Photo: Justin Edwards

Andy Warhol Up Late is one of many activities organized by GoMa to coincide with the Warhol exhibit on display at the moment. Think of it as the same exhibit, with the same amount of discussions about post-modern irony, juxtaposition and blah blah wank, but this time with a bar and less school children running around, hogging all the best parts. Man, you better believe I went to town on those silver cloud thingies.

With the added bonus of a musical act thrown in with the admission price, I don’t see how you can go wrong. On the bill tonight was Buck 65, aka quirky Canadian rapper Richard Terfry.  Appearing onstage in cardigan and prescription glasses, he gives the impression of a 21st century Buddy Holly. His awkward anecdotes between songs reinforce this, as does his penchant for goofy dances during instrumental sections

The setlist lifts heavily from his 2007 album Situation, and it’s not hard to justify the hype the album is receiving in the US. Dang (easiest chorus in the world, just keep saying dang until you don’t feel like it) shakes and shuffles with a slinky tom-tom beat, which Terfry reveals was stolen entirely from a wrestling program he watched in his youth. Elsewhere, 1957 borrows a short piano sample, throws in a heavy bass line and ‘70s-funk drums to yearn for the 1950s and its simpler times. According to Terfry, this worked better last week as “50 years ago sounds better than 51”.

Finishing up the night with The Centaur (his tale of how tough it is to be a well-hung mythological creature… obviously), it was refreshing to witness a truly original performer in a hall filled with supposedly revolutionary prints of bananas and Chairman Mao. Yeah, I just took shots at a deceased art icon. Totally worth it.

MITCH ALEXANDER

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