If there’s one high school memory I haven’t blocked out of my mind, it’s the time me and my friend Wes were hanging out in the A/V room in the library watching a VHS cassette compilation of short videos/interviews put together by a guy calling himself Nardwuar The Human Serviette. I remember watching these post-Tom Green antics, most notably Nardwuar getting healed by televangelist Ernest Angley (and then proceeding to ask him if he knew how to cure the summertime blues) and thinking it was the crazies shit I’d ever seen. The video also served as my introduction to garage rock, starting with Nardwuar’s own bands The Evaporators and Thee Goblins, and branching off into The Smugglers, The Hi-Fives, The Gruesomes, and so on.

Now, almost ten years later, Nardwuar has compiled some of his best moments (with a little help from Much Music) onto a double disc DVD collection appropriately titled: Nardwuar The Human Serviette! Anyone who’s purchased anything released by Nardwuar knows to expect ridiculously long liner notes and major bang for your buck, and this DVD definitely doesn’t disappoint. The first disc contains Nard Wars 1&2, two Much Music specials dedicated to the best of Nardwuar’s interviews. You’ll find such classic moments as Nardwuar’s impromptu interview with Michael Moore, a pre-show interview with Destiny’s Child and Gwar, and Nardwuar vs. Marilyn Manson. The second special is pretty interesting, dedicating the entire hour to Nardwuar’s pre-interview preparation routine before interviewing Snoop Dogg for the third time.

Disc two features the raw versions of many of the interviews featured in the heavily edited Much Music specials. The highlights being Nardwuar vs. Wesley Willis and his interview with DC legend Ian MacKaye. The raw footage is a great look at how Nardwuar’s knowledge of music (especially Canadian garage rock) seems to win over his interviewees between moments of seemingly pure annoyance. (See Nardwuar vs. Henry Rollins) Although Nardwuar comes off as somewhat of a ‘character’, the DVD liner notes written by Dave Watson, long-time friend of Nardwuar and writer for some Vancouver newspaper called The Georgia Straight, tell of Watson’s first time meeting Nardwuar and explain that although his personality isn’t an act, “There is a difference between the guy when he’s on-air and when he’s not, but it’s not a night-and-day difference. More like a 1pm/3pm thing.”

Another great addition to this collection is the complete Evaporators videography and live footage of both The Evaporators and Thee Goblins/Skablins/Disgoblins. Although the footage is pretty much shot on a home video camera, it’s still fun to watch Nardwuar’s live antics accompanied by some great rock and roll. Also, watch for some commentary tracks sprinkled throughout the disc, including a track featuring CBC Radio personality and Smugglers front man Grant Lawrence, and Canadian heavy metal legend THOR.

Overall, this disc is well worth the plastic it’s printed on. My only complaint would be the number of classic interviews which were left off of this release. But even though the disc focuses on the Much Music era of Nardwuar’s interviews, it’s still a great collection. Doot Doola Doot Doo…go buy it.

SCORE:

Recommended If You Like: The Evaporators, Thee Goblins, The Smugglers, Tom Green