go, people you meet, inspire part of
$1,000,000, we wouldn't have to eat
the music. Real creativity just kind of
Kraft dinner" — last summer's sold-
comes from inside somewhere."
out crowd at BNL's Detroit show
Coming from Canada, thew are a
threw macaroni and powdered cheese
few Canadian groups in the of
from Kraft mac-and-cheese boxes at
musical influences,-says Page.
•
the stage.
"We've been very fond of and 'close
And the band's shows sure are fun.
to the Rheostatics, the Waltons, Spirit
Legend proved reality at the June 21
of the West and Sloan over the past
concert — fans say you don't really
few years. [They] can't help but influ-
know BNL until you've heard, and
ence what we do."
seen, them live. Its true.
Any Jewish influences in the mix?
The band's five members do silly
Sure,
says Page.
dances on stage and sing covers-of
"I
guess
in some ways, yeah, it has
Cats
popular songs ("Memory" from
[influenced
my music], just simply
was Page's special last June).
because I grew up going to temple,"
Do Detroit listeners feel a special
he says. "That's just another part of
kinship because Barenaked Ladies hails
all those things around you that
from Canada? "I don't think so," says
influence you. So the music I grew
Page. "How much Canadian TV or
radio do you watch or listen to?" The
River, 93.9 FM, and 89X, CIDR-FM,
"cater to an American audience," he
adds.
The band grew out of Toronto's
burgeoning alternative music scene in
the late 1980s. Guitar player and
singer Ed Robertson and Steven Page,
boyhood friends, started a musical duo
in 1988, "for the hell of it. It was
something to try and do, to sing
together, but I never thought we were
going to be a real band," says Page.
The Devlins join BNL on New Year's
They played occasional gigs and
Eve.
developed a small following. By 1990,
up with in that place holds a very
the twosome turned into a full-fledged
special
spot for me."
band, says Page. They started playing
Of
course,
it may not be a con-
clubs in Toronto and touring across
scious
thing,
he
says, "but I know that
Canada.
it's there, buried in my psyche some-
Original band members included
where. It's always kind of intrigued me
Tyler Stewert and Jim and Andrew
to try to do more with it."
Creeggan. Andrew Creeggan left the
Wednesday night's show will fea-
band before its latest release, Rock
ture
special guests The Devlins. Hail-
Spectacle, and was replaced by Kevin
ing
from
Dublin, Ireland, the Devlins
Hearn on keyboards.
come
to
Detroit
on the heels of an
Gor-
BNLs first major label album,
extensive
tour
promoting
their debut
debuted
in
1992,
catapulting
the
don,
album Drift.
band's career into the United States.
Meanwhile the popularity of Bare-
It's hard to classify Barenaked
naked Ladies increases, with clamor-
Ladies — part pop, a bit of folk, a
ing crowds selling out bigger and big-
dash of show tunes and good guitar
ger arenas across North America. But
— into a musical genre.
Page simply likes "being able to play
Page says the group doesn't "aim
in front of an audience every day.
toward being part of any style of
Our audiences tend to be very
music. We end up saying 'pop music'
diehard fans. They know all the
because [the songs are in] a pop form
words to stuff, and [get] really, really
— three- to four-minute songs with
into it," he says.
verses and choruses and a bridge.
"But as far as a natural school of
"Barenaked Ladies Holiday Specta-
music, I wouldn't say we try to fit into
cle with Special Guests The
anything but amalgamate all things
Devlins" begins 9 p.m. Wednes-
we've been listening [to]."
day, Dec. 31, at The Palace of
The band members are inspired by
Auburn Hills. Tickets are $32.50.
other musicians and music, says Page.
Call (248) 645-6666.
"Sometimes you try to emulate the
things you like about other music.
Sometimes things you see, places you

CON T FOR T
WHOLE F

( Members: $5/person • (Maximum $25 per farm
n-Members: $7/person • (Maximum $30 per farm

4

tut

/ i

en and adults alike, Debbie's music is living Judaim.
their guide, a whole generation of Jews come to eml3r,a,
, ....,
• ' • -..
. \
, Althe messages of the Rabbis of Old.

/ For more information or to purchase ticicets --------.2::
\ \
please call (248) 661-7649.
/ ;

.-

4.-------7

❑

11i it wrack sm arts