ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

 

Nardwuar and the Evaporators + Chris Murphy = Indie Rock Explosion!

Trevor Hargreaves, OP Mascott
Photos by Manjula Handsman and Clever Trevor

There’s no debating that Nardwuar the Human Serviette
and Sloan’s Chris Murphy are modern day Canadian-rock
icons. One has been writing hit songs for about 15 years,
while the other has been pestering bands about their songs
for just as long.

As such, it was particularly odd to witness these two
legends in the making rocking out on stage together at the
UBC Norm Theatre on March 7. While the majority of
Canadian youth recognize Nardwuar for his gonzo inter-
views on Much Music, only the true keeners are aware that
he’s also the front man of seminal Vancouver band The
Evaporators. With long-time Evap bassist John Collins cur-
rently MIA (he’s touring with his other group, The New
Pornographers) the affable Murph was kind enough to hop
on a plane and join Nard for one hell of a party—celebrat-
ing the double-disc DVD release of Nardwuat’s greatest
interviews, appropriately titled Doot Doola Doot Doot.

The evening was an entertaining mix of projected
interview segments, live music, and even some storytelling.
CBC Radio 3 front man Grant Lawrence took to the stage
early on and delighted everyone with tales of concerts that
he and Nard promoted long ago. He explained Nard’s love
of using his home phone number as the information line
for these gigs, and how he even invited the bands to stay at
Lawrence’s house. Although these were simple tales of
youthful hijinks, it’s notable that the shows they promoted
featured the likes of Nirvana, Mudhoney, and Fugazi, to
name just a few.

On the musical front, the evening was top notch all the
way. The buttery rhythms of Thee Goblins got things
heated up. Attired in their standard Washington Husky
cheerleader uniforms, with pillows over their heads and
music in their hearts, the band delivered a number of stan-
dards, including ““Two-By-Four-And-A-Half” and “Mario
Cuomo Works At Domo.” There was also an epic on stage
laser gun battle that kept everyone on the edge of their
respective seats.

After several more interview segments, the legendary
Evaporators took the stage. I gotta tell you, Chris Murphy

has the chops. Although he apparently ran through each

 

  
        

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song just once or twice in rehearsal, he kept up quite well.

As the band bashed into full effect, there were some
truly surreal moments. Watching Murph mumbling the
chorus for “I Gotta Rash,” you’d think he had just spent
an evening with Nickelback groupies. But nay. He was in
fact rocking out Nardwuar style.

The set bridged the full Evaps discography, but relied
heavily on songs from their latest album, Ripple Rock.
Featured tunes included “Mercury Outboards Have Plastic
Propellers,” “I’m Going To France,” “Your Instrument
Does Not Affect Me,” “Addicted To Cheese,” “I Feel Like
A Fat Frustrated Fuck,” “Ripple Rock,” “Barney Rubble Is
My Double,” and a spirited version of that sultry Canuck
love ballad, “Gerda Munsinger.”

Immediately after the performance, Murph filmed a
lengthy Going Coastal segment with Much Music’s Chris
Nelson and just about anyone who would speak into the
camera. Suddenly, Little Hamm of Canned Hamm got in
the mix and began telling his own crazy Nardwuar stories
as everyone filtered out. As local indie-rock love-ins go,
this: was solid gold. Do yourself a favor and catch the next
Evaporators show. But don’t forget your laser gun.

 

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