Page Two- THEMCHIGAN DAILY Friday, June 4, 1971 Rock Revival: Failing resurrection By BOB NEFF They called it the Rock and Roll Revival, but Sunday's rock festival at the State Fairgrounds in Detroit did very little to revive Detroit's rock culture. The 16 to 18,000 people who jammed the race track to hear nine local and national rock groups demonstrated a singular lack of musical discrimination and an intolerance for music that isn't super-loud, rhythmically simple, and artistically crude. Detroit is notorious for its unso- phisticated musical taste and as Boz Scaggs' bass player remark- ed, "You've got to be awfully high energy to get much of a crowd response around here." Eastown Theater, which pro- moted the Revival, did a good job of providing the people with the kind of music they like. But only about half of it was worth listening to. It was a beautiful afternoon so the first few acts seemed the most pleasant of the day. My mo- torcycle broke down on the way in, causing me to miss Mutzie, which was the first group to play. Fortunately, I got there in time to hear Bob Seeger. Bob is pei-' forming alone these days and his music has changed a lot. H did four or five songs that he'd writ- ten himself, all of which are in- credibly beautiful and lyrically impressive. His style and voice remind me of Tim Buckley and in my book he's every bit as good. If you heard him at Hill Auditor- ium a couple of weeks ago you know what I'm talking about. Seeger's introduction is indica- tive of the state of music in De- troit and the performers' sensi- tivity to what the crowd wants to hear. Bob actually had to apolo- gize to the crowd for not playing hard rock, even though he turned in one of the most tasteful per- formances of the day. Sure enough, the crowd rewarded him with a very lukewarm response and it didn't take long for Bob to get Teagarden and VanWinkle out to play some Killer Rock and Roll withchim. Those three guys together" churn out some pretty fine stuff, but they only got in a few songs. Detroit, featuring Mitch Ryder, was up next and they did a typi- cally exciting set. They aren't doing much creative stuff but when it comes to loud, basic rock and roll they stand among the best. Ryder is a joy to watch and really knows how to move an audience. I was impressed with the quality of the group as a whole and the crowd seemed to agree. I found out later that the promoters didn't even want to book Detroit and that they played for free. Amazing. Detroit was followed by Boz Scaggs, a group that I'd only heard on the radio. They turned out to be a first-class group that played some of the nicest music we heard. Their music is hard to characterize but is sort of bluesy with rock and country ov- ertones. Boz, who used to play with Steve Miller, plays guitar and does the lead vocals and is backed by conventional instru- ments and a brass section. His organist, rhythm guitarist, and trombone player were especially good. Boz came on with a very mellow approach and found it hard to relate to the generally primitive atmosphere. I dug him so much that I went right out and bought both of his records and found that he's a lot better live than on record. Unfortunately, the group was only able to per- form for about 40 minutes. Tinhouse, a rather nondescript group from Florida, was next and their set was singularly uninspir- ing. They played very conven- tional, very loud rock and roll but that was plenty to turn on the crowd. I'd never heard of the group but was assured that they're real big in Florida and pretty popular around here. Tinhouse was followed by J. Geils, a Boston group that kicks out some of the baddest rock I've heard. Michigan people who like to think they've got the cor- ner on rock and roll had better give a listen to J. Geils. They play blues-rock the way it should be played-with musical skill, a devastating lead singer, great lyrics, and an original and excit- ing style. Peter Wolf, the lead singer, can arouse a crowd better than anyone I've seen. The entire group is very solid and together and did the best set of the whole Revival. The Allman Brothers folowed, laying down some smooth. musi- cally refined sounds. Duane All- man is a consumate guitariAt and their rhythm is very complex and intricate. For some reason I couldn't get into their music too much but the crowd-amazingly enough-enjoyed it. The Winter brothers, Edgar and Johnny, did the last two sets of the night and were obviously what the crowd was waiting for. Edgar's White Trash came on first and worked the people into a frenzy, even though their music is nothing more than undistin- guished hard rock. I was totally nonplussed and was surprised to see that Edgar doesn't play the leading role in the group: the lead guitarist seemed more dom- inant. They were the first group of which the crowd demanded an encore and they played two or three. They finally got off the stage to make way for Johnny Winter. Johnny Winter is an -excep- tionally fine guitarist, as his gig with Luther Allison at the Blues Benefit last fall testified. These days he's playing almost exclu- sively rock and roll classics of the Great Balls of Fire and Johnny B. Goode ilk. I'm of the opinion that nobody can match the original performers on these The Michigan Daily, edited and man- aged by students at the University of Michigan. News phone: 764-0552. Second Class postage paid at Ann Arbor, Mich- igan. 420 Maynard Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104. Published daily Tues- day through Sunday morning Univer- sity year. Subscription rates: $10 by carrier,$10by mail. Summer Session published Tuesday through Saturday morning. Subscrip- tion rates: $5 by carrier, $5 by mail. songs-Johnny Winter certainly can't. I've never liked his voice and these songs don't provide a proper outlet for his guitar skills; he should be channeling his tal- ent into more appropriate and creative areas. Needless to say the crowd went absolutely ber- serk 'cause he was playing real rock and roll. As the day wore on the vibes became progressively ugly. There were lots of bad drugs around and the well-organized and staff- ed first aid center was inundated with OD's of strychnine. The Howdy Doody look alike Think you look like Howdy Doody? Well, reasonably like him? WXYZ is sponsoring a Howdy Doody look-alike con- test. First prize is a trip to Doo- dyville (anywhere in the con- tinental U.S.) The contest will be held in Detroit's Kennedy Square, to- day at noon. Judges will be area college editors, who, in addition to the trip to "Doody- ville" will award a Howdy Doody watch, a Howdy Doody record album and a Howdy Doody t-shirt. place was surrounded by voyeurs who seemed to get a real kick out of people freaking out. There was quite a bit of trou- ble with the sound system, and that didn't help matters 'any. Lots of people obviously weren't interested in listening to music and the guys seemed more inser- ested in "finding some chicks". The location of the Revival was really a drag. Most people had to sit on asphalt, dirt, or the grandstands - there was very little grass. The area was not large enough to accommodate the mobs of people who showed up, and that added to the gen- erally oppressive atmosphere. See DETROIT, Page 8 ~I5JCUL4f, Here's anuther Sony "soind" idea' The Sony Model to ase on the hooch, at a coernce, n the TC-6t AC/DC Cassette-Corder is yost host thaice classrtaim, or list ton in-the-hsae esisyment picA fur ineupensise, portahie cassette retsrdisg, It go Suny's remunkahie IC-61 Cassette-Clrder As stters satched Sosy qulty, handssme styling. utheutable salse at lilt $59 9s The TC 61 you and a satiety uf suistanding Sony ctnsenience scott heard it so told' teatires. ss ge.tamtis Ssnymutic Reclording Feattes:R Honirol that atSoatically sets and onitirs recrd teel fsr pette-C recordiogs rty istm. Adi AC/IC operjti n- New Loe Priie with Say's teorte Cltrl Microphs e tioo rely Pashhontt Csntrols flip a switch Son the icrphonse to start and stgp * Micropueaso $ 49.95 enrdiug It eeo has a syeciaPeosana eutphtne Aneehayrd itsog othetrs. It you ever wanted a pormah e tape necorder presents accidotul ensue flip aawi, z on thato tostart nd sto other. If ou eer wated portble ape ecoder preens adntlas urea - ria.wb94.P a a~~t.Ia b0. -,.n . .. ....... - - ------- =i FRIDAY-'Tropic', 7:30-'Heironymus', 9:00-'Tropic', 10:45 SAT-'Heironymus', 2:30, 5:45, 9:00-'Tropic', 4:15, 7:30, 10:45 :. . ,y : ; ';,. -, . . :4:. e% . 1: :, r; %. BOTH FILMS RATED 'X-persons punder 18 not admitted "A VIBRANTLY BLUNT AND LIFELIKE EYEFUL!" -N.Y. TIMES "Another step toward complete movie freedom! Director Joseph Strick broke similar ground with 'Ulysses', but by comparison the frankness was a ripple! He accurately captures the spirit of Miller's famed, controversial work-his basdy humor, the 'up- yours' attitude . . . and avalanches of long-taboo vocabulary! Some of the incidents are wild!" William Wolfe, Cue " ' >w' "REALLY BETTER THAN THE BOOK!"--WORRadio Wed.-Mio Forman's WA"TA M I GOF IINPr COLOzaane-ze Wed. Milos Formn'swe" T zzaor -