ANDREW W.K. | LIVE REVIEW
Y Plas, Cardiff University Students Union, Fri 13 Apr
Upon entering the smaller of Cardiff University’s venues, an already rampant crowd are chanting “PARTY, PARTY, PARTY”. This means two things. Firstly, I’m in the right place and secondly, the party god himself Mr Andrew W.K. is in town. It’s Friday night and this venue is full to bursting of students ready to go wild. With new album You’re Not Alone out now, Andrew is bringing his full band – including three guitarists, no less – back to the UK for another adrenaline-fuelled night of mayhem, and it’s clear straight from the bat that they mean business.
Greeted like an old pal by the Cardiff crowd, the band launch into recent single Music Is Worth Living For and Mr W.K. looks genuinely taken aback by the reaction and thumbs up to the crowd is given. The onslaught continues from there with the band flying through newer songs and older favourites alike while W.K. bounds around the stage with the enthusiasm and energy of a vegan straight edge band smashed on carrot juice. Here’s a man who takes his cardio seriously. When he does pause, it’s to show off his guitar god licks, before busting into She Is Beautiful.
As for the rest of the band, there’s a mixture of old band members and newer, but Andrew’s PMA has obviously rubbed off on them – they all look as though they are thoroughly enjoying themselves. And the assembled hordes feed off that energy: indeed, we even get a clown (that is to say, somebody in full clown costume and makeup) crowdsurfing. As always, there’s the odd few overzealous “fans” who insist on pelting the stage with the two-pint plastic glasses on offer tonight, but nothing can put these guys off and the night is, naturally, rounded off with the party anthem, Party Hard.
He’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but that energy and enthusiasm is infectious and you can’t help but have a good time at an Andrew W.K. gig.
words CHRIS ANDREWS photos JASPER WILKINS