ANDREW W.K.

[Fest]

how about it? he has a new album out early in the year, along with the bonus disc re-release of his third album "close calls with brick walls" and a rare/unreleased collection. he's also confirmed he's touring the us "and beyond" with his full band for the first time since 2005 (a mixture of legal troubles and side-projects has meant the band hasn't played together in 3 years).

i've been itching for some awk for the last few years now, thinking this could finally be the year but it turns out it wasn't even possible due to his dodgy contracts. but now, with his first full band worldwide release in 4 years, along with the fact his record label is based out of london, it seems possible.

lock-up headliner? i don't know if he's anywhere near popular enough anymore but that doesn't seem too far beyond him. could also see an early main stage spot. double duty wouldn't shock me either (one of the first few slots on the main stage, headlining the lock-up).

Edited December 1, 2009 by Fest

[Cydonia_90]

YESYESYES! I would love it if he played, love it.

[Keva]

He needs his own stage .. the party hard stage!

[scottt]

He needs his own stage .. the party hard stage!

[jordanuk90]

I could see him as a good mid afternoon spot

[rexclark]

Last time he played was in 02 at the peak of his fame and he played a mid afternoon slot on the Main Stage, I can't see him getting a better slot now. I would love to see him at the fest though.

[jonnyisRFC]

Wouldn't mind that at all

[rockinthecasbah]

Would like to see him somewhere. FR headliner or Lock Up headliner sounds about right.

Do we reckon R/L would allow him this sort of set up?

[Fest]

do you really think he's big enough to headline the lock-up or fr? that would be my guess too but he's made no significant impact over here for about 5 or 6 years! in america he's still something of a cult hero and always doing something if not music (he has his second tv show on at the moment, owns the biggest nightclub in new york, etc). i have no idea what his level of popularity is here at the moment (though obviously a first album release over here in 7 years forthcoming will be helpful!)

hes actually played 3 times in london in the last year, first time he had been over since 2003. all 3 times were incredible, even though he was on his own without a band. last september he played the re-opening of the astoria 2 for about half an hour and it was sold out (not sure how much it holds). security was really strict, tackled anyone who got on stage. he was back in may and he played old blue last. it was INSANE. he played the whole of i get wet and the crowd completely engulfed the stage, as it should be at andrew wk show! THEN he was back again in september, played solo piano improvisations at a couple of record stores (he was promoting the release of 55 cadillac, an absolutely incredible piano album he just released) before the big show at king's cross college (i think thats right) which was, again, overwhelming. crowd eventually ambushed the stage, andrew broke his nose and was covered in blood (but kept going) before vomitting all over the stage. and, of course, continuing. jimmy coup (the guitarist in the hawaiian shirt) was also there, his first appearance with andrew for 6 years which is some sort of hint at the band reunion.

anyway, the point of all that is that there really is nothing like an andrew wk gig. i would have said as much 7 years ago and ill say the same now. the guy is completely infectious, captivating and just excudes energy and positivity. i really think he could easily pull off the double booking. 1st - 3rd on main stage to get the day going, headlining the lock-up that night. by leeds he will have so much material out that he could play 2 very different sets. the only problem is his music is perfect for both situations. the tight, close-knit community feel of a club (lock-up stage) or open-air, stadium style cos his music is so massive. might mean the setlists for both would be a problem.

if any of you are only slightly familiar with awk, please, i cant encourage you enough to check out close calls with brick walls. an absolutely fantastic album, typical awk sound, but oh so different. zappa/bowie-esque. one of my favourite ever albums.

Edited December 1, 2009 by Fest

[rexclark]

He's been doing motivational speaking as of late, perhaps stick him in the Alternative stage.

[Chr!s]

Andrew WK is the man.

Would love to see them at Leeds

[robsadler]

jeeez i didn't think he'd done much stuff. i thought he only had 1 album. would quite like to see him to be fair.....IF YOU WANT TO PARTY LET'S PARTY HARD!

[Matticus]

andrew wk would be carnage. yes please!

[Fest]

yeah it's true he's been doing motivational speaking but he seems to be kinda phasing that out now, what with the confirmation of a full band tour in 2010 for the first time in 4 or 5 years.

his new album will be his 5th album (along with a whole host of eps, other unreleased stuff, etc), one of them being a double a double album, and another an entirely piano based album. it really is worth checking out more of his stuff. most underrated musician of the decade, in my opinion. this needs to happen!!

[ALLHALLOWS]

It would be brilliant if he played. Its always great fun.

[Bobs]

YES

I love Andrew WK.

I'd love MCR, AWK and KISS.

[Fest]

AWK has just been confirmed to play the whole of the warped tour from mid-June to mid-August. It finishes a week or two before Reading and Leeds. A good sign. He's also apparently told people they're "doing festivals" next year so hopefully this could happen.

[Jaybles]

AWK has just been confirmed to play the whole of the warped tour from mid-June to mid-August. It finishes a week or two before Reading and Leeds. A good sign. He's also apparently told people they're "doing festivals" next year so hopefully this could happen.

[Fest]

Anyone keeping up on all the hype he's been getting lately? Probably the most promotion he's had since around 2002. There's a huge fuss about him being the new Andrew WK and replacing the old one a few years ago. It's a fantastic piece of work (though completely untrue) but Andrew is more than happy to play it up for some free publicity, especially with the new double album coming out in a few weeks. I read an interview today where he said they would be in the UK "a lot" and "soon" and that another new album will be released shortly following the end of Warped Tour (so by the end of the year, basically). They're also planning on playing shows before WT, possibly over here, which would hint at Download. There's also a new single coming out in a week or two.

I still don't know if he's popular enough anymore to headline the Lock Up or Festival Republic but he certainly has to be a decent shout to play pretty high up on one of those stages. I encourage you all to check out the new album when it's out. Close Calls was originally released in Asia a few years ago and it's absolutely fantastic. You really wouldn't know it was the same guy from the (equally excellent) I Get Wet and The Wolf. But this would appeal more to people who thought those albums were silly. Mother Of Mankind is a bunch of more experimental stuff so we'll see how that goes, too.

[jordanuk90]

Where would he play if he was going to be at R/L though?

[rexclark]

Where would he play if he was going to be at R/L though?

Edited January 24, 2010 by rexclark

[Fest]

Pretty much. He's so versatile that I could see them being on almost any stage. Would easily fit in pretty high up (or headlining) the lock up or festival republic. NME has been giving him a little more coverage again so they could be on the NME stage mid-afternoon, and I could just as easily see them one of the first bands on the main stage. I'd love a double set, opening up the main and headlining the lock-up or something. I take the Warped Tour announcement to mean there's a very good chance. He's been confirmed for main stage at Warped along with 9 other bands and Andrew's advertised themselves as "the headliners" so who knows. I can't correctly gauge just how popular he is because he's been out of the limelight for so long. I've seen him by himself 3 times in the last 18 months or so over here and it was packed every time, though the capacity for each event was no more than about 500 people.

[Fest]

Bump for the yearly AWK thread has to happen one of these times! Come on guys! There is no better festival band than AWK! Make it so.

[onemangang]

Would like to see him somewhere. FR headliner or Lock Up headliner sounds about right.

Do we reckon R/L would allow him this sort of set up?

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[Matticus]

andrew w.k would be sweet. can see him definatley playing download festival at least. prehaps reading but i have a vision of him opening Download. That would be a great way to start a festival!