Damian Abraham‘s resume of live TV appearances isn’t the sort of thing that would typically excite network execs.
There was the time he and his hardcore band performed in–and completely trashed–a bathroom during a spot on MTV Live. Or the memorable performance the group put in after claiming the Polaris Music Prize in 2009, which streamed online before it aired on TV–perhaps fortunate, since Abraham finished the short set stripped to a pair of snug underwear.
Abraham is the frontman for the provocatively named band F***** Up.
On Monday, he was named the host of MuchMusic‘s revamped version of the venerable alternative-music showcase The Wedge, which will launch alongside a new edition of RapCity (to be hosted by Tyrone Edwards) later this month. Both shows will air live in primetime.
Abraham says he wants his new version of The Wedge to be unpredictable, though he might not be quite as wild as he has been in the past.
“I’m definitely not going to pull my pants down and run around on live TV, but I want it to be a fun show,” the affable Abraham said. “The thing with the craziness live TV has afforded our band… I’ve always thought that it should be fun to watch even if you don’t necessarily know what they’re talking about.
The Wedge launched in the early ’90s as a showcase for edgy, outside-the-mainstream music that might otherwise not receive a sliver of the Much spotlight.
The show became a beloved cultural touchstone for many Canadians, some of whom relied upon The Wedge to break interesting bands who weren’t getting radio play. But over the past few years, The Wedge and RapCity were relegated to the margins of MuchMusic’s programming, being aired without hosts during inconvenient time slots.
With Much still pushing the CRTC to ease the network’s obligation to air music videos in favour of teen-oriented “lifestyle” programming, some fans have been cynical about the channel’s devotion to music.
But Abraham says the network has been supportive of the new version of The Wedge.
“The fact that they went to someone like me, who is not conventionally attractive and maybe not (with) the best reputation for what happens on live television when I’m on it… it shows that they’re kind of committed to getting people who are involved in these worlds to talk about these worlds, which is great,” he said.
“I’m not saying there’s not room for… [New.Music.Live], Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl, but it’s good that we’re gonna find a home amongst that and this way, when people tune in for the new Stereos video, maybe they’ll stick around and see the new Sadies video too.”
The new version of The Wedge, launching Jan. 26, will feature music videos, live performances and interview segments. Abraham says the show will attempt to expose music from a variety of genres, including alternative, punk, even dance and hip-hop.
RapCity, meanwhile, will launch Jan. 20 with a visit to Toronto rapper Drake’s studio. The new version of the show will also feature a mix of videos, performances and interviews, alongside classic moments from the vault.
