A Review - The Evaporators - June 21, 2012

I gotta disease! I’m addicted to CHEESE!

Alright, so where do I even start? The Evaporators. Here is a band I, admittedly, know very little about, other than that their lead singer is essentially a national treasure. I can remember being amused and impressed by Nardwuar and his interviews for as long as I can remember. I even follow him on Twitter today. The Vancouver native is a common household name for most Canadians of my generation. Watching his countless, delightful interviews on Much Music has always been commonplace and I can't say I know anyone who can't properly finish a good old "Doot doola doot doo..."  So when I found out Nardwuar's band, The Evaporators, was gracing our city, it was an obvious 'must see'. 

Nardwuar - The Human Serviette

So we head down to the National Music Center to give them a go. The crowd is smallish - maybe 50 people or so - and surprisingly ages range anywhere from 10 to 60. The crowd lights up and welcomes Nardwuar on stage. Now, anyone who has watched a Nardwuar interview knows that he always does extensive research before each one. He then accompanies every question with a thrifty anecdote to get the artist thinking before he ultimately pops said question which usually results in a surprised and impressed answer to the question. As it turns out, an Evaporators show is no exception. Even the sound check was done in storybook fashion. Strategically moving from mic to mic and around the room to assure optimal sound, Nardwuar filled our ears with random factoids and information. In fact, I still couldn't tell you where the sound check actually started, ended, or where the first song began. With each tale there was a song and each song brought a contagious bout of energy into the audience; often in the form of Nardwuar himself.  Audience participation was not optional; if he wanted you up and dancing - you were. Even if he didn't ask you personally, you couldn't help but get up and chant along with such lyrics as "Gimme some ointment, I need an appointment" or "I don't need my friends to tell me who my friends are".  About a third of the way into the set, it was evident that The Evaporators had undoubtably won over this crowd. Whether you were laughing and singing along or you were getting in line to help Nardwuar crowd surf across the venue - you were all in.  Nardwuar's immense energy, hysterical antics and informative anecdotes were undeniably awesome. Even the band members of We Are The City (who had opened up for the Evaporators) were up and dancing on chairs. Just when I thought I was having an unbeatable blast, an unexpected guest performer was invited on stage. But really, why wouldn't Andrew WK come out to play "Party Hard" with the Evaporators? And of course they would go on to discuss their afternoon in Calgary taking in our sights and enjoying lunch at one of our most prized eateries - Tubby Dog. And OF COURSE they would use Tubby Dog as a nifty maneuver to mention their love for cheese. Which would obviously prompt them breaking into the song: I'm addicted to cheese.  "I got a disease, I'm addicted to cheese!" Oh the insanity. 

Crowd Surfing Through the National Music Center in Calgary

So once Andrew WK joined the brigade, any attempt even for the cool kids in the back to maintain composure was over. Between WK's party presence, Nardwuar AND his keyboard crowd surfing through the NMC without missing a note and the sheer black 'Thriller' shirt Nard was now sporting, everyone was stoked. (Find me anyone in the crowd who was still sitting down and I'll give you my first born.) After several crafty costume swaps, much sweat and several more amazing songs including a sick cover of the Hot Nasties "Barney Rubble is My Double" the show did what all great things must do and came to an end. And though the crowd was on the small side, this did not stop Nardwuar from strapping on a helmet bearing a Canadian maple leaf and crowd surfing his way around the entire room for his grandest of finales.  As we all proudly hoisted the lead singer in the air and sang along with those final lyrics I was grinning ear to ear - who wasn't? What an unexpected delight! I really had no idea what to expect going in to this show, but I was definitely leaving with a whole new outlook on Nardwuar and The Evaporators. I would highly recommend going to see these guys if the opportunity ever comes your way. Just be ready to get the heck up get Busy Doing Nothing!