Section A·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, April 9, 1999
The Deal, Schwag pay tribute to Dead's long, strange trip
By Ezra Sykes
esykes@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The death of Jerry Garcia in 1995 marked the end to an epic journey.
For 30 years, the Grateful Dead had wandered around the world filling ears and hearts full of their intriguing music — improvisational rock 'n' roll with a healthy dose of both experimental and traditional music.
On the way, a subculture of followers was produced, widely known for its liberal stances and heavy use of mind-altering substances. Somewhere on the long, strange trip, these "Deadheads" seemed to become uniquely American figures like cowboys or hoboes.
Four months after the death of singer and guitarist Garcia, band members announced that they would never again perform as the Grateful Dead.
Now in a time where the ubiquitous MTV commands youth and a "sell-out-or-die" attitude runs rampant in the music industry, you would think that the Grateful Dead would have faded away.
But the music never stopped.
In Lawrence, two bands have provided a way for Grateful Dead fans to hear live Dead tunes from the stage rather than from the extensive bootleg collections in their living rooms—The Deal and The Schwag.
Darrell Lea, lead guitarist for The Deal explained the original intentions for forming the local group.
had all
"We simply wanted to go out and play some bar rooms," he said. "We
long time and liked the music."
"Lawrence is a big community for Dead-heads " he said.
And their location was perfect.
The group's approach to covering Dead tunes isn't to copy the music but rather to play it in their own style.
Because Dead tunes are so popular, business is pretty good.
"We don't make a conscious effort to imitate their styles." Lea said.
ness is pretty good.
"Once a crowd has heard a note of the Dead, you can't give them anything else," Lea said. "We're not willing to make $20 a gig anymore for the glory of playing our own tunes. This music allows us to be a tribute band and not have to get new hairstyles."
became a hall-breaker. The band plays in Lawrence almost monthly and will perform about 10 tonight at the Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St.
The Schwag was formed in 1992 in St Louis and in 1995 — after the death of Garcia — it became a full-fledged Dead tribute band.
at the Boccoloma In a phone interview from St. Louis, bassist Jimmy Tebau spoke about the band members' qualifications.
"Collectively we've been to about 700 Dead shows," he said. "We've studied their music when we saw them and still strive to get the right tones and the right notes."
The band has 131 Dead tunes in their repertoire.
But a perfect imitation isn't the goal for The Schwag.
The Wag.
"Even if we do play songs two nights in a row, the way we play them is always different." Tebeau said.
somehow found a way to keep
"There's been time I've tried to burn myself out but I don't." he said. "It's like eating Taco Bell. Once you've had it, you have to have it again, just like the music."
John Cabrera,
Lawrence resident,
has seen The Deal
and the Schwag
about 10 times each.
Cabrera said that
watching the two Dead
cover bands was pleas-
"It's wonderful because the music is so powerful that individuals can have a simulated experience of going to the Grateful Dead concert," he said. "It's a lot more interpretation than imitation."
Edited by Aerica Veazey
Composer Maria Newman conducts the KU Symphony Orchestra during the fine tuning of her piano concerto, "Ninnescab," yesterday afternoon. The piece will premiere at 7:30 tonight in the Lied Center.
Photo by Christina Neff/KANSAN
'Ninnescah' piano concerto premieres tonight at KU
By Matt Merkel-Hess
Special to the Kansan
With pen in hand, which she used as a baton, and long black hair sweeping in front of her face, composer Maria Newman rehearsed her piano concerto, "Ninnescah," with the KU Symphony Orchestra Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday afternoon
Working quickly and efficiently at the first of three rehearsals this week, Newman fine-tuned parts that didn't sound quite right and conveyed her thoughts to the orchestra on the piece, which premieres at 7:30 tonight at the Lied Center.
At the piano, Delores Wunsch Stevens, KU alumna, made the difficult part seem effortless, which was written with her in mind
The Wunsches, who maintain residences in Lawrence and Kingman, donated a tract of land near Kingman valued at $50,000 to the KU Endowment Association to begin the fund.
less, which was "When you write a piece, you work around another person's abilities," Newman said. "And Delores' talents are endless."
"This endowed fund is there forever or until the institution is gone," said Steve Anderson, chair of the department of music and dance. "The joy to me is having this resource to create projects, which enhance the educational opportunities for students, faculty and the public."
The work is the first commission for the Delores Wunsch Stevens Fund for New Music that had been established by Stevens' brother Bob Wunsch and his wife, Barbara, of Lawrence. Barbara Wunsch said she and her husband established the fund to honor Stevens and her commitment to new music.
"It's not that we ourselves are such good musicians," Barbara Wunsch said. "But we've grown up around it and love it."
Newman was selected to write the concerto, which she began working on about a year ago. The title comes from the Ninnescah River, which runs through Stevens' hometown of Kingman.
The 30-minute piece has five movements and tells the story of a chautauqua, a turn of the century production which involved circus-type events.
A CONCERT FOR THE PRE-MILLENNIUM
**What — a concert featuring works composed at the end of centuries, such as Beethoven's first symphony in 1799 and the premiere of Maria Newman's "Ninnesach."**
When — 7:30 tonight
Where — at the Lied Center
Cost -- $5 for adults, $4 for students and senior citizens
"This is a piece honoring Kansas," Newman said. "This does have a story — something that people living here in Kansas may be interested in knowing."
be interested. The fund also provided for Newman's and Stevens' week-long residency at the School of Music and travel from Los Angeles, where the two live in the same neighborhood.
Newman, born in 1962, grew up in a musical family. She is the youngest daughter of nine-time Academy Award winning composer/conductor Alfred Newman, two of her brothers compose for film, and her cousin is singer-songwriter Randy Newman. She studied violin and viola performance at the Eastman School of Music and Yale University, and she began composing in the early '80s.
She now has two daughters — 4-month-old Isabella and 2-year-old Martha. Her husband, George Thatcher, is a professional trombonist.
Newman said that in the '60s, classical music moved in a direction that turned a lot of people off, and she has worked to make her music more melodic.
her brace in the air." "People will love this music," Stevens said of the concerto. "This type of music is going to make classical music live."
Stevens, a professional pianist, has performed more than 500 concerts and has always been committed to new music. She commissioned and premiered works by more than two dozen composers.
- Matt Merkel-Hess plays second violin in the
- Edited by Keith Burner
Transgendered activist urges pushing limits
By Clay McCuistion Special to the Korean
Special to the Kansan
Transgendered author and activist Kate Bornstein spoke about pushing the boundaries of gender and sexual orientation with a small group of KU students yesterday.
The afternoon "Meet and chat" discussion was sponsored by Queers and Allies, the University Theatre, Student Senate and the Liberty Press, and was attended by 15 students. The event was part of Pride Week, which begins in earnest Monday.
Bornstein said she hoped that college activists took this freedom and used it to help other students — such as the transgendered.
"I'm in the position of a good," said Bornstein after speaking. "We are in a time of surprisingly moderate attitudes towards girls and lesbians on campus."
get to know.
"You need to take it to another level," said Bornstein, who was born a man but now lives as a woman.
She also said she was impressed with the gay and lesbian community at University of Kansas
"I talk about you everywhere I go," said Bornstein, who is visiting the KU campus for the second year in a row. "I say, 'You're not going to believe what's happening in Kansas.'"
happening Madrid,
Christa Madrijal, Kansas City, Mo.,
sophomore, said she was excited to meet
Bornstein.
"She's an amazing lecturer and an amazing speaker," said Madrijal. "I've been looking forward to this all week."
marnew Skinta, Andover junior and editor of the Queers and Allies newsletter, Vanguard, also attended.
"I'm always impressed with what Kate has to say," he said. "It's always challenging to find ways to broaden my world view in accordance with her ideas."
ideas.
Bornstein said her lecture today would consist of discussion with the audience and one or two readings from her works — which include the books "Gender Outlaw" and "My Gender Workbook."
"I want to build a fabulous coalition of freaks." Bornstein said.
law and my job
She said she wanted to hear from all outside of the mainstream — not just gavs and lesbians.
Bornstein's play will be presented at 8 tonight and tomorrow at the Inge Theater in Murphy Hall. Tickets are available through the SUA office at 864-3477 or the Murphy Hall box office at 864-3499
"It's probably my angriest public voice," Bornstein said about the play. "And I'm getting angrier."
Edited by Keith Burner
Skeleton to debut at museum
By Matt Merkel-Hess Special to the Kansan
Bracelet making, portrait drawing and a dinosaur rib cage are just some of the entertainment planned for the 19th annual Museum Day.
Museum Day, which is free to the public, is from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at every KU museum.
Visitors who collect stamps from at least three museums will be eligible to win a $25 gift certificate to any museum gift shop. A model of a Roman Bulla, a circular medallion worn by Roman children, will be used to collect stamps, said Betty Banks, curator of the Wilcox Classical Museum.
Beth Huerter, visitors services manager at the Natural History Museum, said she wished every day could be Museum Day.
if you can only come to the museums once, this would be
tne day to come," Huerter said.
The theme at the Natural History Museum is "The End of an Era" — specifically the end of the millennium and the Mesozoic Era.
A new permanent exhibit, a 60-foot mosasaur skeleton, will open. Mosasaurs were giant swimming lizards that lived during the Mesozoic Era in the shallow sea that covered Kansas.
Children will get to crawl through a mock mosausaur rib cage, said Dena Podrebarac, public education specialist at the museum.
At the Spencer Museum of Art, the theme is "Picture Yourself in the Art Museum," said Kristina Mitchell, education services coordinator at the museum. Museum volunteers will take Polaroid pictures for participants to follow
in drawing their own portraits. Visitors also can examine two portrait exhibits and participate in a gallery activity.
A treasure hunt and activities with myths are planned at the Wilcox Classical Museum, Banks said. There will be prizes, temporary tattoos and an interactive guide to Rome.
The Museum of Anthropology will have a grid activity to give visitors an idea of how archeologists work at a dig, said Celia Daniels, public education director at the museum.
"They may see things they never knew existed on campus," Banks said. "There isn't any other place on campus they'll see ancient sculptures in original scale and actual antiquities."
While not many KU students typically attend Museum Day, Banks recommended a visit.
—Edited by Kelli Roybern
Sexual Assault Awareness Week starts Monday
By Katie Burford
kburford@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center has scheduled its biggest program to date for Sexual Assault Awareness Week, which begins Monday and will continue until April 16.
"We hope people see it as a positive opportunity to make a difference," said Kathy Rose-Mockry, director of the center.
"Men and Women Working Together to Ston Rane" is the week's theme.
An awards ceremony from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at Wescoce Beach will kick off the week. Working Against Violence Everywhere, an organization run by KU students, will recognize two people for their work against violence.
According to the KU Public Safety Office, there was one rape and two sexual batteries on campus in 1998, compared to seven raps and no sexual batteries in 1997.
KJHK also will broadcast from the event, and information tables with safety tips and free whiiches—to call for assistance in a violent situation will be provided.
Later, a self-defense class will be taught from 4 to 6 p.m. at room 252 in Robinson Center by 30 year law enforcement veteran Mickey DeHook . There is a $5 fee for students, staff and faculty and $10 fee for the public.
A T-shirt making session for the Clothesline Project will take place from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Corbin Resource Center. Women and children who have been a victim of violence, or know someone who has been, are invited to make T-shirts to be hung on a clothesline for display later in the week.
"The purpose is to bear witness to survivors as well as victims," said project leader Jenny McAdam, Kansas City, Mo., senior.
A series of 14 posters "This is Not an Invitation to Rape Me" will on display from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday on the fourth floor of the Union.
"The images are very provocative," said Rose-Mocky. "The idea is to challenge people's assumptions about rape and sexual assault."
Another T-shirt making session is sched.
the Kansas City
The KU Public Safety Office will begin the Safe Night Run at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Lied Center with a talk about personal safety. After the talk, participants will run down Iowa Street to 23rd Street. Refreshments will be available in the soccer field after the run. No sign-up is required to participate.
The final poster exhibit will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Union.
The Clothesline Project will make its last appearance from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday on the lawn at Stauffer-Flint Hall.
Shirts from the Clotheline Project will be on display from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on the lawn in front of Stauffer Flint Hall, and the poster series will be set up from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Kansas Union.
Edited by Keith Burner
uled for 4-6 p.m. Tuesday at the Women's Resource center, 22 Strong Hall.
■ "When Someone You Love is Raped," an informal presentation, will be given from 7 to p. 9m. "Tuesday at the Jayhawk Room in the Kansas Union."