andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Canadian punk acts will receive honours and rock the stage at the second annual F-U Awards next month.

The Feb. 5 event at Toronto’s Sound Academy will be hosted by Barry Taylor and JD of The Edge 102.1’s Punk-O-Rama show and Jason Mewes, a.k.a. Jay from Kevin Smith’s Jay and Silent Bob characters.

Protest the Hero lead the field of nominees with three nods, though they have already won one of those — guitarist Tim Millar for the year’s best facial hair.

Close behind with two nods each are Cancer Bats, Fucked Up and Living with Lions.

Beginning Jan. 20, fans can head over the awards show’s website here to vote for their favourites.

The event will also feature performances from Andrew W.K., The Flatliners, Die Mannequin, The Artist Life, Kingdoms and The Expos.

Tickets are $15 and available now through Ticketmaster.

The nominees for the 2009 F-U Awards are:

The Young Jedi Award (Up And Coming Band Of 2008):
Junior Battles
Kingdoms
Little Millionaires
Sarah Blackwood
Sights And Sounds

The Henry Rollins “Get In The Van” Award (Hardest Working Band Of 2008):
Cancer Bats
Die Mannequin
The Flatliners
The Holly Springs Disaster
Protest The Hero

Most Outstanding Live Performance Award:
The Creepshow
Die Mannequin
Fucked Up
Living WIth Lions
Protest The Hero

Song Of The Year:
The Artist Life — “The Last Time”
Cancer Bats — “Hail Destroyer”
Fucked Up — “Magic Word”
Living With Lions — “Bottle Of Charades”
Saint Alvia — “Romeo”

The Lanny McDonald Award (Best Facial Hair Of 2008):
Tim Millar (Protest The Hero)

Protest The Hero are making their mark on the hard rock, hardcore, heavy metal and post-whatever scenes, thanks to the progressive, metallic, and so-far-left-of-center-that-it-hangs-out-at-dangerously-close-to-the-warning-track music on their latest album, Fortress.

andPOP caught up with lead singer Rody Walker.

Whitby punk band Protest The Hero have their first ever No. 1 album on the Canadian album charts.

Their sophomore release “Fortress” debuted at the top this week with sales of over 6,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Their previous highest ranking was No. 91, with their 2006 album “Kezia.”

Coming in at No. 2 on this week’s charts was the compilation “Grammy Nominees 2008,” which sold just under 6,000 copies.

Last week’s No. 1, the “Juno” soundtrack, sold 5,000 copies to take the No. 3 spot.

Rounding out the rest of the Top 10 are, in order, Sarah Brightman’s “Symphony,” Michael Buble’s “Call Me Irresponsible,” Mars Volta’s “Bedlam in Goliath,” Radiohead’s “In Rainbows,” “MuchDance 2008,” Alicia Keys’ “As I Am” and Rihanna’s “Good Girl Gone Bad.”

In the U.S., Alicia Keys had the top-selling album, followed by the “Juno” soundtrack and Mars Volta.