The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, November 29, 1978-Page 5
THE HEAT
BY ALAN RUBENFELD
I T IS A STEAMING July evening on the boardwalk. After a full day of sun,
surf, and sights on the beach at West End or Belmar, we head towards
the boards. Cool custard. The casinos. Beautiful suntanned bodies cruising
down;Ocean Ave. and Kingsley. After our fill of pinball and wheels of
fortune, we head towards the Stone Pony, Gulio's, or one of the other rock 'n'
roll bars that dot the Strip. Or perhaps, we check out a Jukes or a Tom Petty
concert at the Paramount. And always, the hazy salt water surf hangs over
the air.
Summer nights in Asbury Park, New Jersey give you the kind of feeling
real memories are made of. The past few summers have seen the Jersey
shore myth come into full fruition. From Seaside Heights to Wildwood Crest,
the summer sands offer haven for arrested adolescence.
Besides these perpetual halycon days of joy, there is an economic side to
the matter. Asbury Park has been saved by rock 'n' roll.
EAST COAST rock 'n' roll and Asbury Park have become synonymous in
the past few years due to the emergence of two groups in particular from this
city.- Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, and Bruce Springsteen and
the E Street Band. The myth and the reality of the city has attracted
thousands of ;people to the area, giving the city an important boost in
revenues, publicity and stature.
Asbury Park, located about sixty miles south of Manhattan, once
suffered from an acute case of urban blight. When Springsteen referred to
the town as "Newark-by-the-Sea" in a recent interview, he was not far from
the truth. Once a respectable resort
community, the town was marked
with vacant lots, empty amusement
halls, unemployment, and race riots
in the late sixties and early
seventies.
But one thing never died in Asbury
Park - the spirit of rock 'n' roll. The
town was at the crossroads of New
York and Philadelphia, so it
benefitted from the blue-eyed soul of
the Rascals, and the burning R&B
influences of the Philly area.
SPRINGSTEEN commented on
this period when he talked about the
Upstage Club on the back of the first
Jukes album:
You could work it so you'd never have to
go hotne, 'cause by tie time you got out
of there, it was dawn and you could just
flop on the beach all day, or you could
run home before it got too light, nail the
blankets over the windows of your room,,
and just sleep straight through till the
night.
In 1972, Springsteen released
Greetings From Asbury Park, New
Jersey. Then came The Wild, The
Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle,
which contained the classic "4th of Bruce Springsteen
July, Asbury Park." The song and
album was filled with numerous
references to the town, from the ca-
sinos to Madam Marie's fortune telling emporium. Initially, the album was a
commercial bomb, but through Springsteen's incessant touring, the word
was spread. Bruce journeyed up an d down the East Coast, playing the dives
that dot the shore from Cape Cod to Virginia Beach. The E Street Band's
blood brothers, the Asbury Jukes, also began to garner a cult following.
By 1975-76, people were finally beginning to take notice. The Stone Pony
became the favorite for Springsteen and the Jukes. By the time
Springsteen's hugely successful Born to Run came out, the Jersey shore
adolescence themes that ran through his music had become part of the way
of life for kids from Red Bank to Surf City. They flocked to Asbury Park and
searched, ,ut ,the places,and people the Boss sang about in his first three
albums. Madam Marie put up a freshly-painted sign on her shop. The Stone
Pony adorned their marquee with "HOME OF THE ASBURY JUKES." And
the kids flocked to the boardwalk to see where it all started.
WHAT EXACTLY is the "Asbury Park sound?" It is based on a fusion of
1960's guitar pop and the soul of Wilson Pickett - Sam and Dave Memphis
rhythm and blues. Smoking fast horn lines, screeching guitar, and the most
important unifying element - vitality - mark this shore sound.
The Asbury Jukes rule the Jersey shore. In early August, they
performed before a SRO crowd of 8,000 in New York's Central Park. A few
days later, the group brought it all home before another packed house of 400
fans in a tiny shore bar in Beach Haven (exit 61 on the Garden State
Parkway). Their new album, Hearts of Stone, is one of the brightest albums
of the year. They have toned down their R&B influences a bit in order to
develop a more streamlined, straightforward rock sound. Miami Steve Van
Zandt (guitarist extraordinaire of the E Street Band and former Jukes
guitarist) has become the most powerful producer of group sound since Phil
Spctor. He arranges the horns, sings backup vocals, and adds sizzling
guitar lines to the title track, "Hearts of Stone."
Next time you find yourself on the East Coast, take that trip down the
Garden State Parkway and find out where some fine rock 'n' roll is
happening, and will be for a long time to come.
Don't forget the suntan oil, either.
Hot theatrics enflame Styx gig
By TIMOTHY YAGLE
Styx has experienced a meteoric rise
to superstardom since the release of
their Grand Illusion album and sub-
sequent tour in 1978. Their new LP
Pieces of Eight, is right on the heels of
the Grand Illusion in popularity. The
Chicago-based quintet justified their
claim to fame at Detroit's Cobo' Arena
Sunday night where they mesmerized a
near sell-out crowd with their master
showmanship.
Styx has one of the most elaborate
stage shows I have ever seen, though it
still falls short of say, Kiss. They have
six different backdrops, four of which
they displayed Sunday. (Grand Illusion
and Pieces of Eight LP covers and a
drawing of a small part of a crowd
during their invigorating opening num-
ber "Great White Hope") and keyboar-
dist/vocalist Dennis DeYoung rises into
view from beneath the stage sitting at
his, white grand piano for the perennial
crowd "Lady." Guitarist/vocalists
James Young and the pint-sized
Alabama pretty boy Tommy Shaw
saunter over to a pre-determined spot
stage right and rise from the stage on
small twin staircases.
DRUMMER John Panozzo began an
energized eight-minute drum solo while
his set platform slid forward during
"Renegade." Near the end of his solo,
he was chanting "toga !toga !" and the
crowd naturally joined in.
Styx's music, as exhilarating as it is,
sounds too artificial, like it was
programmed by a computer. It sounds
as if Shaw or Young are playing inside a
garbage can half the time. Yed De-
Young's zippy keyboard integrates
Styx's sound to differentiate it from
other all guitar rock bands.
The nicely-clad band opened with
material from their last two albums,
then regressed to their Equinox and
Crystal Ball albums for "Madame
Blue" and "Crystal Ball," continuing
back and forth from new to older
material all night.
DURING ANOTHER popular Styx
song, "Come Sail Away," all eyes were
on DeYoung and the blue, rear-stage
screen. Fleecy white clouds sailed
across it attempting to create a dreamy
atmosphere to accompany the song. .
Shaw, in his zest to please the spec-
tators, nearly fell off the side of the
stage while skipping around during
Chic brunch eases jags
"Blue Collar Man."
DeYoung, whose nasal vocalization is
accentuated in concert, Shaw, and
Young take turns in the spotlight.
DeYoung excels in this category, acting
like a stand-up comic talking and toying
with his audience and, unfortunately,
hamming it up some of the time. He
should be a Shakespearean actor in-
stead of a rock musician because he has
an aura of majesty and grandeur
surrounding him while he speaks and
moves his hands gracefully through the
air like a mime.
The show is well-coordinated. In fact;
it's one of the best I've seen. Shaw ands
Young, who tries to be the more macho,
of the two, use their distinct height dif.
ference (Shaw reaches Young's chin) t&
their advantage, frequently standing
back-to-back and smiling, probably for
good publicity pictures. They practj
tically beg for crowd response via
classic stances and running around and,
looking majestic (I'm convinced Shaw
prances around so everyone can see his
beautiful long blond hair trailing his lit-t
tIe body Jim Dandy-style.)
Because of their good, but not great,
song selection ("Lorelei," "Light Up",.
and "Man In The Wilderness" aren't
played any more) and - expertly'
choreographed stage show, Styx is one
of my favorite live bands. Even though,
they become absorbed in themselves"
occasionally, they are still fun to watch.
Georges Feydeau, the French
comic dramatist, saw his first play
"Tailleur Pour Dames," produced
when he was 24 years old.
By OWEN GLEIBERMAN
and THOMAS O'CONNELL
Does your hangover on weekend
mornings generally reach such epic
proportions that the thought of cooking
breakfast seems roughly as appealing
as getting started on your term paper?
Does the sound of your roommate's
stereo blasting Styx music leave you
silently ruminating on inventive ways
by which he might be dismembered? If
that's the case, then ruminate no more,
for you can do something about it. Next
Sunday, try hopping out of bed and
fleeing to the Michigan Union, where a
bottomless brunch and soothing aural
massage await.
Every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and noon,
the University presents "Brunch On
Aid official elected
Harvey Grotrian, acting director of
financial aid at the University, has been
elected as president-elect of the Mid-
west Association of Student Financial
Aid Administrators, the University an-
nounced.
The associaition has a membership of
1,100 from 11 Midwestern states.
The Terrace, the perfect answer to
those music-lovers who wish to escape
the kitchen. The music-is classical, the
food toothsome, and the company
alumni. The $6.50 price tag may put this
experience outside the average
student's budget, but if one is looking
for an occasional indulgence, a brunch
on the terrace might be just what the
doctor ordered. At the very least,
there's plenty of coffee to combat that
hangover.
THE TERRACE is a long, narrow,
high-ceilinged room behind the Univer-
sity Club, with a wall of windows lined
with plants and overlooking a cour-
tyard. To accommodate the audience,
the tables are unfortunately tightly-
packed, making movement to and from
the buffet tables with heavily-laden
plates rather difficult.
This past Sunday, which had flute and
harp duet performing pieces both well-
known ("Greensleeves," Eric Satie's
"Gymnopides") and obscure, the mor-
ning's most interesting feature was
The Lakeside Studio
Original Prints
One Day Exhibit & Sale
Old and Modern Masters
watching the audience, comprised
primarily of Friend-of-the-University-
types, grabbing bites of croissants and
rapidly-cooling cups of coffee between
pieces. Music, after all, is nice, but not
as substantial as a good meal.
All in all, there are eleven brunches
this semester, eight of which have
already passed. But you still have three
chances. On December 3, 10, and 17, the
Brunch on the Terrace will feature a
soprano (Elizabeth Humes), the
Barococo Ensemble, and the Collegium
Musicum. The number for ticket reser-
vations is 763-2236, and it's a good idea
to call beforehand, because these af-
fairs are generally well-attended.
GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS AVAILABLE
in Eastern Michigan University
English Department
Beginning in January, 1979.
Good teaching experience while you work toward one of our
three MA degrees.
Call or Write: Dr. Paul D. McGlynn
Department of English, EMU
Ypsilanti, 48107'
Phone: 487-2075 or 487-4220
University of Michigan
Gilbert & Sullivan Society Presents
Wed. Nov.29
10 A.M. - 4PM.
Tues.-Fri. 10-6
Sat, Sun. 12- 5
764-3234
HE Y
November 29, 30 December 1, 2 1978
Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre
For ticket information
%call 994-0221 }After Nov 25 763-1085
FIRST FLOOR
MICHIGAN UNION
WOMEN-5IRTHING/5IRTH COTROL-IMPERt4LISM
Two films about imperialist intervention in birth control and
alternative birthing centers.
Nov. 29th
Wed. 7:00pm CHICAGO MATERNITY CEN-
Aud CAngell TER. :documents the destruction of a 78 year old
Nov. 3
Thur. 6:c
02- Af
alSO: alternative birthing/home delivery system for a
ghetto class population by the convergent interests of
Fn the medical establishment, the Chicago corporate
,00-PM class, and the pharmaceutical/hospital supply cor-
rt t _ P porations.
Department of Romance Languages
Summer Study Programs
in
SALAMANCA, SPAIN
and
LA ROCHELLE, FRANCE
INFORMATION MEETING
WEDNESDAY
NOVEMBER 29
4:00PM
Lecture Room I, MLB
The first public library in Rome
was the temple of Libertas, founded
in 39 B.C. by Gaius Asinius Pollio
with the spoils of his Partian vic-
tories.
0---
Uf
An error in the preparation of the
time schedule resulted in the om-
mission of the following course:
English 318. sec. 2, Literary Types:
Fantasy. Prof. Eric Rabkin will offer
this course as it was originally
scheduled. It meets M-W-F at 3:00
in Aud. B, Angell Hall.
Kes ColAud
Dec. 1st
Fri. 7:30 pm
Res CollAud
BLOOD OF THE CONDOR:
indicts a U.S. imposed population control program in
Bolivia affecting the Quechua (one of the largest indi-
genous populations in Latin America). At first banned
by American embassy protests of its Peace Corps de-
nouncement-a ban later lifted by pressure of stu-
dents, priests, and intellectuals-allowing this film to
be widely shown in Latin America. An opportunity to
see the U.S. as others see us.
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