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University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, November 20.1991
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Nic Cosmos
Band proves to be eclectic mix
REVIEW
By Kristine Curley Special to the Kansan
Instead, these relaxed artists look more like the guys you would find sitting next to you in English class.
They allow their thoughts to flow freely, punctuating their musical dialogue with a spiritual accompaniment. It is a style that Lawrence music lovers have been all too eager to embrace.
Nic Cosmos will play tonight at the Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St.
Sitting on the porch of a Lawrence house, the members of Nic Cosmos don't look like the motley crew of musicians that has become one of the most innovative bands to emerge from the Lawrence music scene.
The band, however, doesn't want to become too comfortable playing local venues.
"You get spoiled playing in Lawrence," said lead singer Nick Carroll. "The people are awesome, but you can burn out playing in Lawrence all of the time."
Carroll said that although the fans in Lawrence were incredibly receptive to the band's music, they would like to be joined by some other musicians.
"We'd ultimately like to play every college town — kind of like a Firehose-type thing," Carroll said. "Those guys are incredibly talented and very creative."
Creativity is never in short supply for the members of Nice Cosmos. The band's style is unique and adds to its appeal, especially with their new album.
With Gordon Gilges on percussion, Joe Greene on bass,
Craig Schiffman on lead guitar, Tom Sawyer on drums and
Carroll on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, this odd ass-
emble of characters creates music that defies classification.
"We're not trying to be trend setters," Schiffman said.
"We're not interested in stealing anyone else's sound." Carroll said. "We're just trying to be ourselves."
The eclectic music of the band does have one distinguishing feature, according to Carroll.
"Most of our songs have a Midwestern sound to them because that's what we're familiar with. We don't sing about New York slums or ghettoes because that's not what we know," said Carroll.
The band has an uncanny ability to learn songs so quickly and so well that it doesn't practice often.
Gilges said that there were times when songs were also written and performed during live shows. The band did this in last weekend's performance in Lawrence at the Jazhaus, 92/61 Massachusetts St.
"It just kind of happens," Gilges said "Joe usually plays a bass line. Tom picks up the drums; then Craig comes in. I sing sometimes, but I'm usually just dilly-dalling."
The inclination toward experimentation may explain why the group's members were able to mold their varied influences to create Nic Cosmos.
Carroll was a drummer for a punk band, Greene played heavy metal, Gilges was influenced by Top 40 hits, and Schiffman played most gratefully Dead music.
They managed to make their experiment work. The band has grown from a mass of amorphic musicians to one of substance and maturity. They have worked hard and their efforts have been rewarded.
Nic Cosmos has started playing in college towns such as Omaha, Neb., and Columbia, Mo., and currently is filming a video for the song "Midsummer Crisis." A new album is playable on spring, and Carroll expects it to be available on compact disc.
"Who knows," said Schiffman. "We could have an album." Nic Ciosmo—Live from Mount Fuji.
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