Music Topics
Grither: Tim Mohn, Mike Allmayer and Brian Lynn
Grither grinds out emotional but not-too-serious sound
Taking yourself too seriously can be dicey business in rock 'n' roll.
If it is your goal to become the next big thing, it is a pretty safe bet that you won't. In the long run rock 'n' roll success is an equation balanced by integrity and innovation.
Ask Mike Allmayer, Grither lead singer and loudest guitar player in the Midwest.
"Look at the name of our album "First Man On The Sun," he said, with a laugh. "Who would want to be the first guy to land on the sun? You'd be nothing but ashes. That kind of sums up our approach to music."
"We like to rock out, and we like to enjoy ourselves, too. You won't hear any concept albums from us. We're a song band, and we play pop music."
And it is with that "don't get too excited yet" attitude that Grither apprehens the Slidder sound.
deal with MCA Records. After signing in early 1995, Grither went into the studio and produced
the five-song EP All Smiles, working with big-name producers Ted Niceley and John Agnello.
Recently, Grither finished recording First Man On The Sun,
its first full-length record, set for release this summer.
"Well, the album comes out July 2, and once that happens we'll start touring." Allmaver said.
The band has talked some about the bands they would like to tour with, such as Sugar, but that probably is pretty far in the future. Allmayer said.
Story by Robert Moczydlowsky
"There's a myth that once you've signed a record deal, you've made it," he said. "That couldn't be further from the truth. We eventually have to pay back the label for the studio time, and the only way to do that is to sell records. Really, we haven't even started yet."
Two songs from All Smiles — One Piece Missing and Dig It Up have received considerable air play from KJHK, KLZR and other stations throughout the country. Focusing on areas where the All Smiles EP sold well, Grither will plan a summer tour to coincide with the release of First Man On The Sun.
Drummer Tim Mohn said the
"They must have played us on the radio a bunch, because we haven't ever played there," he said. "We also did well in Washington, D.C., because Ted Nicely has worked with a lot of those bands, and he's got a pretty big name there."
"We wanted our album to really show everything that the band
band's album had done surprisingly well in Salt Lake City.
Although All Smiles offers listeners a glimpse of what Grither can do with its riotous guitar sounds and raw, emotive vocals, First Man On The Sun will come complete with a wider range of sounds and more complicated arrangements. At Wednesday night's show at the Bottleneck, which surely will become the next show that everybody says they were at, Grither played a set of new material that left few doubts about the quality of their forthcoming album.
could do," Mohn says. "I think there is definitely a Grither sound, whether we're playing the
harder rock songs or the ballads, and we've captured that on the album. I can say, especially as far as my drumming is concerned, that it's the best work I've done in a band."
That is high praise, considering that Mohn was the original drummer for fellow Lawrence band Stick and that he has played on its Arista Records release Heavy Bag.
"What I did in Stick was good, but I think Grither is a band with a sound that better suits me," he says. "Every time I listen to this new record, I hear things a little differently."
Allmayer echoes Mohn when it comes to his appraisal of Grither's coming album, pointing out that each song is at once individual and part of the whole.
"What we wanted to do was have each song represent different musical styles," he said. "It's a lot like listening to the White Album — though I'm in no way comparing us to the Beatles — because each song is so different. Our music is what we call 'down pop,' because it's 'pop music about
things that you don't always feel good about."
Tonight
● Scroat Belly with Chubby Smith, 9 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost $4.55.
- Blue Grass Spider, 6 p.m. and Blues Jam, 10 p.m. at Full Moon Cafe, 803 Massachusetts St. Free.
- Broken English, 9 p.m. at Johnnie's Tavern, 401 N 2nd St $2
● Possum Dixon with Lifter, 9 p.m. at The Bottleneck. Cost: $5-$7.
● Just In Case, 9 p.m. at The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St. Cost: $4-$5.
Tomorrow
- Ad Astra, 6 p.m. and 1111, 10 p.m. at Full Moon Cafe. Free.
* Redeye Rotgut, 9 p.m. at Boomer's Smokehouse and Saloon, 601 Kasold Dr. Free.
Sunday
- CIV with Citizen King and Brutal Juice, 9 p.m. at The Bottleneck.
Cost: $7.
hey were announced
last Sunday, newspapers cranked them out for Monday,and copy machines around the nation went into overdrive.
"Participation in NCAA Tournament pools for money or for any item of value is considered gambling in the State of Kansas and is illegal. Any information received by the University of Kansas
The fliers read:
Brackets of the NCAA men's basketball tournament pairings were released and posted in offices and residence halls across the nation this week. And as the brackets went up, money started changing hands. Basketball fans started placing bots on their favorite teams.
But what seems innocent actually is illegal, and the police are cracking down. Police want to hamper the numerous betting pools that well up during March Madness.
Participants pay a fee to fill out a bracket with the teams that they think will win. The participant who picks the most winners wins the money in the pool.
On Tuesday, KU police responded to a call from a staff member at Ellsworth Hall who had seen filers advertising a tournament pool. The staff member said he was worried that the pools were illegal and notified the police.
The participants who organized the pool agreed not to pursue it, and the incident was not reported as a crime. In light of the event, however, KU police have a message for students and faculty. Don't get caught in a betting pool.
The KU police posted filers yesterday in every residence hall and at various places around campus.
Police Department on NCAA Tournament pools will be investigated and forwarded to the district attorney's office."
But District Attorney Mark Knight said that he didn't remember ever prosecuting someone for participating in a betting pool.
Gayle Reece, KU police officer and distributor of the fliers, said that the fliers were meant to notify students and faculty who were either unaware or had forgotten that participating in betting pools was illegal.
"These pools are unacceptable behavior," she said. "If it is brought to our attention, we will respond with the appropriate response. Hopefully with these fliers, the activity will cease and no one will get in trouble."
But it is likely that Reece is being overly optimistic.
Alex Protzman, Overland Park freshman, said he knew the pools took place everywhere and that the efforts of the KU police seemed like a waste of resources.
"I don't feel there is any harm done," he said. "It's not like a lot of money is changing hands. You put down five or ten bucks and it just makes it a little more interesting. I don't see anything wrong with it."
KU police Sgt. Chris Keary said that the Ellsworth report was the only one the department had received thus far but echoed Reece in saying that the department would pursue any leads about the illegal activity.
"There could be some more out there, and if we are notified of them, we will pursue it," he said.
Dan Blood, director of McCollum Hall, said he hadn't seen any news posted.
McCollum and didn't think it was acceptable for residents to participate in them.
"We can't have any kinds of gambling or raffling going on in the halls," he said.
Bill Nelson, assistant director of the Organizations and Activities Center and coordinator for Greek programs, said that in the five years that he had worked for the center, he never had heard of any greek organizations getting in trouble for illegal betting pools.
"I'm not saying it isn't happening, but I've never dealt with it in the past," he said. "I can't imagine any organized gambling that might go on."
Brian, a sophomore greek member who wished to remain anonymous, said that betting pools were common in fraternities and that no one ever considered their illegality when participating.
"Just about everyone does them, everywhere" he said. "It doesn't seem like a big deal, it's just for fun, and no one is being forced to be in them."
Story by Jason Strait
Illustration by Matt Hood
1