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Canadian Artists Selected By You Awards By Christina Olanick Sum 41 singer Deryck Whibley’s busted back prevented his band from headlining 102.1 the Edge’s 2007 CASBY (Canadian Artists Selected By You) awards on Wednesday as originally planned. 
Alan Cross, who hosted the show at the Kool Haus, said the pop-punksters have vowed to make up for the cancellation, but if the gimmicky, pre-packaged performance of their bassist’s side project, Operation MD, was any indication of what his motherband would have done, Sum 41 have already filled their good deed quotient be letting Finger Eleven close the show. The boys from Burlington took the stage right after snagging the Favourite New Album prize for Them vs. You vs. Me, and whether they were high from the win or just as joyfully drunk as most of the audience was at that point, or (probably) both, it showed. Sum 41’s absence allowed Finger Eleven the time for an expanded set of four songs, including a medley of covers and their hit “Paralyzer” that had the whole club head banging and singing along. It was the perfect end to a night of hit songs and overall awesome performances. IllScarlet, despite having the misfortune of opening to an overwhelmingly sober audience, started the show on an up note with their reggae-infused rock and little lead singer jumping around the stage like a hoodie-clad terrier, though sounding a hell of a lot better. Attack in Black proved they deserved their dual win of Favourite New Artist and Favourite New Indie release, the Saint Alvia Cartel likewise worked the crowd, and relative old-timer Matthew Good was low-key but mesmerizing. Even Raine Maida, having lost my respect with his derivative music and corny lyrics, won some of it back with a strong performance. The biggest name of the night was Billy Talent. Though they didn’t perform, they made an unscheduled appearance onstage, having asked the Edge if they could get in on the fun, and were lauded for representing CanRock to the world. The CASBY awards are about celebrating Canadian new rock, and if you were at Wednesday’s show you know there’s a lot to celebrate.
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