With extremely high expectations, I went to see Andrew WK play on June 10th at Richards on Richards in Vancouver. Those expectations were not only met, but exceeded to such an extent that mere written language cannot possibly convey the experience - but I'll do my best.

My enthusiasm and love for Andrew's music is boundless, immeasurable, unquantifiable. From the moment a friend played me Andrew's "Girls Own Juice" album I knew my life had changed forever, and for the better. This was the music I had been waiting my whole life to hear; this was music I couldn't wait to share with everyone I knew; this was music I could soundtrack my life with. Not since early childhood could I remember being so excited just by music, by melody, by it's power to affect me, to make me feel. It was like electricity moving across my entire body, a feeling of pure joy, pure energy. This was music that loved me unconditionally, music that would never let me down, and I knew I wanted more.

I was astonished to discover that the huge rock anthems that comprised "AWKGOJ" were entirely produced by one person, the then twenty-year old Andrew Wilkes-Krier. Each song was constructed piece by piece, by Andrew playing all the guitars, drums, piano, synthesizers etc. Even more amazing was that he had printed his home phone number on the back of the CD, area code included, with a demand that you call him. We tried to work up the courage to make the call, but, in the face of the total intensity of the music, we had no idea what we would say.

The release of Andrew's next album on Bulb, "Party 'Til You Puke" was delayed when news broke he had been signed to Island/Def Jam. My response to this information was not my typical cry of "sell-out" but "Yes-yes-this is exactly what needs to happen, everyone in the world must have the opportunity to hear this music!" The songs on the album ("Dance Party", "I Want To Kill" and the three versions of the titular "Party 'Til You Puke") showed Andrew experimenting, fusing "AWKGOJ's" huge anthemic rock sound with driving techno-like beats. The result… another triumph, another album that gives you a firm handshake, a bear hug, and puts a big grin on your face every time it hits the turntable. On the album Andrew also paid homage to his past with a cover of Couch's "Old Man" which, while being true to the spirit and melody of the original, transforms it into a massive sonic attack. More than a year later, Andrew's first major label album, "I Get Wet," was released to rave reviews in Britain, and decidedly mixed reviews in the U.S. The NME dubbed Andrew the "Saviour of Rock Music," while others wrote him off as either a hedonist headbanger idiot, or some kind of self-reflexive joke. Many rock reviewers, in their cynicism and fear, sat on the fence, embarrassed that they liked the album so much, and afraid that some kind of joke was being pulled on them. Andrew's response to all this has been to say that there is no wrong reason to like his music, that "nothing is too good to be true" and that "the music is big enough to love even the people who think it's a joke." He has also said that he's just going to have to try even harder to make everyone feel included the next time around.

To my mind, "I Get Wet" is, without a doubt, the most important album ever released, and I play it every day; it's there for me when I get up in the morning, and there for me when I go to bed at night. The song "Got To Do It" has become a mantra, a constant reminder to "never let down," to realize what a precious gift life is, to appreciate what it is to be a human being, here and now, to have boundless energy, endless potential, and to always, always "do all the stuff that you love." The title track, "I Get Wet" is simply the most exciting three minutes and twenty three seconds of music ever recorded.

So, without belaboring the point any further, when I went to see Andrew perform at Richard's on Richards, I went with the highest possible expectations. Friends and acquaintances, some of whom I had not seen in several years, traveled from locations as far as eight hours apart to attend the show. Many of them had to work extra shifts at their places of employment in order to take a week to prepare for what was to be the most glorious night in all our lives. One friend almost blinded himself when, in a moment of sleep-deprived adrenaline-soaked excitement, he splashed liquid bleach in his eye. Most of us didn't sleep for days before the show, nor could we sleep for days after, as we buzzed with hyperactive energy. I spent the week before the show drinking orange juice, doing sit-ups, and painting a large canvas banner emblazoned with a portrait of Andrew.

The crowd who turned up to see the show were the predictably unpredictable blend of metalheads, punks, frat-boys, hipsters, and every other conceivable subgroup of people, proving that Andrew is right when he says his music is for "people of the world." Many wore home-made T-shirts created in loving tribute to Andrew and his music. I have never seen such a diverse group of people so ecstatic, so exhilarated and so united in excitement.

Andrew's stage performance is phenomenal, the level of energy he puts out is immeasurable, his enthusiasm infectious. As much as possible Andrew breaks down the barrier between audience and performer, hurling himself into the fist pumping throng, grabbing the hands of anyone within reach, putting his microphone into the audience, hoisting audience members onto his shoulders, and even dragging people onto stage, putting them in headlocks and making them sing along with him. At one point during the June 11th Seattle show while Andrew was crowd surfing, one fan, capitalizing on the opportunity, hurled himself off the stage, and while falling onto Andrew, snapped photo's of him in mid-air. The band Andrew has gathered around him are a mixed bunch, each one a unique presence, each one chosen to help create the biggest possible sound. It is his hope to make the band even larger for his next tour. It is a far cry from the "Girls Own Juice" days when Andrew's live performances consisted of him playing karaoke style with his music on a ghetto blaster, while he accompanied himself on a Yamaha keyboard. (Though by all accounts those performances were also fantastic.) The band puts out a huge wall of sound, one that picks you up off the floor and demands that you express yourself physically. The audience sings each word in chorus with Andrew, or at least do their best approximation of what they think the lyrics might be, as they are mysteriously absent from the album sleeve.

During the last song, "Don't Stop Living in the Red," Andrew becomes a whirling dervish, furiously thrashing around the stage, leaping into the air, flailing his arms around, and shadow boxing/headbanging while the audience goes wild. By the end of Andrew's set he has given it his all, his T-shirt is shredded, he is drenched in sweat and water, and so is the audience. It is the closest experience to a giant shared simultaneous orgasm I have ever experienced. Complete strangers smile at each other, shake hands and hug, flushed, totally spent, and totally elated. It is an absolutely transcendent experience, a watershed moment in one's life. And yet the best is still to some. Although the show ends at 11:30, Andrew joins the crowd until well into the morning, hanging out with his fans, talking with them, posing for pictures, and writing novel length messages on posters, T-shirts, albums, sweaty towels, body parts, prosthetic limbs, and anything else offered to him. Many people stood for hours in heavy tour-bus exhaust fumes (Andrew suffering the fumes with them) in order to get a chance to speak with him, and afterwards, many of us had tears in our eyes. One friend was rendered literally speechless by the event, either too overcome with emotion, or too hoarse from screaming during the show to be able to communicate coherently. Each individual is given as much time as they want or need with Andrew, and he does his utmost to make them happy. One of the many incredible things I witnessed after the Vancouver show was Andrew signing the digital side of a girl's CD (she'd asked him to, saying she'd buy herself another copy.) After signing the CD, Andrew went onboard his bus, and came back a moment later with fifteen dollars which he gave to the girl so that she could replace the album he'd just signed.

After the Seattle show on June 11th, Andrew spent time teaching the kids how to party hard, leading a group of encircled fans in some impromptu dance/exercises out on the street. It is this kind of enthusiasm, this kind of care and attention that sets Andrew apart, and proves that he is breaking new ground. He is completely obliterating the traditional relationship between performer and audience, 'rock-star' and 'fan.' Andrew is as excited about the music as you are, and he is doing it for you, for me, for all of us.

Like so many others who attended the show, we came as fans of Andrew WK, and we left as his friends. It was, in Andrew's words, "single handedly the greatest night!" and it left me moved beyond words. It is my ardent hope that everyone who reads these words who hasn't already heard Andrew's music will go and seek it out immediately. It can only make your life better in every way. It's Andrew's party, and you are all invited, so do yourself a favour and come on in and join the fun.

-Nick Sheehan

Webmistress' note: Shortly after this review was posted, I received the following e-mail, which Brandy said I could share:

hello!

It is morwen from the slammers board. I just wanted to say thankyou for putting up those cool show reviews (even though they weren't written by you) it brought a tear to my eye and a smile to my face because at the Vancouver show I was the girl that Andrew had signed the back of my cd to. I have it framed and put on my wall along with the money he gave me because I just couldn't bring myself to spend it. But when I read that and then I saw the photos of the vancouver show that my friend is in it brought joy to my heart. As you already know Andrew is such a nice guy and I know their is no need to say thankyou but I felt I should do so anyways. I just thought I should tell you because it brought back the memories of that night (the best night I have ever had by far!) and I don't know if you were there or not but it was just so cool! so thankyou

From Morwen (aka Brandy)