entertainment
iINXS ’kicks*; overcomes technical difficulties
"INXS - CONCERT REVIEW
rooo
-By Matthew Filippi
.'.Entertainment Editor
INXS IS ON THE ROAD. The
Australian band kicked off their tour
in Florida and made their way to
Richfield, Ohio two weeks ago.
Preceding INXS was Public Image
Ltd. They are a highly active band.
The singer came out dressed in what
looked like big green flannel
pajamas and topped with a wig that
looked like florescent dread knots.
The beat of the music got the
crowd moving, but I couldn't tell
what the singer was saying (or
should I say, screaming). He didn't
scream like a heavy metal singer
would scream, but more like high
pitched exaggerations of words.
Most of their songs had
Springsteen's
"Dance Party"
keeps
fans hoppin'
Concert Review
©DO©
by Vail Weller
Feature Editor
' B jyce Springsteen. His Bom m "When I was 24, I wrote this
the USA tour sole out football son g j t was about a guy and a girl
holding as many as w ho wanted to run and keep
100,000 people all across the running... it was.my song. Maybe
country in 1985. His Tunnel of it was your song, too. But as I got
Love Express tour is now moving olderi j realized r didn ' t want it t 0
across Amenca There is no doubt 5e •• He stopped and began
that Bruce is best known for his str umming, then added, "This song
exhausting 4 1/2 hour performances. has helped me on my searchi
I have been lucky enough to see him sure hopc it - s been for
play m 1985 and m Cleveland and through yours ." Then he began
Pittsburgh on his present tour. The .. Born t 0 Run « ; but not in it . s
arenas he is playing now hold familiar form. He turned it into an
between 12,000 to 20,000 people, acoustic ballad> audience
..and there was definitely a different it right along wilh him .
feeling m those arenas. There was
electricity in the air - no one was t "Bom to Run" was followed by
pushing or shoving. Hungry Heart”, "Glory Days” and
i They look the stage at 8:10 PM. Elvis Presley’s "Love Me Tender".
The concert opened with Springsteen Then he shouts, "Are you ready for a
and the E. Street Band buying tickets ' *^ ance party??" What an
from ap..oristagejramival barker.with understatement!!! All of the lights
festive warm lighting which in rhe arena went on and I looked
definitely fit the moo'd of the around to see every person on their
•evening. He sang "Tunnel'of Love" / ceL ’. Springsteen tore into
and some other romantic "ballads "Rosalita” and his "Devil With the
ffOrrt ifitfnew'album arid Then ripped Blue : Dress On" medley. The five
through the calm with "Seeds" and hom section made Lhese sound
"Roulette" (the flip side of "One totally fresh and alive. He closed
Step Up”) and "Cover Me" -by this with "Raise Your Hand” at 12:15
time the audience was in an uproar. AM. When they say Springsteen
He played a reggae original, "Part has'"raw energy", they are right on
Man, Part Monkey", and "Light of target. He just got better and better
Day", which he wrote as the title 35 d> e night wore on. I definitely
track from the Michael J. Fox movie * ost at least 10 pounds dancing.
of the same name. Then came "All There were some things that were
That Heaven Will Allow” which was different about this tour - Bruce
introduced by Springsteen and wasi } t wearing a cut-off flannel shirt
Clarence Clemmons sitting on a and jeans. He wore dress pants and a
park bench talking about old times jacket- He didn't do too many old
•and their new lives (their wives and classics, ("Thunder Road",
Clarence’s son). The first set ended 7 un § leland ") instead concentrating
jvith "Spare Parts", "Brilliant on thc "Tunnel of Love” release.
Disguise", "War", and "Bom'in the And of course he was playing for
USA". - ; .smaller audiences.
The second set was a reflection ' The four hour "dance party" was
on Springsteen's'new lifestyle - incredible and worth every penny of
married, settled, confused. "Tougher the 522.50 we paid for our tickets-
Than the Rest" started out the set, (reports state that scalpers got as
followed by "You Can Look [But much as 5750.00 for a ticket). I have
You Better Not Touch]", slowed one thing to leave you with - until
down with "I’m On Fire", and then you've seen Bruce Springsteen play
he exploded with "She's the One" in concert, you ain't seen nothin.
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something to be desired but their
energy was amazing. The lead
singer continuously moved all over
the stage along with the rest of the
band. They looked like they were
having a good time which made the
audience get "riled up" in
preparation for the main act, INXS.
The lights went out, and before
you knew it INXS was out on the
stage performing the title cut off
their album Kick. There was
nothing really dramatic about the
opening. They didn't come out
after a long dragged out introduction
like most concerts. There was a
little smoke and they appeared.
The concert seemed to suffer from
a lot of technical difficulties. The
sound quality in the beginning
needed some adjustments. (A
common difficulty). I noticed the
saxophone player signaling for
something to be turned up. It was
from the classic "Bom to Run"
album. One. of the most unusual
parts of the show was introduced
with a touching story be
Springsteen.
hard to hear both the saxophone and
guitar for awhile. It even got to the
point where I saw Michael
Hutchence, the lead singer, ran over
to the sound board between songs.
By the end of the second song or
so, they seemed to have the sound
problems under control. These
problems weren't very obvious, but
being a band member myself, it's
not hard for me to notice these
problems.
Another problem that I noticed
was that the lights went out about
one minute before a song actually
ended. I really don't think they had
this one planned but I'm sure it was
pretty interesting for them to play
in the dark.
I also noticed what appeared to be
a backdrop with stars on it,
although they never revealed it. I'm
not sure that it was meant to be
revealed but it is rare for a headline
Local Maniacs
get "tribal"
The 10,000 Maniacs
"In My Tribe"
Music Review
0001/2
By A. Thomas Mamaux
The 10,000 Maniacs just
recently released their second album
and it is entitled "In My Tribe."
The Maniacs established a small
cult following after the release of
their first album "The Wishing
Chair." Now their audience will
grow because of the quality, style,
and originality that "In My
Tribe" possesses. The Maniacs
are fronted by the dreamy eyed
Natalie Merchant. She has one of
the prettiest voices on records
today. She writes most of the
bands lyrics. The lyrics are dreamy,
prophetic and sometimes obtuse.
Take the lines from "Like the
Weather," "I lift my head from the.
pillow/ and as far as I can see/ a
cold grey/1 shiver, quiver and turn
away.” The Maniacs come right
out of Erie's backyard. I know it is
hard to believe something good
came from anywhere near Erie but
the Maniacs are from Jamestown.
They started around Chataqua
playing in the bars. Now they are
on tour with REM. It is good that
f .
I
Bookstore
Removal
Many choice
clothing, mugs, etc.
Some at over 50% off
act not to have some sort of
backdrop.
Even though the crew had some
problems, the band held up their
end. Michael Hutchence was
phenomenal. He continuously
danced all over the stage. All he had
to do was sneeze, and the girls
screamed for more.
The saxophone blared out, along
with the rest of the band, all their
hit tunes. They played every song
off of the Kick album and a few
songs from their other three
albums. They played, "The One
Thing," "Soul Mistake" and "Don't
Change" off their first album,
Shabooh Shoobah, "Original
Sin” and "Dancing on a Jetty" off
the Swing album; and "What You
Need," "Listen Like Thieves,"
"Kissing Dirt (Falling down the
mountain)," "This Time," and a
special rendition of "Shine Like It
they are on tour together because
they compliment each other. Both
have a unique musical style, both
are gaining mass appeal, and both
singers(lyricists) have a very
strange and peaceful way of looking
at the world. "Merchant and Stipe
are very similar and it is rumored
that they are going out.
"In My Tribe" is the Maniacs
effort that is partially aimed at mass
consumption. Some of the songs
are already being played on the radio
'such as "Like the Weather" and
"Peace Train." The first song is
called "What's the Matter Here." It
shows the serious side of the
Maniacs because it deals with the
subject of child abuse. "The
Painted Desert” is a slow melody
that has interesting lyrics "the
painted desert, it is waiting for me/
the sand of time does not shine/ the
sum screams and cries/ and tears
across the sky." If you were home
on Christmas Break and gorged
yourself on MTV you probably
caught "Like the Weather." It is a
song that tells of a problem we all
share. It is about staying in bed all
day when it is dreary (ERIE)
outside. Stay v in bed and listen to
this one. "Don't Talk" is a
' —™l
Sale
items-
Does, with just Michael singing
the lyrics with an acoustic" guitar.;
off of the Listen Like Thieves
album.
Although INXS usually does a
cover song of Jimi Hendrix's
"Purple Haze," the band decided to
leave this song out when they
played in Richfield. Surprised that
INXS would do a Hendrix tune?
Not as surprised as the crowd was
when Michael came out in an
AC/DC shirt and shorts for the
encore. This was definitely not the
right crowd to be wearing an
AC/DC shirt amidst, but it was
understandable since these two
bands are the two of the most
popular bands to come out of
Australia. You have to stick to
home roots.
The band's encore consisted of
both, "Need You Tonight/Mediate"
and their most recent hit song,
Book Review
0000
by D.H. Grzybowski
Contributing Writer
Less Than Zero, by Bret Easton Ellis, created a sensation on
three accounts when it was published: the author was in his early
• twenties, the reviews were overwhelmingly favorable, and the book was
already being scripted for film. To quote a few reviews, "This is the
novel your mother warned you about. Jim Morrison would be proud."
"... spare, seamless writing...” and "Bret Ellis writes with a pen dipped
in Percodan..."
I know this is not a recent novel, but having recently read it for the
first time and feeling its impact, I feel it deserves notice. I must first
qualify this review by stating that this is not a book for everyone.
Many may find it appealing, and some will find it appalling.
The author’s crisp, clean, concise writing makes for quick reading.
This style is appropriate to the fast paced L. A. metropolis which the
characters inhabit. They're always on the move be it shopping,
partying, shooting up, or groping for that something to give their
empty lives meaning. But, it all just adds up to nothing, a great big fat
zero.
In short, the main character Clay returns to L. A. from his first
semester away at college in New Hampshire. He becomes easily bored
with the shallow existence L.A. promotes. The parties, the drugs, the
women, and the men are no longer amusing. Bodies become posed
props and the abundant stimulants temporarily stave off boredom,
drowning inhibitions. Groping mergers are just another attempt at that
elusive satisfaction that never comes. A satisfaction that no amount of
spending, speeding, chemicals or copulation will bring about.
This novel shows decadence at its best and at its worst. The best
being the whirlwind lifestyle conveyed by Ellis' lean vivid imagery.
The worst being the human casualties of reckless indulgence. One of
Clay's friends Julian is a prime example of this life on the edge gone
awry. He is forced into male prostitution by his heroin and cocaine
addiction and the resulting drag debt. Julian's life is so encased in chaos
and confusion that he begs to be pushed over the edge. Anything, even
death would be preferable to his personal hell.
The writing is so basic, (sort of an 80’s version of Dick and Jane)
yet it is still full of meaning. In closing I will leave you with a sample
of what you can expect, from Less Than Zero.-
"I lean up against the wall. I can .hear Spin moaning in the
bedroom and then the sound of a hand slapping maybe a face.
'But you don't need anything. You have everything,' I tell him.
Rip looks at me. "No I don't'
What?'
■No, I don’t.'
There's a pause and then I ask, 'Oh shit, Rip, what don’t you have?'
'I don’t have anything to lose.'"
conversation between two arguing
lovers "Don’t talk, I'll listen/ Don't
talk, you keep your distance/ I am
tired of being spun and wound/1 am
sick of your insistence." The last
good song of the album is a great
song. I don't know who did the
original but I know that Cat
Stevens does a copy of "Peace
Train" on one of his albums. The
Maniacs totally do the song in their
own way and it is for the better.
The song has a strong backbeat that
makes it easy to dance to. None of
their songs really have any flash to
them but they always seem to play
together with high intensity. They
are a group of musicians who know.
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"Devil Inside" (where the guitarist
rode a .skateboard, across the stage
while playing), leaving them
without having anymore well
known songs to play. Usually a
band leaves their most recent hit
song until the very last in order to
give the crowd incentive to pull
them back for a second encore.
INXS didn't do this but the crowd
demanded more. Soon they came
back on stage and before they began
to play, Michael thanked the crowd
for their unexpected applause.
They ended the night with the
song they wrote with Jimmy
Bams, "Good Time Tonight” and
"Don't Change," one of the band’s
very first hit songs. Despite the
slight disappointment in the band’s
crew, INXS as a whole pulled
through with a very exciting
concert full of the energy that INXS
naturally radiates.
each other very well. The Maniacs
are from Jamestown but they have a
very unique sound. They sound
more like they, are Spanish or
Mexican with just a little rock.
It would be a smart thing to buy
this album if you liked progressive
music. ‘ The Maniacs have not yet
lost that feeling of being a bar band
and you should get a touch of them
before they lose it The first side of
the album has all the best meat.
The second side of the album is not
bones but it is just not as filling as
the first side.
If I could see this group in
concert I would. This album very
well deserves 3 1/2 stars.
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