CHARTattack

It's about time for another album by the quirky rain man of rock n' roll, Nardwuar The Human Serviette. Many know him for his gonzo journalism style in the pages of Chart magazine, but as it turns out, he performs music too in the band The Evaporators.Rumour has it that Nardwuar is ready to get everyone's favourite live rock 'n' roll circus, The Evaporators, rolling towards glory again. It will supposedly have a blend of financial disaster and be an incredible rock treasure. ChartAttack.com has also learned that Nardwuar is doing very well after his brain malfunction and is working out at a West Vancouver gym three days a week, doesn't wear deodorant and is keeping a relatively low stress level.Don't worry though, Nardwuar won't go missing from Chart magazine's pages if he becomes an even bigger superstar. He is scheduled to deliver his latest interview with Primal Scream to us in a few days for the September issue.

Winnipeg based social conscience punk rockers the Weakerthans have announced western Canada tour dates in support of their new album, Left and leaving, which will be released on July 25 by G7 Welcoming Committee Records in Canada. The band has also inked a deal with Sun City Records in the U.S. that will see the album released there at the same time.Portions of the sale of the 12-song disc, which is a follow-up to 1998's Fallow, are going to be donated to Winnipeg's Art Centre. To help celebrate the release the band have invited Ron Hawkins, The Paperbacks, Greg MacPherson and The Fembots to perform over two nights at the Winnipeg West End Cultural Centre this month.Left and leaving was produced by the band and Ian Blurton of Blurtonia/Change Of Heart fame and recorded at Private Ear Studios in Winnipeg during the long month of February. The tracklisting for the album is: "Everything Must Go," "Aside," "Watermark," "Pamphleteer," "This is a fire door never leave open," "Without Mythologies," "Left and leaving," "Elegy for Elsabet," "History to the defeated," "Exiles among you," "My Favourite Chords" and "Slips and tangles."Weakerthans On Tour:July 14, 15 Winnipeg, MB @ West End Cultural Centre (CD Release Party)July 19 Saskatoon, SK @ University of SaskatchewanJuly 20 Regina, SK @ The StateJuly 21 Calgary, AB @ NightgalleryJuly 22 Edmonton, AB @ SidetrackJuly 23 Calgary, AB @ Calgary Cultural Centre (All Ages)July 25 Vancouver, BC @ Starfish Room (With Alejandro Escovedo)

For some, the release of the new Johnny Favourite disc, The Tonight Album, is going to a case of "good news, bad news." Diehard swing fans might find it tough going, since Johnny Favourite and the Swing Orchestra of past releases have parted company. However, what’s been left is just as exciting, and more importantly, just as fun. The Tonight Album is a sparkling collection of pop songs and covers filtered through '60s lounge and Johnny’s own love of all kinds of popular music. "I hate the perception that one thing is all someone can be about," says Johnny. "I like stuff as diverse as Elvis Costello, the Style Council and Tower of Power."According to Johnny, this record is just a natural progression of what has come before. "It was not a deliberate attempt to break from swing, it just came out this way," he says. "Plus this time around, I actually started writing songs myself which has made a big difference. I just didn’t want to set up any perimeters on the music."Thankfully, listeners are rewarded by this attitude as The Tonight Album takes you on much more musically diverse path than the Swing Orchestra ever did. "I think it's a very well rounded record," explains Johnny. Certainly the sounds cover everything from roaring guitar to crying horns to Indian sitar. There’s even a remix with the Boomtang Boys tackling Johnny’s version of the old Georgie Fame track "Yeh Yeh." "I was a little worried about a remix, because of all the connotations that go with that word," he says, "yet I just gave it to them and they did a great job. They got exactly what I was searching for, a mix between Smashmouth and Austin Powers."With the record just released this week, Johnny is one busy lad doing interviews left and right, but he promises some performances later in the summer. The video for "Yeh Yeh" is completed and it features Johnny in the Bahamas chasing himself everywhere.The "cultural watchdogs," as Johnny calls them, might have put the final bullet in the body of swing (now will they please go after Latin music), but it’s not even a flesh wound in what appears to be a long and interesting career for Johnny Favourite.By Dan "The Mouth" Lovranski - Co Host of The LAW - LiveAudioWrestling

After witnessing the massive garbage dump that was Woodstock ‘99, it’s a good thing we’ll have The Fresh Festival this summer. Taking place next weekend (July 14 - 16) at Lebreton Flats in Ottawa, the Fresh Philosophy is "to set an example for other festivals and become a prototype for running an environmentally responsible event." Included with admission is access to the Fresh Village of local and national environmental groups and, of course, a diverse musical lineup.Performers include international acts The Roots, Elwood, Big Wreck and The Getaway People and homegrown talents Sloan, The Tea Party, Matthew Good Band, The Flashing Lights, Wide Mouth Mason, Len and Emm Gryner. There will also be a tent dedicated to electronic music. Festival passes for the weekend are $35 and one day tickets are $18 each. In following with the Fresh Philosophy, attendees are encouraged to walk, bike or take public transit to the site.

The Real Slim Shady finally stood up yesterday, and we're more confused than ever.Joined by Dr. Dre for a press conference prior to the sold-out Up In Smoke show at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto, Eminem spent equal parts of the conference defending his lyrics and then shirking responsibility for any effects his lyrics may have in provoking people."People can develop their own opinions or whatever, but I think for the most part the kids get it," he said. "I haven't heard any incidences where somebody raped a girl listening to my album or shot somebody listening to my lyrics."While Dre got a relatively soft going-over from the Toronto media, Eminem was called out for his perceived homophobic lyrics and the uncomfortable influence he has on his younger fan base. Showing exceptionally well-versed spin doctoring techniques, Eminem referred to his song "Criminal" as his response to whether he's homophobic or not."At the end of 'Criminal,' if you're talking about the gay reference, one of the only things I can think of that people are talking about, the first verse of 'Criminal' is the line about gays and transsexuals or whatever. If you take that and you listen to it, at the end of the line I say, 'Relax guy, I like gay men' — which I shouldn't even have to to justify myself, but I still did. And then at the end of the song I say, 'Half the stuff I say I make it up to make you mad so kiss my white, naked ass.' So I'm tellin' you that I'm makin' this shit up and it's pissin' you off and you're letting me get to you. You let me get to you, you let me win."In defending the fact that young people could be influenced by his often uncomfortable, violent lyrical imagery, he was equally adept at displaying well-formed escape clauses."I feel the parents should be responsible for [influencing what children listen to]," he said. "I'm responsible for what my little girl listens to. If I wasn't a parent you could lash out at me in whatever way you want as far as responsibility. But my little girl, she listens to my album and she doesn't necessarily know what it means, but when she gets older I'll probably explain it to her."While this may seem an odd tack to take, Eminem, who's been in hot water lately over an alleged assault at a nightclub, actually considers all the negative attention good for inspiration."I think if there wasn't shit like this going on in my personal life then I don't think my music would turn out the way it turns out," he said. "My personal life has always been in shambles. I've been going through problems. I don't know when it's going to change. Fortunately, this reflects back into my music and this makes my music more real to the fans. They can relate to what I'm going through."

In the ideal world, Modesto, California-based five-piece Grandaddy wouldn't have to travel too far from their home base to promote their second release, The Sophtware Slump, released through V2 Records. Even though technology such as email, the internet and ecommerce allows them to enjoy the great outdoors of their home 75 miles outside of San Francisco they still have to use the phone for simple things such as interviews.Unfortunately Aaron Burtch still has to get up very early in the morning to speak with reporters such as ChartAttack.com about the new album. "You have to give me a two hour handicap," Burtch explains why he is pausing between words to form coherent sentences in answer to our questions. During the month of March and April the band did eight to 12 hours of interviews a day in Europe. All these interviews should allow them to do some site seeing when they tour."I've officially seen only two 10-city blocks in Paris," Burtch says about the grind of interviews and touring. The band have quickly become indie rock darlings with their lo-fi sound and frontman Jason Lytle's Neil Young-esqe warble and many magazines and websites are quick to pump them up in their pages. "The commercial potential is there," Burtch says about the album and the band's willingness to do things outside of the creative sphere they'd rather be in. He adds, "We've established goals. The goals are going to be different than the labels."When they were working on the album in the studio that Lytle built in the home that he rents just on the outskirts of Modesto they didn't have a grand plan to make the next best indie album. Burtch can't pin down the band's success or how they came up with such a wonderful album, but they have done just that and now they have to face the prospect of spending more time away from their beloved Modesto, even if technology has made the world smaller.

Blue Rodeo’s fourth annual Stardust Picnic has just announced the side stage acts that will accompany the 10 main stage artists. The festival has only two dates this year, July 8 and 9, in Toronto at Historic Fort York. Organizers are promising a picnic weekend of music and fun. Doors open at 2 p.m. on both days with the first act, Tara MacLean starting at 2:35 p.m. Unlike other outdoor festivals fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, sealed bottle water and valid photo identification for beer buying. Concert-goers will NOT be allowed to bring pets, coolers, glass, cans, unsealed bottle water, food and alcohol.Main Stage Line-up: Saturday and SundayTara MacLean @ 2:35 - 3:15 p.m.Blue Mountain @ 3:35 - 4:20 p.m. Iris DeMent @ 4:40 - 5:30 p.m. Spirit of the West @ 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.Colin James @ 7:30-8:30 p.m.Blue Rodeo @ 9:00-11:00 p.m.Side Stage Line-up: SaturdayMartina Sorbarra @ 3:15 - 3:35 p.m.Danny Michel @ 4:20 - 4:40 p.m.Bruce Henderson @ 5:30 - 5:50 p.m.Staggered Crossing @ 7:00 - 7:20 p.m.Jason Mitchell @ 8:30 - 8:50 p.m.Side Stage Line-up: SundayRoyal City @ 3:15 - 3:35 p.m.Mia Sheard @ 4:20 - 4:40 p.m.Luther Wright & the Wrongs @ 5:30 - 5:50 p.m.Feist @ 7:00 - 7:20 p.m.Tory Cassis @ 8:30 - 8:50 p.m.Tickets for the event are on sale now at Ticketmaster for $38 per day plus taxes and service charges or Sonic Temple Record Store.