In an age where everyone knows music and big business
go hand in hand. You need a little drama to create a
big splash in the industry. It seems the hyperbole surrounding
New Great White hope, Andrew WK, concerns his
penchant for mutilation. Ironically, this newsworthy
titbit would, one assumes, not sit happily with Mr.WK.
Here is an artist who earnestly believes in the power
of music. Not just his, but all music. He says:
"Music is what makes your fucking world go 'round! Music
is what cheers you up when your girlfriend sucks! Music
is what keeps you going when EVERYTHING sucks!!! You
know?"
As if to prove to a cynical music press that he really
means it, he mutilated himself in a recent NME interview
when questioned about his integrity. If WK evoked the
spirit Richey Manic in this single act, and Cobain's
through his,some would say, naïve, belief in the transcendence
of the song, on stage he captures the rock and roll
spirit that is unique with an authenticity impossible
to duplicate. By all accounts it is on stage that he
really delivers Even his earliest one man shows, consisting
of WK, a microphone and a CD backing track of self played
instruments, it would be WK's rock and roll spirit rubbed
off on the audience and they would go wild.
WK is an indie artist who plans to become a bigger star,
in fact the biggest star. Perhaps as big as him self
belief will, no doubt, carry him up into the stratosphere.
Well, it worked for Oasis. And like Oasis and, fellow
New York inhabitants, The Strokes, WK evokes the same
leather jacketed, white boy myth making rebellious spirit
that rock and roll dreams are made of. No macrobiotic
diets for him, WK is a disciple to the holy trinity
of music, partying and girls. To this music fan, the
jury is still out as to whether WK is just another American
prince of macho posturing (hello Durst, Kid Rock et
al) or a true music force. To date, WK has only had
one release, the ethos defining "Party Till Your Puke".
A musical collision of embryonic, early nineties dance/rock
fusion(not dissimilar to, gulp, Transvision Vamp) via
Nu-metal. Nevertheless it is, true to the spirit of
WK, a piece of "live for the moment "Hedonistic R and
R. While I defy anyone not to dance to the tune, the
juries still out as to whether Andrew WK will prove
a new page for Rock and Roll or just a retread of former
glories.. Read Crud's review of I GET WET HERE
Report by Priya Elangasinghe
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