Nard and Andrew Wash the fruit exclusive
By Nathan Stafford
Vancouver’s very own vivacious veterans of garage-punk The Evaporators are releasing a split 7” record with NYC rocker Andrew W.K on June 23. The event will be marked by a couple of local performances - A Free All-Ages in-store at Neptoon Records at 4PM, followed by an 8PM show at the Biltmore Cabaret.
The record, called A Wild Pear, is a fabulous little 4-song collection, with a special bonus interview snippet of Nardwuar Vs Andrew W.K. Nardwuar explains that it is pressed on white vinyl because all Nardwuar Records releases are vinyl (some even made it to 8-track) and because white is Andrew W.K.’s favourite colour.
On Side Nardwuar, you get the Evaporators romp “The Bomb in My Pants” which blasts off like a rocket to Uranus.
Nardwuar: “This particular song was inspired by a story “O”, a great skateboard photographer and also member of the San Diego bands Olivelawn and Fluf, told in Flipside Magazine. It deals with using the washroom in a “certain way” when you are on tour. I will leave it at that.”
The Evaps also cover 60’s garage/R&B Montrealers Les Hou-Lops’ track “Oh Non”.
Nardwuar: “Years ago The Gruesomes from Montreal covered “Je Cherche” by 60s Montreal Punks Les Lutins. That got me turned onto an amazing cache of priceless Quebecois Garage Rock, which in turn led me to Les Hou Lops. I am addicted to cheese but the Gruesomes basically got me addicted to Les Hou Lops! So it was natural I would search out different versions of the song and thanks to the greatness of YouTube, there suddenly was a cover of “Oh Non” by Les Mousses! However, this time appearing before my eyes, were a bunch of kids wearing sailors outfits in a “Battle of the Bands” playing their asses off. “Oh Non!” That was the kicker that really set the single in motion.”
N: Was the idea to do this record yours or Nardwuar’s?
AWK: “He suggested the idea of doing the 7”, and I thought ‘Wow’. Getting to work with Nardwuar in this way and getting to cover these Canadian songs, especially ‘Don’t Sell Hot Dogs Tonight, is a huge honor for me. Out of the respect for how circles can be completed and how dreams can come true, I always try to say yes to those types of opportunities.”
N: You released The Japan Covers album last year. Is this essentially your Canada Covers?
AWK: “Well hey, that’s a great way to refer to it! Doing cover songs is relatively new to me. When Nardwuar presented the idea of doing Canadian songs specifically, that appealed to me because I’ve been a really big fan of Canada and The Leather Uppers, I’ve liked them since I was 13. Again, to have the opportunity to record their song for a very Canadian release just was so special to me.”
N: Who played drums on ‘Oh Canaduh’? Was that you?
AWK: “That’s me playing all the music on there. I took some jazz classes in school, and I started playing drums around that time in Junior High, so I’ve picked up different abilities with the drums over the years. Playing drums on those songs is a lot of fun.”
N: You just started a label called Scyscraper Music Maker.
AWK: “Yes, that’s true. We just this week released our first very limited promotional release, it’s the ‘DAMN! The Mixtape’ CD. We had a release party and concert at Santos Party House here in Manhattan for it.”
N: You own that club, and you also own Skyscraper Studios in Manhattan. Have you ever been to any studios here in Vancouver?
AWK: “Well, actually when I rehearsed with Nardwuar, we were at a studio.” (JCDC)
N: What other activities have you done in Vancouver, or has it always been go go go?
AWK: “It’s been pretty go go go. This last time was one of the more relaxed times I’ve had there, which was really nice. I have a lot of memories of looking out hotel windows. It’s one of the great cities of the world!”
N: I interviewed a wrestler named Memphis once from the ECCW, and he said he listens to your song Party Hard before a big match to get pumped up. What do you think of that?
AWK: “Oh wow, that’s great! So it’s the Canadian version of the ECW? I am a huge, huge fan of wrestling. I just wasn’t sure if you meant Greco-Roman style or grappling. I like the real wrestling, not the Olympic-style.”
N: You’re performing June 23rd at The Biltmore, but you’ll also be performing earlier that day at Neptoon Records. How will those two shows differ?
AWK: “Well, they’ll be very different, for obvious reasons. The Neptoon Records show is in an actual record store, but at both shows, you’ll hear songs from my albums, if you’ve listened to them, you’ll be familiar with them, and you’ll hear some stuff you definitely haven’t heard before, and new stuff I’ll make up on the spot. You can expect to not have too clear of an expectation, but I think it will be fun. I give everything I can to create a feeling of energy, and that’s what I will be focusing on.”
N: I heard a rumor that you never shower or wash your hair. Is that true?
AWK: “I did take a shower today. I swore I did. When you go into the bath but you stand up and you have the water come down, that’s a shower, right? Well that’s what I did.”
N: Anything else you’d like to add, Mr W.K.?
AWK: “I would like to say that I really very sincerely have a particular love for Canada, and I really just want people to understand how much I value their interest, their support or any feelings they have for anything I’ve done. I just want to give people the energy to break through those feelings that say ‘You Can’t Do What You Really Want To Do’. That’s what it all comes down to.”
A Wild Pear is now available to pre-order through Mint Records and Nardwuar Records. Not sure if it will be available in the U.S. yet, like The Evaporators’ last release “Gassy Jack & Other Tales” on Alternative Tentacles.
Nardwuar clarifies: “We will be sending out copies to US distributors and the next time I see Jello Biafra I will get him a copy for sure. He loves the Subhumans, who Andrew W.K. covers, and in fact just released the last Subhumans record, “Death Was Too Kind”!”
Anything else you’d like to add, Nardwuar?
“Thank you so much for caring Nathan! I guess if you care, people care! Well, at least you care! Having Mitch Clem do the artwork was so awesome. Not only does he have a kickin’ web comic “My Stupid Life” at mitchclem.com he just released a book on Darkhorse Comics called “Nothing Nice to Say “. Furthermore it is incredible that Andrew W.K. actually agreed to do a split 7inch with The Evaporators. I still can’t believe he said yes, and now we are doing a gig together!”
Following the Vancouver shows, Andrew W.K. and The Evaporators will be hitting the road together to play Sled Island Festival in Calgary, then 2 shows in Edmonton. Following that, Andrew W.K.’s Crazy Canadian Summer Tour rocks the nation!
So Don’t Sell Hot Dogs on June 23rd, just come out to the show!
Read my Full Interview with Andrew W.K.
Read My Full Interview with Nardwuar The Human Serviette
Read My Live Review of Nardwuar Nite!
Order A Wild Pear Online!
No comments:
Post a Comment