2 2 The Daily Collegian Mike's mixes music, movies By KAREN SHIMKO Collegian Arts Writer With multiple music stores punc tuating the State College land scape, some might argue that buy ing tunes from a video store is like buying pizza from McDonald's. Mike's Video 11, 210 Calder Way, opened this past Monday, and will hold its grand opening today. With a new store comes a new emphasis music. According to Derek Canova, assistant manager of the "new" Mike's, the expanded store is giving music a shot because of high sales at another Mike's locale on North Atherton Street. In an attempt to bring in the music clientele, Mikes' will be hav ing a CD sale until mid-November. Some other local musical mer chants aren't impressed. "Well, we have been selling music for 10 years and we know what we are doing and they proba bly don't," said Ken Kubala, man ager of City Lights, 316 E. College Ave. "By selling both you obviously would be meeting several needs. But by specializing, the advantage is that your energies are not spread," said Sean McDonnell, a salesclerk at Blue Train, 418 E. College Ave., referring to the dou Fests turn town into State Skallege Editor's note: This is the first in a two-part series on local ska shows. This package focuses on this week end's activities. By JAKE STUIVER Collegian Arts Writer It doesn't matter if your address is in State Ska-llege or University Skank for the next several weeks, this town will be overrun by the happiest vibes this Valley has ever experienced. Five different ska-fests will be held during the next three weeks, and at this rate, more could crop up any minute. Washington, D.C.'s The Pietasters will headline the first ska show at 6:30 p.m. today in the HUB Ballroom. The opening bands will be Boston-based Thumper and locals The Ska Blaz ers. "We usually have one ska show every year," Asylum President Dan Cardonick said. "Each year we'll try to get a different ska band." "Ska is an up-and-coming genre of music. More people are discov- Pietaster's 'oolooloo' serves up great ska By JAKE STUIVER Collegian Arts Writer It is practically impossible to make a bad ska album. In a genre whose basic criteria consists of intertwining reggae and rock, sounding soulful and content, and providing back ground music for fun times, it's hard to leave fans displeased. The main criticism ska music generally receives is that a lot of it sounds the same, and it is often difficult to discern between a ska band that is talented and one that is not. That is why The Pietasters' current album, 00100100, is such a masterpiece. Most groups attempting to transcend the sometimes limiting generic boundaries approach their challenge by fusing even more unconventional elements into the style. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are a more popular ska band than the Crazy B's, not because they are necessarily more proficient musicians, but because they incorporate punk/hardcore and pop rock into traditional ska, making it more interesting. They do not make better ska, they just create more diverse music. The Pietasters, on the other hand, are great for no reason other than that they have a supe rior skank. 00100100 is jam packed with some of the catchi est, most moving, well-rounded ska songs. This band really knows how to make a diverse album without compromising its style. All of the songs here are gems, but the shining diamond comes right at the beginning, with "Somthing Better," a mellow, soothing reggae number that immediately introduces the ele ments that make the group unique. Right away, the most notice able element is the superb brass ble-focus of Mike's. Deborah Sitrin (senior-compara tive literature) isn't sure that Mike's is the place for music. "I would use it for videos, but I would buy CDs anywhere," said Sitrin. The new Calder Way location is a more centralized spot than Mike's old storefront at 228 W. College Ave. Canova said it allows the store to be closer to students and also provides more parking. "I think it's very nice and I'm glad they moved one of these downtown," said Nikki Takei, a Boalsburg resident. "Mostly I like that you can rent at one store and return it to another." "I like the store because Block buster and A-Z Video are too far so this is more convenient and it has more (video) -selection than McLanahans," said Laura Heckman (sophomore-biology). But even though Mike's is now closer to where people traffic, some loyal music customers are happy where they are. "I would stay where I am because they have more of a selec tion to me," Jodi Sahakian said, referring to City Lights. But others say that trying a new store depends on the all-important dollar. "I try new stores all the time and ering it, and it's being listened to more," Cardonick said. Ska music is a melding of old rhythm and blues soul, jazz, and early rock 'n' roll, incorporating strong vibes of reggae. It usually includes a horn sec tion, and has recently been com bined with more high-paced, adrenaline-fueled styles such as punk. Ska lyrics tend to revolve around romance and politics. Its uplifting sound is usually appro priate for a high-spirited atmos phere. "Ska shows are a lot of fun," said Jae Sung Lee (junior-chemi cal engineering). "The Toasters are probably the best in concert." "It's really taking off," said Pietasters frontman Steven Jack son. "There are just hundreds and hundreds of bands popping up," he said, explaining that in the past year he has seen seven or eight ska bands form in Washington, D.C. Jackson elaborated on the roots, styles, and criteria of ska music. "To me, it's best when it recog- Music VICW "oolookre The Pietasters section, composed of two tenor saxes and two trumpets that wind around each other with finesse throughout the album. The ever present keyboards add to the sound's fullness. The soothing and melodic voice of Steven Jack son carry reflective, optimistic, and sometimes aggressive lyrics. Jackson consistently adapts to suit the mood and attitude. There is a conspicuous absence of the political charge typical to this style of music. But if the songwriters really weren't into that when they put this together, it's a relief they didn't fake it. 00100100 has a broad range of tones and tempos. "Tell You Why" and "Biblical Sense" are slower, more romantically based tunes, while songs such as "Freak Show" are faster and hipper. "Pleasure Bribe" sounds down right vengeful, as does "Movin On Up," though the latter sneaks up in a bluesy guise before revealing its pie-eating fangs. One of the two tracks, however, which are really among the most memorable, are "Maggie Mae" not a Rod Stewart cover but a barroom commodity that cheerfully chants "There's a place where we all go to have a few when we feel low." The other is a cover Motown classic "The Same Old Song," expertly adapt ing the song from one soul-based genre to another. Yes, 00100100 does not break any new ground as far as the genre goes. But it is harder to make something this exciting based on talent alone, without the inclusion of extracurricular gim micks. Anyone who thinks that all ska sounds the same and that any one could play it should check out these talented tasters and get a piece of the pie. Arts I go where it is cheapest," said Tracy Weiss (junior-hotel restau rant and institutional manage ment). Tanya Rodriguez agrees. "I like new stores just because of the prices," Rodriguez (junior human development and family studies). "The one thing I like is the wide range of Latino music that I found at Mike's." For some consumers, the video selection meshes well with the music. "It's convenient this way but the selection could be more," said Eric Counsil (senior-engineering). Charlie Allen agrees. "I came to rent a movie and just started look ing at the CDs," said Allen (senior business logistics). Blockbuster Video, 1101 N. Atherton St., which sells top 20 music along with video rentals, said music and movies mix well. "It could be an impulse buy, but it's a test that has been successful," said Wally Knief, corporate com munication manager of Block buster. "We have people that come for both. I just think that there is a lot to look at," said Nina Klein, manag er of Vibes Music, 226 E. College Ave. But unlike Mike's and Block buster, Vibes sells videos and does not rent them out. nizes the roots of the music, when it doesn't take itself too seriously, and when the musicians are good," Jackson said. "Personally, I like more traditional ska." According to Jackson, tradition al ska was first defined in 1963 by the work of The Skatelites, who are considered to be the first ska band. Musicians in Jamaica were picking up rhythm and blues radio broadcasts from New Orleans, Jackson said. The musicians were influenced by the jazz music they heard, and the singing styles of soul artists. They combined this with early forms of rock before reggae. By 1965, ska musicians had slowed their style down a bit, and it was called rocksteady. Then it became reggae, Jackson said. "I think it's getting hard to say it has to be a certain kind of way," Jackson said. "It keeps changing with the times." "I think ska is the next form of music to blow up," said Ryan Scofield (junior-chemical engi neering). Ska act blazes onto regional scene By JOSHUA KADERLAN Collegian Arts Writer State College and ska music. Not exactly the first combination that springs to mind. But that's beginning to change and the Ska Blazers are part of the reason why. Ska is definitely growing in pop ularity in State College, said Kyle Lohrke (senior-science), the band's keyboardist. The band played at Crowbar, 420 E. College Ave., during the summer and drew about 200 people, he added. Actually, calling the Blazers a local act is kind of a stretch, since only two band members out of nine live here. State College is one of the towns they frequent, though, and they'll only become more visible after they open The Pietasters' show at 6:30 p.m. today at the HUB Ballroom. This isn't the first time the two bands have played together in fact, the first show the Blazers ever played was with the Pietasters, Lohrke said. "We're playing with bands we Dance Hall Crasher's 'Lockjaw' a bit stiff And now for something com pletely different . . . it's Belinda Carlisle and the Wailers! Yes, folks, in one of the latest developments in ska-fusion, The Go-Gos have allied themselves with both members of Rancid and the Melody Makers, and in a ska mbined effort, created Lockjaw. OK, so the Dance Hall Crashers doesn't really include members of those other bands, but listening to their new album can be as deceiv ing as reading the first two para graphs of this review. Normally, a mixture like this would be considered fun and exciting. Lockjaw, however, is somewhat lacking in that department. It's true that all of the songs on the Area resident Josh Jacub browses the CDs at the 'new' Mike's Video and Music, 210 Calder Way, afternoon. The store has recently expanded its focus by adding music-related items to its established video business. "Ska has been in the under ground for so long," Scofield said. "It seems like whenever (music) comes out of the underground into the mainstream, it gets ruined. I'm afraid that will hap pen to ska," he said, pointing out that Rancid's first new single was ska. In sync with Jackson's prefer ence for the conventional ska, as opposed to the punk-fused styles of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Rancid, The Pietasters have a very simple, soulful sound. Their performance here will be something of an anniversary for them, because they will have been together five years on Halloween. "We've gotten good reception, good reviews, and a lot of good feedback," he said. But as much as The Pietasters contain all the ingredients of an up-and-coming success, they haven't let it go to their heads. "Our personal views are to make sure that everybody's hav ing as much fun as we're having up on stage, and we're having a blast. We're a bunch of goofballs, basically," he said. "We found a music . . . that we were all equipped to play in our musical backgrounds." really admire," said Kevin Finnegan (senior-chemical engi neering), one of the Blazers' saxo phonists, adding that most ska gorups lack a pompous attitude. Not only do the band members get along with other bands, they get along with one another. "These guys are my best friends," Lohrke said, adding that the band members met in high school in Hazleton. "You know what they're going to do before they do it. . . . It's just like a big party 'cause if I wasn't onstage with them, I'd probably be in the crowd with them." Even their musical style springs from their friendship. The reason they started playing ska was because Brian Potash, the lead singer, got the other band mem- rMusic OVIOW "Lockjaw" Dance Hall Crashers album have an upbeat, peppy feel to them. Vocalists Elyse Rogers and Karina Denike sing with the energetic, sugar-coated howl simi lar to the styles of The Go-Gos or Magnapop. But all the songs sound pretty much the same. Aside from a few tempo-changes, such as the oh-so slightly slowed-down, quasi romantic "Good For Nothin," Lockjaw is an album that's best The multitude of skactivity planned for the next couple of weeks may seem a bit out of sea son, since ska music is more of a joyous, summer-sunsplash mood monger than of a winter-chill or Halloween scare. The show pro moters, however, are adapting the vibe to the climate. "I think any time of year any one can just skank away to ska," Cardonick said. Crowbar will hold a "Ska loween" show Oct. 31. On Nov. 8, The Blue Meanies, Mephiskaphe les, and West Coast ska band Let's Go Bowling will perform at Crow bar. Other shows include a Nov. 3 appearance of former Happy Val ley homies Ruder Than You at Café 210 West, 210 W. College Ave., and a Nov. 11 presentation by WEHR-FM of Mephiskapheles, The Blue Meanies and Springheeled Jack, tentatively slated for Le Club in East . "I'm happy (the shows) are hap pening," Scofield said. "The col lege campus is the perfect place for ska to sink its feet into." Kevin Finnegan Ska Blazers' saxophonist bers interested, Finnegan said. "We found a music . . . that we were all equipped to play in our musical backgrounds," he added. That musical background comes into play when the band is writing their songs. "Usually the horns get some thing going or the rhythm section gets something going. . . . Every one has creative input," Lohrke said. But even though the guys in the band are friends, they still face challenges mostly in getting together to practice and play. In addition to State College, various band members live in Philadel phia, Bloomsburg, West Chester, Lehigh and Kutztown. "It's a big pain," Lohrke said "It's a lot of travelling." appreciated when it's not being listened to. In theory and in thought, most of the songs on this album should technically rock, especially within the zones of appeal most often tread by the likes of Green Day or Elastica. In other words, it's got that poppy-punky feel that's usually so hard not to like. Maybe it's the constant overload of gunk-punk that makes the Dance Hall Crash ers sound so boring and repeti tive. The ska-element brings a new dimension to it, but not enough to make this album more interesting to listen to than it is to write about. —by Jake Stuiver Friday, Oct. 20, 1995 Collegian Photo Rev m iew How to make an American Quilt Great cast does not patch 'Quilt's' flaws By TODD RITTER Collegian Arts Writer In my apartment, on my bed, is a quilt made by my grandmother. Every time I use the quilt, I know that something of herself went into its making. But I didn't get this feeling from How to Make an American Quilt, a new film about a group of women and their encoun ters in love, marriage and mother hood. The trouble with the film is that the women who created it, director Jocelyn Moorhouse and the phe nomenal cast of actresses, haven't put any of themselves into the film. The result is a film that, although well-acted and impecca bly executed, fails to arouse any true emotions. Quilt tells the plight of Finn (Winona Ryder), a graduate stu dent who goes to live with her grandmother in order to finish her thesis for her master's degree. Finn is engaged to a lovable guy but fear of commitment has given her cold feet. So she turns to her grandmother's quilting group for advice. There they tell their sto ries, both poignant and uplifting. There's Sophie (Lois Smith as the old Sophie, Samantha Mathis as the young), a woman of beauty and promise who, after her husband of 15 years leaves her, is left bereft and bitter. There's Anna, played by Maya Angelou, the descendant of slaves, who finds true love in the birth of her daughter. These and other stories are interwoven within the main plot of the film. It's an American Joy Luck Club, but, unlike that powerful 1993 film, Quilt doesn't generate much emo tional catharsis. The main problem with Quilt is the framing device of the story. In The Joy Luck Club, the women gathered for a friend's going-away Party, who was leaving for China to meet the sisters she never knew. In Quilt, it's just Ryder waffling about whether or not to marry. The stories the women tell are tepid. Only Sophie's has any weight to it. The others are trivial com pared to the devastating stories told in The Joy Luck Club. How to Make an American Quilt does have several things in its favor, however. The amazing cast features Anne Bancroft, Alfre Woodard, Ellen Burstyn,- Dermot Mulroney and, all too briefly, Claire Danes. The film takes this impressive roster and proceeds to waste every single one of them. Still, even with their small parts, Angelou, Woodard and Danes man age to impress. The film looks great, with beau tiful cinematography by Janusz Kaminski. Moorhouse's direction is deft and technically proficient, but it never rises to the great emotion al height that this type of material needs. When I look at my quilt, the one my grandmother made, I know there is love there. It is part of my grandmother's history and now part of mine. When I saw How to Make an American Quilt, I didn't see anything but a well-made film that is devoid of meaning because it is devoid of true feeling. Monday already
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