Monday, August 23, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 5
Entertainment
Musician wants to promote unity
Continued from page 1A
Nevertheless, Luciano's music focuses on positivity, which he said he thinks the people need right now.
"Over the time of time, only righteousness really lasts. I'm really encouraged to sing positive music because it's the only way out," Luciano said. "We have seen a degradation in the music ... Rock music has tried to make it dance hall style, and they're singing to appease themselves."
David Moskowitz, Pittsburgh, Pa., graduate student, is writing his dissertation on Bob Marley. He said that although Luciano did incorporate synthesizers into his music, the basis of his music was roots rather than commercialized dance hall.
"They do really look at Luciano as a guy who could bring roots back," Moskowitz said. He also said reggae was not innately mainstream and that Bob Marley only became as popular as he did because Eric Clapton covered Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff."
One particular performer who Clark said exemplified the self-appeasement of recent reggae artists is Shaggy, whose track Bombastic lauded his own sex appeal. Clark said he thought the reason the true creators of reggae music, like Luciano, weren't as mainstream was because the industry didn't identify with their style of music.
"We think that music is not money that makes the world go round, we think that people can relate to the beat which is the heartbeat," Clark said. "The industry and the critics could not relate to the beat. They said: 'It's only minors and major — it's only a heartbeat.'"
But the heartbeat is the foundation of reggae music. Percussion sets the base for the song, Clark said. Then add the reggae strum, or guitars, that provide the rhythm that goes along with the drum and the bass that defines the song. Also integrated into the mix are the horns and the keyboards. On top of all the music is the greatest body of content, the vocals, which Clark said made Luciano's music change listeners' moral consciousness.
"If you listen to Luciano, the message is in his music," Clark said. "It can get really philosophical but at the same time, he's reuputing people of various backgrounds and cultures."
Inspired by artists like Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Luckeyduve and by his Rastafarian faith, Luciano crusades for what he said he was people's only salvation — Jesus Christ and righteousness. He said he had tried to convey his message through reggae with hints of salsa, samba and hip-hop, but that his next endeavor would be a gospel album.
"My true, honest, inner-gut feeling is that roots gospel religion is what the people really need right now," Luciano said. "The simpler the music, the more authentic the drums, the more authentic the congos, the strings, the guitars, the harps, the more it touches the deepest recesses of the mind."
Although both Clark and Luciano said true reggae was far from being mainstream, they said they saw a brighter future for the music.
"Other brothers have laid the foundation and paved the way for all of us." Luciano said.
"I see a lot of good things happening," Clark
Reggae artist Luciano has been 'heralded as the return of Bob Marley' by Time magazine. His music attempts to unite people. Contributed Photo
said. "I've seen several people like Luciano come into this world and try to take the music to the people. But nobody wants to invest in it. But with Luciano himself, that won't hurt him."
—Edited by Jennifer Roush
Keep It Clean
We Have Bowling Video Games Billiards & More!
Skunk Anansie breaks out of metal mold
Hollywood Theaters
Jaybowl * Level 1, Kansas Union * 864-3545
SOUTH WIND 1832.0880
BARGAIN MATINEES INDICATED BY () STADium SEATING • ALL DIGITAL
Set & Sun Daily
1 Runway Bride** 1.40' 1.45' 7,50; 10,00
2 Downtown Palace** 1.00' 1.00' 6,55; 9,20
3 Iron Gate** 1.50' 1.50'
4 The Haunting ** 6-45; 8-15
5 Gear Hall** 1.45' 1.45' 10,00
6 The Sixth Stair** 1.20' 1.20' 7,10; 9,45
7 Mickey Blue Eyes Bird** 1.25' 1.25' 9,45
8 Bowfinger** 1.35' 1.35' 7,35; 9,50
9 Teaching Mrs. Tingle** 1.35' 1.35' 7,35; 9,50
10 Runway Bridge** 1.05' 1.05' 7,00; 9,30
11 Inspector Gadget** 2.05' 2.00' 7,20; 9,25
11 American Pile** 2.05' 2.00' 7,45; 10,00
11 Thomas Downtown Aife** 2.65' 1.10' 7,25
PLAZA 6
Set & Sun Daily
1 Deep Blue Sea* 1:35 - 4:00, 7:00 - 9:25
2 Detrital Rock City* 1:45 - 3:00, 7:20 - 9:35
3 Eyes Wide Shur* 1:45 - 3:00, 7:30 - 7:30
4 Universal Soldier The Return* 1:50 - 4:50, 7:15 - 9:30
5 Mystery Men* 1:40 - 4:30, 7:10 - 9:45
6 Star Wars Epicors* 1:30 - 4:30, 7:05 - 9:45
★ NOV IP FASSES & SUPERSAVERS
SHOWTIMES FOR TODAY ONLY
Anansie Skunk lead singer Skin sings over guitarist Ace's shoulder during the band's performance at Liberty Hall on Friday night. The band is touring the United States and is opening for bands such as Rammstein. Photo by Jav Soldner/KANSAN
as possible in the short time allotted.
Skunk's current tour is its seventh of the United States, the most recent
By Chris Eckert
Kansan columnist
Review
It would be perfectly understandable if the metal fan at Liberty Hall didn't know what to make of Skunk Anansie's performance Friday night.
Eckert is a Topeka junior in English.
one opening Rammstein. The band doesn't seem eager to fit completely into the metal genre. They only want to be a rock band, and if they sound heavy, it's a reaction to the lobotomized glee of Britpop that dominated Europe at the time that they formed.
This conscious playing to the audience paid off, in that by the fifth song, the crowd seemed sufficiently impressed by Skunk's hardness, and forgave Skin the deadly metal sin of bringing out a tambourine to bang on during The Skank Heads. Tambourine aside, the performance was full-on metal, with Skin frequently licking, rubbing and hitting Ace, including one hit that resulted in his ear monitor being jammed into his ear. Skunk Anansie managed a rare feat, leaving the stage with cheers that seemed to be for them, not for the fact that the headlining band was one step closer to coming onto the stage.
In terms of contemporaries, Ace said that the band is influenced as much by groups like Radiohead and Rage Against the Machine—a band whose political fervor is echoed in many of Skunk's lyrics—as much as any metal acts. But by touring alongside metal bands with larger American audiences, Skunk Anansie is able to expose themselves to larger crowds. They also get to play smaller markets such as Lawrence, where many large European bands never venture.
view after the show, Ace said that this was intentional because the band wanted to impress as many metal fans
Even though the band is big enough in Europe to headline the last day of this year's Glastonbury festival, it seemed to be an unknown in the theater. The group had just been added to the bill alongside Sevendust, Staind and Powerman 5000 and was in the thankless first band slot. Members came out speaking in thick British accents. The British, Ozzy Osbourne notwithstanding, are not known for their national propensity towards metal.
Evidence that the band — Ace on guitars, Cass on bass and Mark on drums — can play gently and Skin's voice can actually sound delicate briefly came through on songs like We Don't Care Who You Think You Are and The Skank Heads, only to be blown away by more rock. In an inter-
Despite all this and utilization of a tambourine onstage, Skunk Anansie spurred the youth of America to thrust devil signs up in approval.
Focusing on its third and most recent album, Post Orgasmic Chill, Skunk started off in full metal mode and only stopped for the briefest of moments. Forgoing any slow build-up, the band opened with the explosive song Selling Jesus from its 1995 debut Paranoid & Sunburn. Lead singer Skin took the stage, spitting out lyrics, jumping and pacing the stage in a black-hooded sweatshirt, a fusion of Grace Jones and Unabomber chic.
Exp. 8/31/99
Fall Cheerleading Tryouts
Monday, Aug. 23 & Tuesday, Aug. 24 6:30 10:00 p.m. Anschutz Sports Pavilion
Please bring:
- proof of physical within the last 12 months
· copy of insurance and Social Security card
For more information, call 864-7452
AVEDA
the art and science of pure flower and plant essences
Can you feel it?
Rosemary Mint Shampoo
Yes. Open Aveda Rosemary Mint shampoo. You'll experience the vitality of organically grown rosemary, peppermint and 100% flower and plant Pure-Fume™ aroma.
Creating hair full of body, health-real life. Experience the Rosemary Mint Awakening Treatment with your next service.
Awake. Aware. Aveda.
Hair Care | Skin Care | Makeup | Plant Pure-Fume* | Body Care
HEADMASTERS
809 Vermont Lawrence, KS 785-843-8808
©1999 Aveda Corporation. All rights reserved.