There are a few simple reasons Alt-J won this year’s Mercury Prize for best United Kingdom album of the year An Awesome Wave.  They are ridiculously gifted songwriters, musicians and singers, all of which were combined well in that spectacular, nuance-filled album.  Sometimes those gifts don’t translate to the stage, but as you will see below, such is not the case with these gents from Cambridge.  They came through the States in December and Oregon Public Broadcasting captured them performing at the Star Theater in Portland.  Check out two particularly compelling performances (of Fitzpleasure and Something Good).  The harmonies and piano on Fitzpleasure are alone worth the price of admission.  Alt-J is here to stay.  You can read more and watch another song over at OPB.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zSwCGjVzSc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ruO2nfFa_M