The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, November 9, 2000
Music Section B • Page 3
Bluegrass band picks its way to town
By Brad Weiner Special to the Kansan
Bluegrass music is back.
Yender Mountain String Band, a Colorado-based group, will perform for the first time in Kansas tonight at The Jazzhaus. The band is recognized for its ubeart acoustic sounds. Contributed art
Bluegrass music is back.
Anyone wanting to dispute that should take it up with Yonder Mountain String Band, which will amble into Lawrence tonight armed with acoustic instruments and the virtuosity to get skeptics on their feet.
Yonder Mountain formed in Nederland, Colo., two years ago.
The quartet takes the stage at 10 p.m. at The Jazzhaus, 928 1/2
Missoula hosts. Tickets are $4
Tonight will be its first performance in Kansas.
If accumulated a fan base that catapulted ly from small Colorado gigs to Colorado festival slots at High Sierra, Berkfest and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.
The band's drive-without-drums theory plays exactly how it sounds.
With all acoustic instruments and little amplification, the band is known for getting audiences dancing to the usually subdued sound of traditional bluegrass.
The band consists of Jeff Austin, mandolin; Ben Kaufman, bass; Adam Aijala, guitar; and Dave Johnston on banio.
Although there are only four official members, they often pick with the finest bluegrass musicians in the country. Pete
Wernick, Leftover Salmon,
Mike Marshall and most
recently, mandolin virtuoso
David "Dawg" Grisman.
Vonder Mountain released one CD, *Elevation*, a collection of 15 tracks brimming with fanatic banjo breakdowns (such as the hilarious "Mental Breakdown"), beautiful ballads about defunct relationships and the standard western motifs of sheriffs, outlaws and running from the law.
According to a review by Tom Reid, "this acoustic quartet has made a scientific breakthrough by proving that wood does indeed conduct electricity."
Although the band has a solid repertoire of originals, it shuffles some covers into the deck from eclectic acts such as Ozzy Osborne, Pink Floyd, Peter Tosh and the Grateful Dead.
Yonder Mountain String Band also plays from a large
vocabulary of standard bluegrass songs, which will please the palettes of people who love pickin'.
Yonder Mountain has effectively mastered the acoustic Appalachian sound and drenched it with the clean, cold snow of the Rockies making a hybrid so contagious and beautiful it will keep listeners smiling for weeks.
- Edited by Clay McCuintion
Oscar-winning guitarist grooves at the Granada
By Katie Nelson
Special to the Kansan
a goofy wave, a shrug of his narrow shoulders, and he's gone.
Was that really Elliott Smith on stage with the greasy, stringy hair and scraggly beard? The guy who finally gained some well-deserved recognition after being featured on the Good Will Hunting soundtrack, but now shuns the tracks as if it was the plague? Yep. It was him all right.
Saturday night, Elliott Smith played to a sold-out crowd at the Granada. Grandaddy, a California-based band opened. Touring for his fifth solo album, Figure 8, Smith is now taking part in a month-long,
cross-country tour. The night before, he played Chicago, the following night, Denver.
Smith is a Portland-based indie-rocker whom many remember as the white tuxedo-clad musician at the Oscars in March 1998. He performed "Miss Misery" from the Good Will Hunting soundtrack that night after he was nominated for the Oscar for original song. At the Granada, Smith opened with a shocker version of "Needle in the Hay." The studio version is a quiet piece from his self-titled album, but Saturday night it turned raw with the help of Smith's touring band.
"His current touring band is really tight," said Brendan Bourke, of Girlie Action
Review
Media Smith's publicist.
This was evident in the execution of its music. It had a rigid, more rocked-out sound than Smith's solo albums, but it worked.
whereas most bands make records and then make unplugged versions of their work. Smith is doing just the opposite. The show had a much harsher sound, with Smith using an electric guitar instead of the acoustic fans of his older work have grown accustomed to.
Smith played most of his new album as well as multiple tunes from XO and Either/Or. "Division Day," a song from Figure 8 was especially good.
Gone was the mellow, almost mournful sound of his first albums, Roman Candle, Elliott Smith and Either/Or. His show
He was soft spoken and didn't have much stage presence, but the intensity of the music and his discerning smile readily made up for that.
Saturday night and his newer albums showed a newer, brasher side of his music.
During his first encore, he slipped on an acoustic guitar and strummed out several tunes. It was a looser, kinder sound. The group closed the second encore with a cover of Blue Oyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper."
Edited by Amy Randolph
Yonder Mountain String Band and Runaway Truck Ramp, 10 p. m. at The Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Massachusetts, St. $4, 21 and older.
as Finks, TX. New Found Glory, Good Charlotte and Leffy, B p.m., at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. $10 advanced, $12 day of show, All shows.
Live Music
Tonight:
Tomorrow
Anniversary, Ultimate Fakebook and Hot Rod City, B p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737, New Hampshire St. $6, 18 and older.
Javier Mendoza, 10 p.m. at The Jazzhaus,
926 1/2 Massachusetts St. $4, 21 and
older.
Saturday:
Jose PH and Random Happening, 8 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. $4, 21 and older. $6, 18 to 20.
Dr. Zhivegas, 8 p.m. at the Granada,
1020 Massachusetts St. $6, 21 and
older. $8, 18 to 20.
Random Happenings, 10 p.m. at The Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Massachusetts St.
$4, 21 and older.
Sunday:
Old '97's, 34 Satelite, 8 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. $10,
18 and older.
Ranier Aria and Radio 4, 10 p.m. at The Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts St.
$2, 21 and older.
Type O Negative, B p.m. at the Granade,
1020 Massachusetts St. $17.50,
advanced tickets. All ages.
The Draft, 10 p.m. at the Jazzhaus, 926
1/2 Massachusetts St. $4, 21 and older.
Monday:
Chainsaw Kittens and the Starlight Mints.
8 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. $4, 21 and older. $6, 18 to
20
Trashy Brats and Juicefer, 10 p.m. at The Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts St.
$2, 21 and older.
Ozric Tentacles, 8 p.m. at the Granada,
1020, Massachusetts St. $10, 18 and
older.
Jazzhaus Open Jam with the Spanktones. 10 p.m. at The Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Massachusetts St. $4, 21 and older.
Tuesday:
Origin, Incantation and Esoteric, 8 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. $10, 18 and older.
Grand Champen and Penitentiate, 10
p.m. at The -Replay Lounge, 946
Massachusetts St. $2, 21 and older.
Deloitte 3030 featuring Del the Funkee Homosapian, Kid Koa, The Automator, Ugly Duckling and P.U.T.S. $15, advanced tickets, 18 and older.
Wednesday:
MU330, Ruskabank and Public Relations,
8 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. $5, 21 and older. $7, 18 to
20.
New World Gypsies, 10 p. m. at The Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Massachusetts St.
$4, 21 and older.
Electrasy — In Here We Fall
Produced by Matthew Wilder, who was partially responsible for the creation of No Doubt's breakthrough album Tragic Kingdom, In Here We Fall progresses with a different feel for each song.
The opening track, "Renegades," begins with a sharply regulated dance beat, then slowly coalesces into an explosive piece of pop melody and expression.
Electrasy is a band of many musical faces. On its U.S. debut album, In Here We Fall, the lines of strong guitar driven rock, pulsing dance music and hio-hop into a sense of musical dynamism.
progresses with a different
formed in the town of Yeoll,
England, Electrazy is led by
vocalist Ali McKinnell and
guitarist and songwriter Nigel
Neset.
McKinnell's voice resounds with a sweet-tuned urgency in the soft languishing love song
"Morning Afterglow," then glands incendiary intensity in the trip-hip tugworm "Foot Soldierz" a few tracks later.
The lyrics penned by Nisbet provide a window to an emotional gamut, ranging from the gidi
ness of new love in "Morning Afterglow" to the cold alienation portrayed in the keyboard-laden "Cosmic Castaway."
Among the strongest tracks on this album are several acoustic songs such as "Angel" and
or only in a case both the range of McKinnell's voice and the intricacies of the band's musical capabilities.
More Information
To hear tracks from these CDs and to see an Electrason video, go to www.kansan.edu
In Here We Fail fuses many aspects of modern music, creating a product for Electrasy that is nothing short of electric.
Lyrics ●●●●●●
Instrumentation ●●●●●●
Originality ●●●●●●
Lvrics ●●●●○
U2 — All That You Can't Leave Behind
Patrick Cady
The conscience of '80s rock resurfaced last week with the release of U2's newest CD, All That You Can't Leave Behind.
The omnipresent frontman, Bono, weaves his musings of his midlife crisis and social activism with the post-modern electronic synthesis found in Achtune Baby and Zoopora.
The question is: Does anyone care?
"I'm just trying to find a decent melody — a song that I can sing in my own company," crooned Bono in "Stuck in a Moment."
U2 sees perplexed and lost in the Inspiral bath of pop music spawned by Disney's Mickey
Bono, guitarist for the Edge, and uber-producer, Brian Eno generate some leads in their first release "Elevator."
Edge, and uber-producer,
Brian Eno generate some terrific, upbeat ballads in their first releases "Beautiful Day," and "Elevator."
U2 may lose younger listeners with its some what preachy tone found in the middle of songs such as the bizarre, "Wild Honey," which brings to mind '70s harmony-driven groups such as
the Mamas and the Papas. They are refreshing, but dangerously close to being outdated and cliched.
the 11-song CD should have ended with the killer 10th track, "New York." Bono's spin on the song popularized by Frank Sinatra. America's favorite Irish-born rock star accurately updates the essence of what the Big Apple is today, while wondering if that's where he lost his fans. MTV's show, Total Request Live, and its host, Carson Daly, have helped propel Britney, Christina and the boy bands to millions of dollars in sales, while being totally devoid of serious content.
It's ironic because the transformed Times Square, which is the show's backdrop, was largely restored by the very company that spawned pop music's heatens, Disney.
Old U2 fans and the uninitiated Gen Yers can't go wrong with picking up All That You Can Behind.
Lyrics: ○○○○○○○○○○
Originality: ○○○○○○○○○○
Instrumentation: ○○○○○○○○○○
— Ryan Dolon
for students
kansan.com
by students
We Buy, Sell & Trade USED & NEW Sports Equipment
wed nov 29
jose ph
random happening
Visit Lawrence's hippest Lounge
"Serious Drinks for Drinking Seriously"
T
LA PARRILLA
LATIN AMERICAN CUISINE
We offer cuisine from Mexico,
Central & South America
including:
ceviche • empanadas • arepas •
Brazilian steak salad • grilled
veggie rice bowls • pork al
pastor & fish tacos
Dine-in or Carry-out
Plus...Free Chips and Salsa with every entree!!!
814 Mass St 841-1100 Open Daily
Late Nights Fri & Sat
BODY BOUTIQUE
The Women's Fitness Facility 925 Iowa 749-2424
LIKE A MILLION FOR MUCH LESS!
LOOK & FEEL
CALL FOR A FREE KICKBOXING CLASS!
Let us help you reach your goals!
Tanning Special
3 MONTHS Unlimited Tanning
only $55
non-members welcome
non-members welcome
explores 11/30/00
expires 11/30/00
Save $100
VIP Membership
only $24/month
Fitness Special
Save $100
DRINK UP
THURSDAY
75¢ Domestic Drafts
1. 50 Domestic Liters
2. 25 Almost Anything
3. 75 Doubles
FRIDAY
1. 50 Miller High Life
3. 00 Rolling Rock Bombers
SATURDAY
2. 00 Rolling Rock
50¢ Pool Everyday
841-1960
1031 Mass