nightlife
Seasons Greetings... from Mojo?
Bullethead
Big Head Todd— Hoping for usual crowd
Special to the Kansan
Rv Traci Carl
Todd Park Mohr, who plays the guitar, keyboard and sings in the band Big Head Todd and the Monsters, said he can't describe the band's style, but he could describe the kind of crowd the band draws.
Brian Nevin, drummer for BITTM,
said the Lawrence crowd had always been positive and enthusiastic. Past
Lawrence performances include:
Benchwarmers, the Bottleneck, and
the River Valley Music Festival. BITTM
billled the stage a tough tone and
had a big lineup of Sports
Bar and Grill. 600 W.19th St., D
"People drink a lot at our shows for some reason," Mohr said. "We've brooked it."
College crowds are easier to play for, Nevin said.
“It’s a crowd that’s usually into what’s new and original.” Nevin said.
Nevin described the band's style as rock and roll with the American roots.
"It covers the spectrum," Nevin said. "With us, it seems like it's quite a variance of groups that we're compared with."
Nevin, Mohr and Rob Squires, the band's bassist, knew each other in high school; Nevin and Mohr meet while participating in the school's jazz group.
Nevin didn't think they'd ever get very far.
The three ended up as college roommates at the University of Colorado and they started the band six years ago, Nevin said. All three members sing for the band.
Mojo Nixon unwraps his one-of-a-kind holiday merriment tonight in
"It was more of a way to get through school." he said.
Mobr said he didn't really think they'd ever be able to make the band into a profession, but they became so successful that they had to drop out of college and play full time
Lawrence.
Success came easy because the band didn't have many expectations, but there were also rough times.
"We didn't have anything else to do," Mohr said. "We just decided we could always go back to college."
After dropping out of college, the group knew it would have to perform outside of Boulder to continue its success. Mohr said.
"We wouldn't be able to eat if we did," Mohr said.
The three band members handle all the business aspects of performing, Nevin said. However, they have gradually added three friends to their staff to help out with the extra work that accompanies success.
"When the van would break down in the middle of Arkansas, I'd go 'Why am I doing this?' he said. "There's been a lot of tough times, but those don't seem to stand out because we enjoyed ourselves about the way."
That led to BHIT's present travel schedule of about 80,000 miles a year and the eventual upgrade from a 1977 Ford to a 1989 Ford van, christened "EL Presidents."
"The amount of work it takes is just immense." Mohr said.
Moor said he didn't have a song list for tonight's performance, but the band would probably play songs from its albums and covers from artists as varied as Johnny Cash and Jimmy Hendrix.
"I don't know what's going to happen,
Mhrad said."
BHTM released "Another Mayberry in 1989" and "Midnight Radio" in 1990 on its Big Records label. The live recording of "Midnight Radio" caught the media's attention when Rolling Stone did feature on the band and The Washington Post and California Daily rated them on their top ten list for the year's end.
James J. Reece Kansan staff writer
pecular blend of blues, beer-drinking, Elvis and Christmas songs will come together tonight as Mojo Nixon and the Toadliquors take the stage at the Bottleneck, 737 New York Street
But anyone unfamiliar with this unusual blues and rock-a-billy band from San Francisco should heed the warning from its lead singer, Mojo Nixon.
Nixon, in a hoarse, gravelly voice characteristic in his songs, said in concert he liked to "get a boogie woogie doing and start rantin" and ravin".
"They can expect some funky-butt music and some deranged commentary." Nixon said.
The singer spoke Tuesday from a hotel room in Omaha, Nebraska, where the band had just performed in support of their Christmas release, "Horny Holidays." The four piece band features old fashioned rock and blues from a piano, electric and bass guitars and a drummer.
Nixon gained fame for ranting and raving in 1987 with the song "Elvis is Everywhere," which came at the height of popularity of the 1980s Elvis sightings.
In the song, from his album "BoDay-Shus," with Skid Roper, Nixon discussed the spirituality of Elvis, blamed him for the Bermuda Triangle and comically placed him at the root of his theory of evolution, which he called Elvis-ition.
Nixonixon two Elvis songs, and other Mojo classics like "Gin Guzlin' Frenzy", would be part of tonight's well as songs from 'Ronny Holly Days.'
The Christmas album blends blues, booze and humor in the gruff, off-key Mojo style. Nixon said the album salvaged from obscurity songs like
James Brown's "Santa Claus go straight to the Gheto" and Jimmy Butler's "Trim Yo Tree" and modernized Christmas classics like "Mr. Grinch," "Jingle Bells" and "We Three Kings."
"We kill that one the most, I think," Nixon said of the latter. The song has the Three Wise Men of the Bible incarcerated for being drunk and disordered. Nixon said this and another song, "Are You Drinking With Me, Jesus?" destined for release on the band's next album, showed that drinking songs had become something of a theme for the band.
As for the religious angle, Nixon said he had a religious upbringing but denied the rumor that he had ever been a man of the cloth.
"I was never a full-fledged preacher," Nixon said. "I found the Word for a while, then I lost it."
But what he did retain from child hood, besides a disdain for religion was a passion for music and performing.
"I started singing and playing when I was 20." Nixon said. "My father owned a radio station, and I was addicted to music."
Nixon said he first saw career possibilities nine years later as a bold and ranting alternative blues man in New Orleans, on a pit stop during a cross-country bicycle trip. This, he said, was when he first realized that he should be his obnoxious and boisterous self instead of copying others.
While drinking a Sikylab Fallout he proclaimed himself "Mojo Nixon," the illegitimate son of Richard Nixon and Miss Rudolph, a character from a Richard Provor comedy routine.
The Lawrence band, Chubby Smith and His Orchestra, will open the concert tonight.
Bottleneck manager Doug Binke said the concert was open to those 18 and over and starts at 10 p.m. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased at the bar and through Ticket Master.
Big Head Todd and the Monsters take the stage at 11 tonight and tomorrow at Benchwarmer's Sports Bar and Grill, 1601 W. 23rd St.
'Aladdin'takes viewers on one of Disney's best rides yet
In a scene from Disney's animated film "Aladdin," Genie plays matchmaker as he watches his master, Aladdin, and Princess Jasmine on a magic carpet ride while Aladdin's monkey. Abu, tags along.
By Brian Whitburn Special to the Kansan
"You've never met a friend like me," Gene sings as he transforms into various shapes before a magnificent light show. A young thief, Aladdin, accompanied by his monkey friend, Abu, gains three wishes and releases a secret message to the princess for Disney's most brilliant adventure ever.
The movie's breathe-taking, colorful landscapes of ancient Arabia transcend reality into the magical world of genies, flying carpets, and evil sorcerers—a world created through the magic of Disney.
It's good versus evil and magic versus the human spirit in Walt Disney's newest feature-length animated adventure "Aladdin."
Robin Williams creates the voice of Genie. As he did when he played Batty in the animated film "Ferngully," Williams steals the show displaying the same trademark, energetic comedy found in "Good Morning Vietnam." Genie's many forms give Williams a chance to show off his celebrity impersonations.
review
Often songs in animated films are corny and seem out of place, but not in "Aladdin." The songs are upbeat, entertaining and don't disrupt the flow of the story.
Another spectacular aspect of the film is its fast-paced visuals. The movie takes the viewer on a wild, roller coaster ride through vivid colors and details that bring the scenery and characters to life.
And then there are the characters; touching,
original, contemporary. Jafar, an evil sorcerer,
is easy to hate. He'll be remembered as one
of the best animated villains in Disney history.
A living flying carpet, a parrot with human intelligence, and Princess Jasmine, Aladdin's sweetheart, all are characters who will appeal to children's sense of adventure and to adults' sense of humor.
"Aladdin" is a must-see movie for everyone. It's one of Disney's best, and the film that all others this season should be judged against. "Aladdin" gets an A+.
Real KU Life begins on the weekend.
calendar
Nightlife
Benchwarmer's Sports Bar & Grill
1601 W. 23rd St.
Tonight and Friday - Big Head Todd and the Munsters
Saturday - Ro-Shambo
The Bottleneck
Brass Apple Sports Bar & Restaurant
3300 W. 15th St.
Features 10 TV's with satellite dish & Monday
Night Football
737 New Hampshire St.
Tonight - Mojo Nikon with Chubby Smith and his Orchestra
Friday - Bagdad Jones with Fang O'Love
Saturday - Mary's Danish with Daring Buds
Congo Bar
520 N. Third St.
Friday and Saturday - Excalibur
Dos Hombres
815 New Hampshire St.
Down & Under
801 New Hampshire St.
Gusto's
Gusto's
925 iowa St.
Tonight - Open Mike
Friday - JaeN Jeff
Henry T's Bar & Grill 3520 W. Sixth St. Karaope every Thursday night
Hockenbury Tavern
1016 Massachusetts St.
Tonight - New Ridim
Friday and Saturday - L.A. Ramblers
International Club 21
106 N. Park St.
Jayhawk Cafe
1340 Ohio St.
Tonight - Disc Jockey
Friday - Gina Samuels and the 16th Avenue Band
Saturday - The Cootties
Saturday - The Cooties
Jazzhaus
906 1/2 Massachusetts St.
Tonight - Arson Garden
Friday and Saturday - L.A. Ramblers
Continued on Page 10.