Television
Nirvana the Band the Front Five
By Sam Sutherland

Matt Johnson probably isn't telling me the truth. “I'm blind. I go in to the Rivoli and I order a drink, I get up, knock over a table, books go everywhere, I run out into the street and get nailed by a moving car.” The scenario Johnson (who definitely isn't blind) is describing comes from a forthcoming episode of Nirvana the Band the Show, an online series in the aggressively awkward tradition of Clark and Michael, but way, way more Canadian. Filmed verite-style in and around Johnson’s Queen West apartment, the show follows Nirvana the Band, comprised of Johnson and pianist Jay McCarol, in their quest to get a gig at Toronto institution the Rivoli. And that's it.

“You could never put our show on TV. I mean, it’s a show based on copyright infringement," says Johnson. Showcasing a blatantly offensive style of purely Canadian comedy that mixes Tom Green’s stunts with Kenny vs. Spenny’s smarts, Johnson and McCarol still haven’t exactly gone out of their way to keep from being punted offline.

“We were shooting a scene outside the Rivoli in the morning when they were closed, because we had to shoot on location and we didn’t want them to know,” Johnson says. “We were shooting a break-in scene, and some guy who was, like, a temp cook or something, showed up in the morning with no idea how to get inside. So he sees us trying to get in and assumes we’re all on the same team, and the three of us spend 15 minutes breaking into the Rivoli. I’m terrified of when they find out we’re doing this.” With growing blog buzz and some seriously insane shit coming up, best to check it out while you can at www.nirvanathebandtheshow.com.
Games Wu Squared
The game of chess has been an enduring fascination for Wu Tang Clan. Now comes Wu Chess (wuchess.com), the RZA’s new online venture, which seeks to create a virt-Wu-al community of chess fanatics. Although most online chess sites are free, Wu Ch...Read More
Contest Do Good Beats Make Great Rap?
Who better to find the next Eminem than the team who first gave light to the original? Radio hosts Sway and King Tech, whose hip-hop Wake Up Show is legendary for bringing lyrically endowed underground MCs to the mainstream, have taken their search for fresh stars online with the 100K Battle....Read More
Comic Art of Copyright
Debate rages between penniless musicians, litigious lobbyists and freedom loving libertarians over Canada’s proposed copyright legislation bill C-61; it’s such a confusing mess of conflicting interests it’s hard to keep facts from fuming. The Appropriation Art collective (Read More
Reissue What A Gas
When you’re co-founder of one of the most influence indie labels in the world, you’re bound to forget about the odd thing, like putting your own music back into circulation. Kompakt head honcho Wolfgang Voigt has finally dusted off his long-sought-after albums as Gas, originally released on Mille Pl...Read More
Though they've never been predictable, twisting and turning down a veering path of whatever post-rock is supposed to be, Do Make Say Think strike a reflective tone on the wondrous Other Truths. By their own reckoning, Do Make's previous acclaimed record, You, You're a History in Rust, ... Full Review
Montreal ex-pat King Khan has led a classically "rock'n'roll" lifestyle since leaving his home at 17, legally changing his name from Erich Khan to Blacksnake, and eventually relocating to Berlin. Since then, he's become renowned worldwide for his various garage, punk and soul projects, including the big-band soul project King Khan and the Shrines and his collaborative duo with Mark Sultan, the King Khan and BBQ Show.... Read More
They don't call him Mac the Mouth for nothing. What was planned as an in-depth conversation about Echo & the Bunnymen with front-man Ian McCulloch, turned into mostly listening to the Mouth go to work in a brief 20-minute phone conversation.... Read More
Social Networking
• Be our friend on MySpace
• Be our fan on Facebook
Tweet us on twitter
Viewing the July 2008 Issue: Contents PageNewsClick Hear • Articles --> On the Cover  •  Front Five  •  Points  •  Questionnaire  •  Release Dates  •  Research  •  Timeline  •  Videogames  •  Conversations • Music Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Aggressive Tendencies  •  Beats & Rhymes  •  Destination Out  •  Frequencies  •  Groove  •  No Future  •  Pop Rocks  •  Wood, Wires & Whiskey  •  Concert Reviews  •  NXNE Reviews • Motion Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Dvd Reviews  •  Film Reviews  •  Music DVD Reviews  •  Videogame Reviews • Music School --> Label Life  •  Need to Know  •  Where I play Contests • Contact --> About Us  • Advertising  • Distribution  • Getting Reviewed  • Getting Published  • Letters To The Editor  • Partnerships  • Subscriptions • Exclaim! Radio --> Aggressive Tendencies Radio  • Beats & Rhymes Radio  • Destination Out Radio  • Frequencies Radio  • Groove Radio  • No Future Radio  • Pop Rocks Radio  • Wood, Wires & Whiskey Radio Exclaim! TV • Home & Latest Issue Browse Issues