Thursday, April 18, 1996
Philharmonic at "Bay" front
by John Hafner
Collegian Staff
The Eric Philharmonic held a
rehearsal at the Warner Theater on
the evening of April 12. The
performance marked the final
open rehearsal of the
Philharmonic's '95-'96 season.
The many performers,
musicians and chorus members
alike, all had the same goal - to
fine tune their program for the
real thing, Saturday night's full
length performance.
The rehearsal was important for
another, more exciting, reason.
New-corner Peter Bay was at the
helm, directing Eric's
professional orchestra for the first
time.
The rehearsal and subsequent
performance provided Erie with
its first look at the young
conductor, who comes to us from
Rochester. David Stuntz, music
instructor and concert choir
director here at Behrcnd works
with Maestro Bay as the
Philharmonic's chorus director.
He is excited about Erie's new
conductor, saying that Bay
"combines musical skills with
Garfunkel &Garfunkel;
return of Ringwald
Garfunkel & Garfunkel
Five-year-old James Garfunkel
joined his father, Art Garfunkel,
in performing the Simon and
Garfunkel song, "The 59th Street
Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)"
during a weekend show in New
York. According to the New
York Times, it was a double
take, since James resembles his
father from "the out-of-control
blond curls to the winsome high
voice." The show itself took
place during Art Garfunkel's
cross-country trek which he is
expected to complete late this
month.
Back to TV
It's not Memorex,
by Joe Ryan
Colkgian Staff
I'd like to take this time to
suggest another CD necessary to
fill your collection.
The band known as Live was
started by four 13 yr. olds from
York, Pennsylvania. Chad
Taylor, Patrick Dahlheimer, and
Chad Gracey first performed at a
talent show in their middle
school. In the audience that day
was Ed Kowalczyk who, upon
hearing the music with its
lacking vocals, volunteered to
head up the foursome. Thus was
born Public Affection. The band
spent a decade touring small
clubs in rural Pennsylvania
emotional sensitivity."
Stuntz admires Bay's easy
going nature and personal touch
to conducting. He describes the
young maestro as a "normal
person who conducts."
When asked what it's like to
work side-by-side with a person
whose job typically demands
respect, Stunt/. says that Maestro
Bay "invites suggestions, and
this is something out of the
ordinary." It's this permission to
interpret and suggest that makes
the conductor a welcomed
addition to the Philharmonic.
Both the audience and the
performers seem to respect the
rookie director. His youth and
vigor promise to provide many
exciting, quality performances
down the road.
Paul Helfrich, the Executive
Director of the Philharmonic,
admitted that Peter Bay was the
orchestra's "obvious choice" for
Erie's new conductor. Helfrich
had high aspirations for Bay's
first performance in town, calling
it "the beginning of a new era."
Helfrich said that every effort
was made to "do it up right, so
people will remember" the
The up-coming ABC show
"Townies" is bringing Molly
Ringwald back to television as a
small-town Massachusetts girl.
Also returning to television via
ABC is Justine Bateman
("Family Ties") who will be
taking part in "Men Behaving
Badly," alongside Rob Schneider
("Saturday Night Live") and Ron
Eldard ("E. R.").
Bochco Pleads for "Murder
One"
Producer Steven Bochco is
trying to muster up a new defense
for his series "Murder One,"
which has been drawing bad
ratin Is. Should the show be
before changing its name to Live
Live's first release, Mental
Jewelry, produced a single called
"Operation Spirit." It quickly
gained airplay on MTV's "120
Minutes" and produced a moderate
amount of recognition. It also
led to a spot on the 120 Minute
tour with such groups as Public
Image and Blind Melon.
In their free time between
tours, Live compiled 13 songs
which they recorded on their
sophomore effort, Throwing
Copper. Since its first single,
"Selling the Drama," debuted on
"120 Minutes," the album
continued on to become one of
the most successful in alternative
history. It spawned a number of
Entertainment
performance. He is confident of
Maestro Bay's ability, saying
that his "enthusiasm and energy
are going to result in a very
successful tenure here with the
Philharmonic."
renewed for next season, he will
be using his new formula of
following two murder cases
instead of one and giving the
show a snappier pace.
James Brown Sues
James Brown is currently
seeking unspecified damages in a
lawsuit against four video
companies for allegedly
distributing bootleg films of his
live conceits. Videfilm Producers
International Ltd., Heron
Communications Inc., JCI Video
and Kultur are being accused by
Brown and Warner/Chappell
Music, Inc, of violating
copyrights concerning the videos.
top-ten hits including "I Alone,"
"Lightning Crashes," and
"Selling the Drama," though the
album itself didn't catch on until
almost a year after its release.
Perhaps the secret to Live's
success has been the genuineness
of its lyrics. "We tried to make
Throwing Copper more than just
your average trip down angst
lane," describes Ed Kowalczyk.
Songs range in intensity and
topic, with such diverse themes
as: the death of a mother during
childbirth in "Lightning
Crashes," to the suffocating
monotony and alienation of small
town life in "Shit Towne."
"White Discussion" relays the
conversation between two people
Attending an open rehearsal is
definitely a unique experience.
The audience is free to move
around, dress casually, and enjoy
a sneak preview of upcoming
performances.
Docksider
by Ryan Bogart
Collegian Sioff
If you've wondered, as I often
have, what there is to do in Erie,
the answer lies downtown.
There, you can check out a
number of bars and taverns that
will best suit your lifestyle. If
your preference is techno and
dancing you can go to Felix's and
see what all the hype is about.
Or if you're into alternative and
desire live bands, then go to the
Docksider, commonly known as
the 'Slider.'
A number of well-known bands
play there regularly including the
Pittsburgh based band, the
Clarks. The Dirges, from State
College, have also been known
to play there. Plato's Cave, the
native Erie band, packs the
'Slider' as well, and Randy
Baumann, the pianist, plays solo
on weekday evening.
The tavern attracts a number of
college students from Gannon,
it's "Li
minutes before the end of the
earth while "Iris" is the
confessions of a fictitious
spouse-abuser.
The pure emotion in Live's
music is something that comes
from their years on the road,
writing songs and performing.
Ed Kowalczyk describes the
experience: "Being on stage and
talking to people is a strange
thing, you can rape your audience
with ambiguity and distance and
they can rape you with prejudice
and preconception." The song
"Selling the Drama" was written
for the precise purpose of
describing the band's relationship
with their audience. "...I've
willed. I've walked, I've read, I've
This "come as you arc"
atmosphere, combined with the
ornate interior of the Warner
Theater and the talents of Eric's
new conductor, made the evening
a success .
Mercyhurst, and Bchrend,
according to Bob Nelson, 'Slider'
owner. "It is a very comfortable
atmosphere."
Despite the number of
alternative bands and the college
crowd that it attracts, it also
brings in blues bands. Queen
Bee and the Blue Hornet Band,
another State College band has
deep roots in the blues and the
lead singer, Tonya Brown,
literally moves the audience with
her soulful singing. She comes
out on stage after the band plays
a couple of songs, in which she
showcases her soothing voice.
The lone bar lines the north
side of the tavern and it is very
accommodating. The stage is set
up at the end of the bar and raised
about three feet. There is usually
a three dollar cover charge to see
a band, but they're worth it.
This Friday, Dose, winner of
the 150 band competition at the
Graffiti Rock Challenge in
Pittsburgh, will play.
ye"
talked...l know I've been here
before... And to Christ, a cross,
and to me, a chair, I will sit and
earn the ransom from up here."
A great influence on the music
of Throwing Copper comes from
its producer, Jerry Harrison. "He
taught us so much about
arrangement, showing us how to
make our songs tighter and more
musically concise," says guitarist
Chad Taylor.
The success of Throwing
Copper has brought about
massive tours and even an
appearance on "MTV
Unplugged." It appears that Livc
has reached it's pinnacle, but the
band has no delusions about
slowing down.
Pare 9