6A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER6,2002
8-track scratching the new way to play
By Michael Vennard Kansan staff writer
It's love or hate for anyone listening to the TJ Dovebelly Ensemble's blend of beats, samples, live instrumentation and low-fi 8-track tape manipulation.
"When we play for hip-hop crowds they split halfway," said Mark Southerland, Kansas City, Mo. resident, "Half the kids laugh at the 8-track scratching the other half think it's really cool."
The TJ Dovebelly Ensemble appearing at the Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts St., tomorrow night, features Southerland's 8track scratching, which sounds similar to the scratching technique used by record DJs.
Southerland's friends discovered a way to create tape loops, or sections of tape that repeat every 3 or 4 seconds, inside the 8-track cartridges.
Always experimenting with new sounds and instruments. Southerland soon discovered a whole new realm of possibilities.
Southerland credited his interest in 8-tracks to his car and its previous owner.
He got the idea after the owner of the 1979 Cadillac DeVille showed him how to pop open the tapes and create loops, Southerland said. He then modified the trick by moving the tape to make noises like record-scratching.
screaming "It was a really simple final leap, a kind of lightning-bolt moment," he said.
The modest origin of the 8-track discovery more than two years ago has evolved into a full-fledged band. Southerland first joined forces with Shane Whitstis, Kansas City, Mo., resident.
"Half the kids laugh at the 8-track scratching; the other half think it's really cool."
Mark Southerland Kansas City, Mo. resident
Soon after, Aaron Osborne, a KU graduate now living in Kansas City, Mo., brought his electric bass and vintage Syndrum to the mix. Sterling Holman, Kansas City, Mo., rounded out the group.
In the tradition of jazz musician Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Southerland has modified existing instruments to create other new sounds, inventions Sutherland created before the 8-track scratching method.
A TJ Dovebelly show may include his piccolophone (part piccolo, part saxophone), a hoseiphone (a saxophone mouthpiece attached to a hose which Southerland waves around his head to create an echo effect), and the double-sax (a tenor saxophone attached to a C-melody saxophone modified to plav with the right hand).
The TJ Dovebelly Ensemble will play Davey's Uptown Rambler's Club, 3402 Main St., in Kansas City, Mo., tonight, followed by its performance at the Replay Lounge tomorrow.
"A couple of our best shows have been at the Replay," Southerland said, "It seems like there are enough people that have listened to electronic music to appreciate our strange take on it."
Contact Vennard at
mwvennard@kansan.com. This story was edited by Amy Schmitz
Good boy
Lawrence resident Frederic Gutknecht played fetch with his dog, Cutter, at Potter's Lake Thursday evening. Gutknecht said he and Cutter usually came to the pond at least once a week. "He gets anxious to work when it gets towards hunting season", he said.
Students and pets are safe from virus if they take small, precautionary steps
Justin Henning
Kansan staff writer
Don't expect to replace your "my dog ate my homework" excuse with "I had West Nile virus" any time soon.
Of the 20 percent who get the milder version, the symptoms for
According to the Centers for Disease Control, less than one percent of people infected with the West Nile virus will contract severe symptoms.
"It is very unusual to see it in healthy, young people," said Lawrence Magee. staff physician at Watkins Medical Center.
Of the people that are infected with West Nile virus, 80 percent will show no signs of it at all, said Magee. He said the other 20 percent would experience flu-like symptoms for a few days.
the disease include a fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph glands and a rash on the torso of the body.
Other symptoms, such as high fever, disorientation, coma, convulsions and paralysis are signs of the more severe infection, according to the CDC.
Hansen said a two-part vaccination was available for horses
Students might also be concerned for the well-being of their pets, such as cats or dogs that spend time outside. Gail Hansen, State Public Health Veterinarian, said most pets were not at risk.
"Unless someone has a pet horse or bird, there is no reason for concern," she said. "Other pets might carry the antibodies for a few days, but not contract the virus."
but pet owners should keep birds indoors as much as possible.
The overall context of the virus and its origins explain why the outbreak has caused so much panic.
The CDC Web site www.cdc.gov, said that, before 1999, the West Nile virus was a common occurrence in Eastern Europe, Africa, West Asia and the Middle East, but had never been seen in the Western Hemisphere. Since 1999, it has spread from the East Coast of the United States.
Experts have little information about the virus' habits -why certain birds die from it and others don't, how long a person or animal is a carrier of the virus and what factors make some people immune and others susceptible.
Hansen said this lack of
information made people anxious about the virus, although it had a low rate of infection in people.
"When people can't get an answer, they get nervous," she said. "You are more likely to die in a car wreck driving from Lawrence to Topeka than from West Nile virus."
As for concerned students, Magee said they could take general steps toward prevention.
Students can dump out standing water, such as birdbaths, wear long clothing to cover the skin and avoid the outdoors during sundown, because he said it was the prime time for mosquitoes to bite.
Contact Henning at jhenning@kansan.com. This story was edited by Melissa Shuman.