RECORDS Thursday, Oct. 12 7:30 p.m. BILL KINCAID, JOHN LUCAS, and RON TAYLOR Fri. Oct. 26 Panel Presentation by DOROTHY JONES, PATRICIA STOVER, and BETTY KAUFMAN Prog. on Women and Work, Instit. of Labor and Industrial Relations: By MARK COLEMAN Detroit is regarded in some circles as the rock and roll capitol of the world. As much as the local FM rock stations harp on this point, the music heard on the airwaves would indicate that rock and roll in the area begins and ends with Ted Nugent and Bob Seger. Ironically, the local scene is undergoing a virtual renaissance, evidenced by the flux of independently produced singles by local performers. The fact that most of these groups are considered "new wave" may be one reason you don't hear them on the radio, but a sampling of local releases defies such pigeon- holing. There is a wealth of local rock and roll that deserves investigation. AS EVERYONE remembers from Rock History 101, Ann Arbor was a hot- bed of musical extremity (along with everything else) in the late sixties. The Stooges and MC 5 are revered by critics developing scene. Foremost is Sonic's Rendevous Band, whose roster reads like a local all star list; Scott Asheton (Stooges), Gary Rasmussen (th Up), Scott Morgan (Rationals), and ex-MC 5 guitarist extraordinaire Fred "Sonic" rea ding from their works Sexual Harassment in the Work Placed GUILD HOUSE, 802 Monroe, (eornerofOakland) 'eDe-t generator MAJOR EVENTS' PRESENTS -j N .K1. THE ~R PERSASIONS SING ACAPELLA IN CONCERT OCTOBER 25 8 PM POWER CENTER A LL SEATS 6.50 AVAILABLE AT MICHIGAN UNION BOX OFFICE OCTOBER 4 10-A M !r..........................**.r.*.!!'.*.!*.*. *! .*...................... f'"!'iYi ii«r" s««! r«« "" r~~rii~t"iliii! s« " ~i"tr « ~ f !! !! !!..................... Y! . * !* ... Yr ." t! /"Y__!i- fi Smith. Their double sided release of "City Slang" is a bitterly intense, urgent rocker that nearly knocks over an unsuspecting listener. Sonic's snarling vocals are interesting if un- decipherable, and his laconic soloing adds a riveting tension to the relen- tlessly pounding rhythm. Although by no means progressive, "City Slang" is a streetwise masterpiece that rocks with enough authority and conviction to have Ted Nugent quaking in his boots. Fellow MC 5 guitarist Wayne Kramer's solo effort, "The Harder They Come/East Side Girl" (on the English Radar label), marks an in- rC past may be, in the case of a band like Destroy All Monsters, they are inevitable. Guitarist Ron Asheton has continued in much the same vein he pursued with the Stooges, replacing Iggy Pop with Niagara, a teenage' lobotomy-cum visual artist-cum-rock singer of nebulous talent. Ron made rock and roll history when he stood up to the "guitar heroes" of 1969 with his primitive three chord attack, but on "Nov 22/Meet the Creeper", he is pain- fully unfocused, bogged down by a leaden rhythm section and the preten- tious inability of Niagara. Even on the level of trashy entertainment that the group's name suggests, this is a boring record. The idea of incorporating a female lead singer in the traditional guitar heavy sound has been successfully realized by Flirt, a young band from Detroit. Rockee Re Marx can not only wail, but sing in a fluid, clear soprano that the group's single "Don't Push ! Y....4 4Y - 4 Me/Degenerator" fails to capture. The victim of an inexpensive pressing, Marx's voice is reduced to an upper register shreik. The songs themselves, however, are quite strong and the band cooks throughout, especially on "degenerator" with a dramatic mid- song break. This band has improved tremendously in the year since this single was recorded and comeshighly recommended live. THE MOST interesting local release of the past summer is the most typical in terms of a local "sound" to date. "Strawberry Cheesecake/Modern Noise" by the Algebra Mothers mixes David Byrne's nervous vocal style with melodic organ and shrill, piercing guitar over a busy but danceable beat. Gerald Collins' eschewal of power chords and great sense of timing make him the most unusual of local guitarists and "Strawberry Cheesecake" becomes the most idiosyncratic and tuneful local release to date. This sense of experimentation realized is a good omen for the future of both this band and local music in general. There are a number of remaining local releases of varying quality and in- terest. The Mutants' "So American" is a classic of sorts; a crude but humorous social put-down set to an an- noyingly cute Beach Boys-type melody, wth a flip side that is downright crude. The 27 add shreiking electronics and cello p'laying to the heavy metal melodramatics of "Don't Go to Ex- tremes!" The music here is nominally diverting, but singer Mark Norton's at- tempts at Iggy-style historonics and" phrasing come out sounding like a strained Alice Cooper. The Cubes' four song EP on Tremore establishes them as an ambitious but derivative band. From their lighthear- ted pop approach (complete with keyboard hooks) to lead singer Carolyn's sharp voice and not-so- innocent teen lyrics, the Cubes appear (and sund like) self-intended clones of a certain new wave band with a big solo hit. COMPLETELY ON THE distaff side, Nikki and the Corvettes combine girl- group vocal harmony with Rockabilly on the Bomp issue "Honey Bop/Shake it Up." This stylistic contrast is an at- tention grabber, but ultimately the cloying innocence of the vocals and the desperate urgency of rockability don't mix well. Nikki and the girls, however, are rehearsing a new band which m- cludes two members of the East Quasi spawned Infidels, so this group's future and punk rockers alike for their fusion of raw energy, rock and roll basics and total committment. Not surprisingly, the former members of these bands form the backbone of the currently BOUNCE FOR BEATS Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity will hold its annual 24 hour Basketball Marathon "BOUNCE FOR BEATS"' fund raiser on the diag this FRI & SAT All proceed, will go to the Michigan Heart Association teresting contrast to "City Slang." Replacing Jimmy Cliff's reggae' rhythms with a catchy three note guitar riff and funky bass line, he turns the Jamacian standard into an uptempo rocker, more reminiscent of Bob Seger than the MC 5. The flip side is an original in the same mode, featuring some nice guitar and piano alongside a slightly funky rhythm track. This combination of forceful playing and a more varied beat seems somewhat of a novel diversion, yet Kramer's current touring band, featuring the N.Y. Dolls' and 'Heartbreakers' guitarist Johnny Thunders and local jazz/blues fusion drummer John Morton, could prove noteworthy. AS ODIOUS as comparisons to the Broadway's Most Honored Play o of the SeasonV Winner of Four Tony Awards m ~liii ilcdi h sa 4= direction is definitely up in the air. The most promising of the new local bands, the Romantics, are currently recording a debut album for whi NerQ- porer that should, if their past efforts are any indication, set the Knack s claims to the power-pop throne to rest once and for all. On the whole the Detroit rock scene is extremely healthy. The aforemep- tioned groups and a host of others play frequently both on the Detroit club cir- cuit and at Ann Arbor's Second Chance. Along with the singles, this is ample op- portunity for the adventurous rock listener, in his/her own backyard. See and hear it for yourself. The next time someone mindlessly calls Detroit the Rock-n-roll capitol of the world, you can tell them why. " Y " , .."*." :...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .~5~{ ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. .. ;........... ........................................................................................... NEW............................................. ........................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................ ". A........................... ... . 5*""*"; "" " "::...":"":"".." :": " ..........i- The U-M Dept. of,' Lion Theatre & Drama/ aend SHOWCASE Jewel PRODUCTION Oct. 31-Nov. 3 By Wole 8 PM Soyinka TRUEBLOOD THE ATRE Tickets available at .d _the PTP ticket f~office-Mich. Trueblood Box Office prior to f of performance. (764-0450) it (O. J4 J' OCTOBER 26-28 FRI & SAT- 8pm-SUN-2pm&8Dm POWER CENTER PROFESSIONAL THEATRE PROGRAM Tickets available at PTP ticket office Michigan League PHONE: 764-0450. Hours: Mon-Fri 10-1 & 2-5pim Asat all HUDSON'S outlets ENERGY We can't afford to waste it. / g I *5.. --A T M J 6 0 0 1 l ' r i tihe (Couzi Presents the . I-ETAPi contesi Prize is a Car 5-7pm Fri.Oct.26 Must be registered by 4:00 at The bar. r ;t