Video: Gonzales vs Andrew WK
- story Peter Macia
What began as a duel between two of the game’s biggest pianists, soon turned into a duet of banging and tickling. Whoa… hold on. Let’s start that over. A few weeks ago, Feist collaborator and world record holder Gonzales challenged New York party wizard Andrew WK to a piano duel at Gonzales’ pending show at Joe’s Pub in Manhattan. Of course, AWK accepted, and now we have about 20 minutes of video (click thru for part II). That video is awesome and we would like more of this kind of stuff, like Running Man for music nerds. Zach Hill vs ?uestlove. Dam Funk vs Joker. Omar Rodriguez Lopez vs Joanna Newsom. Et cetera. Feel free to leave some dream match-ups in the comments. Maybe we can make something happen. (via Oliver)
Andrew WK Does Spoken Word
- story Erin Hansen
A while back we were introduced to Byron Kalet’s weird and eccentrically packaged Journal of Popular Noise, a biannual vinyl series featuring off-kilter music submissions from independent artists and musicians. This week, the Summer ‘09 issue dropped and it took a turn for the better into neverneverAndrewWKland, anthologizing spoken word tracks from Andrew WK, Ian Svenonius and the Felt Letters and more. We’re also completely mystified and unsettled by some girls called Walker + Cantrell whose spoken word submission spans from tween talk about Chuck Bass being sexy to a tale of some girl, literally, dying for attention—Heathers circa 2009. Since we missed the launch at Santo’s last Tuesday where we’re certain some awesome weirdness ensued, we’ll be sure to simulate our own weirdo experience by locking ourselves in a room with these records, a staticky mini-television and a Fisher Price record player. Get your own here. Read More
New Year’s Eve At Santos Party House
- story THE FADER
The first thing that struck us about New Year’s Eve 2008 was how happy we were that the year was ending. It seemed many in the crowd at Santos Party House that night were feeling the same way because, after Andrew WK’s 96 second countdown plus performance and the inexplicable DJ set from The Misshapes, everyone looked less generally celebratory than relieved. On what was probably the coldest, anti-ragingest day of 2008, Gang Gang Dance (F44) once again reminded us why we praise their live show so frequently by replacing their experimental space jams of old with the new sprawling drum-heavy burners on Saint Dymphna. After that, we hopped between floors juggling champagne glasses to catch, among others, James Friedman, Lemonade, Invisible Conga People, Mike Simonetti and our dudes Josh Wildman and Andrew Kuo, who started DJing at 4am and kept going ’til sunrise. Or at least we assume so. We headed home before that, exhausted and totally ready for 2009. Up above, check out our video tour of Santos and then imagine it filled with people and champagne and you’ll know what our night was like. Click here to read Matthew Schnipper’s piece on Santos Party House from F58, which is on stands for just a little while longer. If you don’t have your copy, go out and get it now.
FADER 58: Santos Party House Feature
- story Matthew Schnipper
- photo Gabriele Stabile
In 2008, Santos Party House was the backbone of our music listening experience in New York. It seemed like every person worth checking out stopped in to take advantage of the good vibes and great soundsystem. To capture Santos’ big moment in music, FADER editor Matthew Schnipper spoke with the four founders of the club about their dedication to the simple art of People Having Fun.
Video: Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry Popping His Dentures At Naked Butts
- story THE FADER
Because what fun would it have been for us to just type “Video: Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, ‘Pum Pum’”? No fun at all. And it wouldn’t have gotten you hyped to watch the legendary Upsetter upsetting our notions of what is acceptable behavior in fake strip clubs. Newly-minted Lee Perry Strip Club Behavior:
1. Popping your dentures at naked butts
2. Almost slapping a dancer’s behind
3. Praying to Jesus Christ for more pum pum
Andrew WK: Best Dude Ever?
- story THE FADER
The answer is yes. Yes he is. In case you haven’t already realized that from watching our video of his recent performance at Get Weird, there is more evidence just up over at the always piss-pantsingly funny Street Boners & TV Carnage where Andrew demonstrates how to not maintain your dignity after getting smashed in the face.
FADER TV: Andrew WK Got Extra Weird At The New Museum
- story THE FADER
For the first time in human history, we are posting a full show on FADER TV. Sound the trumpets. We were so inspired by Andrew WK’s performance a couple weeks ago at the New Museum’s Get Weird series, curated by former FADER EIC Alex Wagner, that we felt this was the opportune moment to give it a shot. How could we not? Andrew could probably convince us to chew our own arm off if it meant having more fun or loving New York more. He’s just that dude. He showed up in signature white, sat at the grand piano, and before anyone knew what to do, was improvising several of our new favorite songs with none other than Matt Sweeney (also in white) before letting Sweeney go and kicking into AWK circa 2001 for the last half, most of the room dancing and freaking out around him. It was a moment. So let it play or watch each clip until you are ready to embrace how truly great YOU ARE and how massively incredible LIFE CAN BE. Or puke.
NYC: Get Weirder Than Maybe You’d Prefer
- story THE FADER
Anyone in New York City who’s ever told someone “I had the weirdest night ever last night” and it did not end with “with Andrew WK” is a total liar. However, they, and you, have the chance to redeem them and yourselves tonight at the New Museum as former FADER EIC Alex Wagner’s Get Weird series blazes on with a AWK performance on solo grand piano. IN. THE. ROUND. It’s like Ancient Greece for people who usually end up puking at the end of the night. Get your tickets here or at the door and prepare for a night of insomniac hallucinations!
NEWSFLASH: ANDREW WK GETS EVEN WEIRDER
- story THE FADER
The New Museum’s Get Weird series just tipped us off to May’s extra special guest, and while we have intentionally not puked from partying in a long while, that shit is going to happen on May 15th. Details straight from the typewriter of former AW(silent K) bka Alex Wagner:
Experimental party starter Andrew WK makes a special appearance for
May’s Get Weird. On the heels of his explosive post-frat live shows
across the globe, WK has been, of late, handling production duties for
Lee “Scratch” Perry, lecturing at Yale, vibing with Will Oldham,
spoofing the McLaughin Group, and performing with avant folkie Baby
Dee and teen supergroup Hanson. We really have no idea what this
performance will be like, but we know it will be awesome. And probably
weird.
We have also heard rumors of another dude performing at Get Weird that night that will make nerds get juiced, so stay tuned.
FADER TV: Andrew WK Interviews Baby Dee
- story THE FADER
From the Newsprint section in FADER 51:
Cleveland’s Baby Dee has amassed a hefty list of admirers, a tiny albeit esteemed portion of which joined forces for the recording of her Drag City debut Safe Inside the Day. Superwolf duo Matt Sweeney and Will Oldham took key producing reins for the multi-instrumentalist’s third outing, an autobiographical disc brimming with Vaudevillian songs of odd but never faltering beauty. “Everyone that would come in would hear it and immediately get it,” Sweeney says. “I feel like we were all playing at levels that we had never played before. This music sounds like it’s been around for a thousand years.” -David Bevan
Another admirer is awesomest dude in the universe Andrew WK, who, in preparation for Baby Dee’s show tonight at Joe’s Pub, sat down for a candid interview with the artist for FADER TV. We couldn’t bring ourselves to edit any of it out, so watch Part 1 here and click more for Parts 2 and 3.
