people
THE NIGHT SHIFT
Bills and love of the night draw workers to the late shift
By JL Watson Kansan staff writer
The parking lot is almost empty. The only activity comes from the insects swarming around the overhead lights. It is 2 a.m. and George Dewey has stepped outside for a smoke. He is taking a break from the night shift.
"I've done this for six years," he said of his night job at Checkers, 2300 Louisiana St. He has worked two jobs for six years: During the day Dewey works in power plant maintenance at the University of Kansas. "I work this job because I have to," Dewey said. "The bills have got to be paid."
Perhaps the best and worst thing about working the night shift are the same — the hours. Dewey said he liked working the night shift because it didn't conflict with his day schedule. However, if he did not have the night job he would spend more time going to movies and relaxing with his wife.
"It's not all bad," he said. "I get to meet a lot of interesting people. Some of the customers like to visit."
One problem Dewey encounters is nighttime shoplifters.
"I think we get a lot more of it on this shift," he said. "They usually take small items and snack food."
Julia Clarke/ KANSAN
Snack foods are popular items among late-night shop- pets.
"We get a lot of college students and shift workers in here," Dewey said. "They end up buying junk food, burritos, pop and chips."
Shannon Wright, Pittsburgh junior, isn't among the late-night snackers, but she knows what it's like to go to work when most people are heading home. Like Dewey, she works under artificial lights. She is a clerk at Kinko's, 520 W. 23rd St.
"Even in the middle of the night there's a lot of work to do," Wright said. Wright said she runs copies for big jobs or cleans. She also listens to music to help her stay awake.
"I usually have enough to keep me to keep me busy until 4 a.m." Wright said. After that she reads or catches up on homework.
Wright said she likes the solitude of working alone. "I would rather work this shift because I don't have to deal with management or other co-workers," she said. Instead, she prefers to deal with the public on her own.
Shannon Wright, Pittsburg junior, is a clerk at Kinko's.
"A lot of people who come in at this time are procrastinators," Wright said. "They know if they come in late they will get more attention."
Wright said the number of late-night customers varies as the semester progresses. "During finals or when big projects are due people come and camp out," Wright said.
Wright said that despite the fact that she works alone she is not concerned about safety. A Lawrence police officer routinely patrols the area.
sometimes I'll be in the back and if he doesn't see me he'll come in and yell." she said.
Although nighttime safety may not be a major concern for Wright, it is for KU police officer Troy Mailen. Mailen
Shannon Wright:
"Even in the middle of the night there is a lot of work to do."
patrols campus 10 hours a night, four days a week. He would prefer to work the day shift but doesn't mind staving up all night.
"We go on an annual rotation," he said. "I did this three years ago, and right before this I was working the evening shift and didn't get off until 2 a.m. anyway, so it's not too difficult for me."
Maileen patrolling at night presents problems not usually found on the day shift.
"During the day we see a lot more petty larceny crimes, like stolen backpacks, and at night there are more traffic violations and alcohol-related incidents."
Alcohol-related incidents increase during weekends, Malten said.
Malien said he spends most of his time doing routine
Robb Scherff:
"I've always stayed up late."
patrols and traffic enforcement. He works a straight shift, without a break.
"It's not like I have to be busy all the time, but I always have to be ready," he said. "Nevertheless, I'm seldom interrupted while I'm eating my lunch."
Mailen said the most difficult thing about working all night is lack of sleep — not for himself, but for his wife. "She has trouble sleeping when no one else is home," he said. "But she never complains about my hours."
Robb Scherff, Lawrence freshman, doesn't complain about lack of sleep, either.
"I've always stayed up late," he said. Scherff is a disc jockey for the heavy metal show on KJHK from midnight to 3 a.m.
He got the job this summer and liked it so much he decided to keep it for the fall semester.
"I like doing this so I don't consider this a job," Scherff said.
A natural night owl, Scherff built his class schedule around his job and sleeping patterns. "When I had morning classes I never made it to them," he said. Now, Scherff takes classes that don't begin until after noon.
When Scherff is at the studio he putters around, looking for music to play and taking listeners' requests. About 2 a.m. Sunday morning, the phone lines were silent.
"People should be calling soon." Scherff said. "I get a lot of calls between two and three by drunk people. Usually, they're really happy and just want me to play something. Try to accommodate everyone."
Well, almost everyone. Scherff deals only in heavy metal and said he recently received a request for an Elvis song.
"I thought, 'Are you listening to the show right now?' I told the woman she would have to call back during another show."
Scherff doesn't see a down side to working in the middle of the night. The only drawback, he said, was finding enough time to do daytime errands.
Even so, Scherff considers it a small price to pay. "I love what I do," he said.
Mountain Clyde sound: '70s rock meets funk
Melissa Lacey/KANSAN
move, lead guitarist Chris Ruffin, left, and singer Charlie Keel, belt out songs during a recent practice. Right, members of Mountain Clyde rehearse songs in their downtown warehouse studio. They are, from left to right, Matt Giltlouen, drums; Dan Hines, bass guitar; and Charlie Keel, vocals.
By JL Watson Kansan staff writer
From the outside it appears to be just another downtown warehouse, but a look, or rather a listen, inside reveals more. Musical instruments, a recording studio, a broken-down pickup truck, several sofas and two dogs occupy most of the space where the members of the band Mountain Clyde live and practice.
"When we practice we usually have an audience of one, or sometimes two girls who dance in the alley," said drummer Matt Gilhousen.
Guitarist Ruffin said, "The experience is completely intoxicating."
The audience becomes considerably bigger when Mountain Clyde plays other Lawrence museums. They have become regulars at local bars.
'Mom, I'm going to do this for the rest of my life!'
Keel said it is difficult to categorize Mountain Clyde's sound. "We just sound like ourselves," he said. "Our four styles just come together and we can listen to ourselves objectively."
"It is extremely hard to break into the local music scene," said lead singer Charlie Keel. "But once you're in, the owners treat you right. They really like for local acts to get exposure, so they try to get us to open for national acts."
Ruffin describes the band's sound as a cross between '70s rock with funky bass lines and drumming. He also says that which is kind of grungy," he said.
Keel, Gilhousen, bassist Dian Dines and lead guitarist Chris Ruffin have been together as a performing band for almost a year. They played their first club gig at Benchwarmer's Sports Bar, Grill 1601, 23rd St.
"When we came off the stage that night I grabbed my brother. It was a very emotional experience," Keel said. "I called my mom and said,
All four members have a singular objective: to play music for as many people as will listen.
"We all have a strong passion for this," said Keel.
The band plans to start traveling soon, said Ruffin. They have recorded 12 tracks on their first CD.
"It put us in debt for the rest of our lives, but it was worth it," Ruffin said.
"We recently played with Nic Cosmos and that has probably been our best show," he said. "We didn't have to do a first set warm-up. People were dancing by the second song. It was like turning on a switch, and we just tapped it."
Audiences interested in being tapped can catch Mountain Clyde Sept. 4 at the Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Massachusetts St., and Sept. 10 at Benchwarmers.
Mellissa Lacey/KANSAS
People and places at the University of Kansas.
calendar
NIGHTLIFE
Benchwarmers Sports Bar & Grill
1024 W 39th St
They Came In Droves, 9:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday
Soul Food Cafe, 9:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday
The Crossing
Dos Hombres
12th and Oread
Bartley's dream, 9 p.m. Thursday
Dirt Weed, 9 p.m. Friday
Danger Bob, 9 p.m. Saturday
The Jazzhaus
815 New Hampshire St.
Eight Men Out, 9 p.m. Friday
926 1/2 Massachusetts St.
David Garza, 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday
Mountain Clyde, 9:30 p.m. Saturday
Granada Theater
1020 Massachusetts St.
River City Six, 8 p.m. Thursday
Steve Erickson, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday
The Brass Apple
3300 W. 15th St.
So What Band, 9 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday,
$2
Free State Brewing Co.
Bill Crahan Trio, 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday
Free State Jazz Quartet, 7 to 9 p.m. Friday
Paradise Cafe
So What Band, 10 p.m. to midnight Thursday
The Bottleneck
The Bottleneck 737 New Hampshire
Webb Wilder with The Irritators, 10:30 Friday,
$7
"Loaded in Lawrence" CD release party: Nick Cosmos, Kill Creek, Love Squad, Lowlife, 10 p.m. Saturday, $5
Soul Food Cafe, 11 to 11:30 p.m. Sunday, $4
Hockenbury's Tavern
1016 Massachusetts St.
Flint Gray, 10:30 p.m. Thursday, $3
Chubby Smith and His Orchestra with White
Trash, 10:30 p.m. Friday, $3
Soul Shaker, 10:30 p.m. Saturday, $3
Blues, Brew and Barbeque 1910 Haskell Ave.
Back To School Party For Students: DJ Joe Clemmons, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday, $2 Lawman's Blues Band, 9 p.m. Saturday
See CALENDAR, Page 10