ARCADE FIRE AMONG THOSE FOR NEW PANTHEON AWARD

The Arcade Fire has been nominated for a Pantheon Music prize for the most underground band for their album, Funeral. The other nine nominees include albums by Death Cab For Cutie, Fiona Apple, Bloc Party and The Decemberists.

Two of those bands played Bonnaroo in 2005, and backstage at the festival former Phish mastermind Trey Anastasio said those are two of his favorites from a talented crop of new bands.

“You know the Arcade Fire is playing at this festival and The Decemberists are playing at this festival and those are two bands that I love. You probably wouldn’t be calling them jam bands. To use The Arcade Fire for an example, they’re a great live band. I saw them in New York and they’re incredible. So, it’s more kind of live music than jam music per se, but happy to be part of it.”

It’s not just the new crop of bands that are jumping on the Arcade Fire bandwagon. David Bowie took the stage with them for the Fashion Awards last year and Rush’s Geddy Lee is also a big fan.

“Well, I’ve been listening to that Arcade Fire album. I like that a lot. There’s a bunch of records I’ve been listening to. Some of them I like and some of them I don’t.”

Rounding out the nominees for the award, which will be meted out February 6 in Los Angeles, are albums by M.I.A., Animal Collective, Kings Of Leon, Sufjan Stevens, and Antony and the Johnsons.