"The View from Nowhere" By Alan Goldsmith
MUSIC
"The View from Nowhere"
By Alan Goldsmith
Nowhere. lf you ask anyone on either "coast," at least anyone involved in the "music business" (i.e. multinational entertainment corporations with music divisions), Ann Arbor is nowhere. It's not New York, it's not L.A., and it sure the hell isn't Seattle. There are too few venues for live music, too little attention paid in the local print media, and it almost takes a kidnapping to bring an A & R rep (the folks who sign bands to big time record deals) to town.
It's never a good time to be a musician, especially one trying to produce music that screams with passion and taste (or worse yet, no passion and bad taste). That's the purpose of this column, The View from Nowhere.
This town is filled with wonderful music. Big Dave and the Ultrasonics pack clubs all the time and are one of the hottest blues outfits in the country. Jesus of Quirkiness Frank Allison is an authentic rock and roll genius, and the Odd Sox the perfect backup. Kari Newhouse (almost signed to Elektra at one point) is modern original folk-jazz-angst and plays in clubs maybe a half dozen times a year. Greg Applegate, another singer-songwriter who kicks ass with an acoustic guitar can't draw more than a handful of customers to his occasional gigs at Cava Java. The Deterants, a midwestern version of The Who circa 1994, blow out the walls of any local bar smart enough to give them a weeknight gig. The list is endless.
This monthly column will cover, report on, and beat you in the head until you wake the hell up and check out some of what the local music scene has to offer. It's all great stuff, whether it's minimal noise tape loops, clean clear pop music, left wing jazz, or death metal. Steve Nardella and his roots rock is just as important as Damzel, the women in leather who blow out your eardrums with songs from hell.
The View From Nowhere. It could be bitching about bands ripped off by a club owner with some hiked-up PA charge or how stupid it was for the Heidelberg to pull The Rationals 45 "Respect" off their otherwise hip juke box. Or the near monopoly of downtown bars owned by the same individual who should perhaps be trying out live music. Stick around. It'll get amusing, I promise.
The Lollipop Guild name strikes up an image of naivete and cynicism, just like the Ann Arborpop band's newtape, "YourWay." Singer/ songwriter Kirstin von Bernthal is angel-voiced and cynical, but not quite depressed enough to jump off Burton Tower just yet. The four-piece band is powerful and rooted in 1990s hip radio but for a debut is pretty unique. They walk the line between rock and folk rock, and love the sound of loud guitars. But the treat here is von Bernthal's voice. One minute it's a feather up the spine, the next a cry for salvation. And when you add it to her lyrics, it's the best tape l've heard in months.
Kiss Me Screaming at long last has a 45 out -- "Avalanche b/w Glowing in the Dark" (on colored vinyl yet). Both songs capture the essence of Kiss Me Screaming's live gigs. It's the cryptic pop optimism of singer/guitarist Khalid Hanifi and the kick-out-the-jams guitar genius of Brian Delaney. From the acoustic shows, Hanifi has proven himself a gifted, low-volume talent. And with this 45, there's recorded proof of the band's ability to crank up the noise level as well in a way that is equal to the stuff pouring out of Seattle. Pretty intense stuff.
Speaking of Kiss Me Screaming, I checked out a set by that band and a set by The Restroom Poets recently at Cava Java, the South University coffee house booked by the legendary ex-owner of Joe's Star Lounge, Joe Tiboni. Unplugged is the hip thing, thanks to MTV, but both bands had the basement of CJ packed with a mostly student audience, sipping double caps and hanging on every word and note. Smoke and alcohol-free and with the crowd paying attention. Performer heaven. Now if Ann Arbor townies could brave this side of town, they could be in for a treat.
PJ's Used Records and the No Kick Drum Acoustic series has been a source of important and free shows for the past few years, and their Friday April 8 show might be worth checking out. A double bill of John Hammink, who gets compared to Leo Kottke and Police, and Gerry Butterwick's Townes van Zandt roots folk music could be just the thing to kick off a Friday night. Call 663-3441 for more information.
So much for this month. This column will be reviewing any and all local music-related entertainment, so to make sure you are included send your CDs, tapes, and other artistic cries to: The View from Nowhere, AGENDA, 220 S. Main, Ann Arbor, Ml 48104.