Opens at Select Theatres March 13
Nash the Slash is an original. A living Phantom of the Theatre, unafraid to obscure himself, he’s often seen performing wrapped like a mummy, minus the Egyptian motifs, instead donning dark sunglasses and a stiff top hat. When we see him in Nash the Slash Rises Again!, he’s not just a silent film star, but a silver age minx. He exists in a space where noir sensibilities thrive. Nearly everyone knows the name, even if the sound itself feels ephemeral, electronic, and ahead of its time.
What’s presented in Tim Kowalski’s documentary brilliantly honours him like a living memorial. Rameses the Great would be jealous. When this musician doesn’t predate the theatrical shock of early Pink Floyd or Alice Cooper, but feels spiritually adjacent to them, evolving along a parallel creative wavelength. One suspects they’d have relished sharing a stage had the opportunity arisen.
With interests leaning heavily into the horror film genre, shock becomes part of the live experience for those fortunate enough to witness him perform. Not every show has him embodying The Invisible Man, but the theatricality remains central. His life and career are explored in thoughtful detail through Tim Kowalski’s documentary.
What makes this portrait especially fitting is how Nash would eventually be hired to score cult cinema. Highway 61 stands as one example. His significance deepens through his work modernizing silent film exhibition via electronic scoring. This approach predates the 1984 restoration of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, which famously introduced a pop soundtrack in place of its original orchestral accompaniment. However different the executions, both reflect a deep reverence for the source material.
There’s crossover appeal in how he navigates progressive and punk textures. It may all sit beneath the rock umbrella, but whether through electrified violin or fuzz-saturated keyboards, the tonal palette is in constant flux. He understood pop culture instinctively. That’s what made him more than a performer. He was an innovator, and it showed in the instruments he built himself, custom tools designed to channel the sounds living in his head.
This visual tribute offers a comprehensive look at his influence, how he helped place Canada firmly on the map for singular experimental talent, and serves as an essential historical reflection. Even casual viewers will find it an insightful examination of his most vital years. The documentary also handles his passing with restraint, honouring the man rather than reducing him to just another brick in the wall. His legacy feels preserved rather than mourned.
When compared to local performers like Darth Fiddler, who busks along the streets of Victoria, Nash operated on an entirely different scale. He played established venues and cultivated a devoted following. Peers such as Corpusse and Steve Hillage help contextualize his artistry through interviews that reinforce how deeply respected he remains. Additional commentary from Iggy Pop, Gary Numan, Gary Topp, Valerie Buhagiar, and Don McKellar further broaden that perspective.
For corporate representatives who failed to understand him, the response was blunt, they pulled the plug. Nash’s answer was equally direct. He became his own industry, self-managing, handling press, and forging an independent path. One interviewee sums it up best: “Nash is Nash.” ’Nuff said.
4 Stars out of 5
Nash The Slash Rises Again! Trailer
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