Concert review - Vodafone Live Music Awards

10:06am Wednesday 1st October 2008

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Jason Tremain reports from the Vodafone Live Music Awards

How the celebrities came out - swathes of them gliding into the historic yet shabby Carling Academy, Brixton, for the Vodafone Live Music Awards. Not an event for the music snob or anyone expecting a shock win, this was a night for tongue-in-cheek back patting and corporate sponsorship.

Show openers The Ting Tings gave the usual energised performances of That's Not My Name and new song Be the One and picked up Xfm's Breakthrough Award amid a few boos. Mild controversy struck again as the karaoke kid Mark Ronson pipped Dizzee Rascal and Paul Weller to the Best Male gong.

Other live sets came from the (Monster-less) Automatic, James Morrison, Will Young and new indie superstars Glasvegas. Estelle's two song set was overshadowed by enough tickertape and streamers to practically choke the front 10 rows. The same 10 rows were almost scorched by the Pussycat Dolls' fireworks and scanty costumes.

Channel 4's Steve Jones and actress/rock chick Juliette Lewis fronted the show with a well rehearsed yet slightly stilted performance. Former Clash member, Mick Jones, was well received as he presented The Outstanding Contribution to Music Award to veterans Primal Scream who closed the show with a blistering two tune set consisting of Rocks and latest release Can't Go Back to a slightly apathetic crowd.