagons won Best Band and Best Album for Rumble, Shake & Tumble. With the charismatic Henry Wagons on tour, Si, Mark and Chad got to step up to the mic to accept.
Clare Bowditch nabbed Best Female, Dave Graney & The Lurid Yellow Mist got Best Victoria Band, Royal Headache were Best New Talent, and Best Tour went to the promoters of the Blondie and Pretenders joint shows.
The Hoodoo Gurus were inducted into the EG Steve Waldon Hall Of Fame alongside the first non-muso: RRR icon Stephen ‘The Ghost’ Walker.
An all-star band was joined by The Living End’s Chris Cheney, Brous, Jane Badler, Kim Salmon and Ron Peno for a raucous set and then the Hoodoos closed the night out with non-stop classics, finishing with the eternal ‘Like Wow, Wipeout!’
