ANDREW W.K. & DANKO JONES - Party Animals LIVE: Danko Jones with Andrew W.K. "I want to be non-threatening. I don't want people to be afraid of me or think that I'm above them. If they saw me on TV they'd say, "Hey, that's my friend, that's my friend's band playing." Yes. These were the words spoken directly from the mouth of Ann Arbor, Michigan's Andrew Wilkes-Krier, a.k.a. Andrew W.K. Looks can be deceiving, which in this case, they most certainly are. Andrew is friendly, compassionate, down to earth, and deep, all at the same time. His music however, is abrasive with fist pumping melodies and hurling vocals. As the warm-up act for Danko Jones, Andrew W.K. is one of few Americans to have performed in Thunder Bay, and he left the crowd in a frenzy. Many songs off the album I Get Wet (with the cover shot of Andrew's self inflicted nose bleed) were performed with heart and soul such as "Party Hard," "She is Beautiful," and "Ready to Die." Andrew W.K. and his wild band mates are one of few acts that not only encourage their fans to join them on stage, but literally pulls them up to share the experience. The Zoo stage was full of Andrew's "friends" as he likes to call them. From the first note played, a flock of fans rushed the moshpit, which proved to be crazy at times. Besides the fact that his wacky band resembled bangers of the 80s, they played a tight set. Not only did he sing, this guy played the guitar, as well as the keys. With videos on MuchMusic and the song "We Want Fun" on the Jackass soundtrack, things are looking good for our friend Andrew. Hopefully we'll see him return to Thunder Bay? "We'll definitely come back." That's what friends are for. "My momma made me for one thing, get up on stage and sing." And sing he does. Toronto's Danko Jones (both the front man and the band) are a raw, confident, and ferocious assault. Their latest full length album Born A Lion released on Universal Music in Canada, is a caged animal yearning to be freed. But their live show is without a doubt a wild beast. This album has spawned the singles "The Sound of Love" and "Lovercall" both of which the crowd was rocking away to during this intense white hot set, after being warmed up by Andrew W.K. While Danko is in charge of commanding the mic, he also plays a mean guitar. His fellow band members include bassist JC who keeps the solid flow of beats pumping, while Damon Richardson rounds out this trio, and can be held responsible for the fast, definitive beats that characterize many of their trademark songs. Danko Jones has guts, "What comes out of this mouth ain't called boasting, it's truthing," and with this kind of self assured attitude, you can do nothing but believe him. I'm proud to say that our little Canadian wonders have made a name for themselves over in Europe, where they are signed to Sweden's Bad Taste Records and have distribution deals in Japan and Brazil. They've toured Europe many times, including the headlining position, and have played the popular Roskilde Festival. So why the instant success in Europe, and the more stagnant success here at home? Danko sheds some light on the subject: "People over there have more of an open mind and that leads into the kind of music that everybody listens to." With their clever, tongue in cheek lyrics like, "And when we're making out, I keep your boyfriend in the trunk," it's easy to see what fuels their aggression during a performance: "Just having fun playing. Knowing that it's a privilege to play every night, it's not something we take for granted." Filled with fury, you'll see the tongue-wagging, the vein-popping, the sweat-dripping, along with the onstage commentary, which is all part of the undeniable stage presence that demands all eyes. While polite and soft spoken by nature-- do not be fooled. Mr. Jones takes on other forms when he hits the stage. This Mango Kid is Alive and on Fire. |
