RFD.
wronged
By ERIC ZORN
Bluegrass music certainly has
its limitations as a genre, but Ann
Arbor's RFD Boys-much maligned
by the Ann Arbor folk com-
munity-with their generally
tasteful instrumentation, smooth
harmonies, and droll stage presen-
ce, provide one of the finest enter-
tainment bargains in town. The
band, which has played almost
every weekend at the Pretzel Bell
for the past ten years, puts on a show
which is easily enjoyed and has a
comfortable, broad based appeal.
Criticism levelled at fiddler Dick
Dieterle-that he is unimaginative
and preciously precise-is, to an ex-
tent, unfounded. He fiddles an ex-
citing bluegrass fiddle tune, and
those who have seen the RFD Boys
without him know that it is his
presence which seems to hold the en-
tire show together. It's true that he
never improvises, doesn't play with
much rhythmic punch, never looks
like he's having fun, and, the victim
of too much training, he refuses to
take chances, but for bluegrass,
that's fine.
Bluegrass instrumentals don't
have to have nice melodies: Many of
them scarcely have one at all; they
are simply impressive displays on
stringed instruments "Dueling Ban-
jos," for instance, has literally no
tune to the fast part. The solos in the
songs don't have to be memorable
because the songs themselves often
exist on pure energy and the ex-
citement of 160 beats per minute.
Dieterle's fiddle work is sturdy
and well thought out, and he cer-
tainly has good taste and doesn't
descend to the astounding but
ultimately boring and distracting
flights of presumption in which other
bluegrass fiddlers dabble.
As a bluegrass festival watcher, I
know that the RFD Boys are one of
the top groups in the country:
Willard Spencer's banjo picking is
usually very appropriate and always
displays great versatility and
musical ability. Similarly, Charlie
Roehrig, lead singer and guitar
player, is absolutely top of the line
both vocally and instrumentally.
The new carpeting at the Pretzel
Bell has dampened background
noise and drawn attention to the
whimsical, cute, and ironically
humorous stage show which helps to
make the evenings great.
The fact remains that we are
lucky to have the RFD Boys in Ann
Arbor. They deserve a better
reputation than just that group
which plays "Fox On The Run" 100
times a year.
CORRECTION
The Daily regrets the omission of
Stacey Olster and Lorie Brau's names
from the list of Hopwood Award win-
ners. Olster, who also won short fiction
award, was awarded $1,200 in Major
Essay. Brau won $1,000 in major
poetry. Thanks to the Hopwood room
for calling our attention to these errors.
The Michigan Daily-Saturday, April 21, 1979-Paged-1
Prime Rib $47
with all the trimmings. m~ b 4 7
Enjoy a thick, juicy slice of
prime rib, slow-cooked to
lock in the flavor. Sered
with a baked potato, warm
-roll and butter, and un-
---limited visits to our salad
- = _ -bar. Plus free refills on cof-
fee, tea and soft drinks. All
for just $4.79. Or try our
- -King-Size cut for $5.49.
At participating steakhouses
Prime Rib Dinners are served from 4:00 P.M. Monday through Saturday
and all day Sunday. Ponderosa'is open from 11:00 A.M. daily.
Ann Arbor Ann Arbor
3354 East Washtenaw Avenue On West Stadium Blvd.
(Just North of the Intersection
(Across from Arbortand Shopping Center) of Stadium and Liberty)
WEDNESDAY
MATINEE
$1.50
until 5:30
I
Melvin Simon Productions Presents a George Hamilton-Robert Kaufman Production
George Hamilton - Susan Saint James - Richard Benjamin
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