Friday, May 13, 1977 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Seven Disco double bill succeedsz By LEE DONALDSON IT BEGAN with the singing group, Wild Cherry's dra- matic arrival, complete with exploding smoke, . flashing lights, and confetti and balloons plummeting from the ceiling. Even before the group struck one note, there was a sense that some kind of extravaganza was about to take place. Wild Cherry seems to have grasped the path to American soul music perhaps a little too well. Their songs were upbeat and rhythmatic, a sound prob- ably resulting from listening to too many James Brown re- cords. Although they are much less imitative than groups like the Bee Gees, or K. C. and the Sunshine Bard, Wild Cherry seemed to paralleled to the likes of the Isley Brothers and Earth, Wind, and Fire. In a post-concert interview, the lead singer, Robert Parissi, commented, "Everything is imi- tative. We work with as many things as we can." The group can undoubtedly keen its audience jumping in their seats, because the audi- ence was bobbing and danc- ing. They got the beat, and per- hans that was good enough. SUNDAY NIGHT'S Crisler Arena audience seemed to be heavy with anticipation to hear Wild Cherry's hit single, "Play That Funky Music, White Boy, the catchy tune that brought their name to the top of the pop charts. "That song really worked out well," said Parissi. "We've been having trouble getting recogniz- ed since that song, though. When you have a hit that big, it's hard to come up with a sub- sequent song that satisfies the audience." Sunday's concert seemed to work well enough for the group, though. They gave their audi- ence just what it seemed to want. "We don't want to lose our old audience, Parissi said. "We feel we owe them some- thing. But we're developing and working with new ideas." And that may just be the problem. Their brand of blue- eyed soul is too accommodat- ing and is, consequently, unor- iginal. W I L D CHERRY emerges from that familiar soul ma- chine, featuring familiar drum and bass instrumentality to go along with it. It is clear that they have roontr for develop- ment. There was an abrupt change when the Average White Band appeared on stage. Although coming from the same soul mist, AWB has cultivated their musical style into a sophisti- cated meshing of jazz, blues, Ar low and intoxicating even with- out the lingering odor of mari- juana in the air. Sunday night's concert was an experience in vanilla soul that passed pretty well. If nothing else, one learned from this con- cert that soul can came from many corners. It may begin as blatant imitation, but is has the potential of emerging into something truly original. THE AVERAGE WHITE BAND rocked Crisler Sui driving fans wild with a demonic disco bass. and soul. The effect is almost tinctly moving another style entirely. style. THEIR first album, Put it Their performan Where You Want It" was almost was refined and so a direct copy of James Brown. didn't feel like1 But with each successive al- because you thong bttm, they displayed creative trying to be blac progression, until their latest songs such as "A original album Soul Searching Own" and "If I E which is their best effort to Heaven" had a s date. Other influences such as own in concert. Le. those of jazz and blues are dis- mish Stuart's voi into AWB's ice at Crisler ulful and you belting them ht they were ck. Recorded Love of Your ver Lose This ound all their ad singer, Ha- ce was mel- Corky By RIC SHAIIIN (ORKY LAING is sincere. Not just the usual bullshit celebrity nice-guy bit. The man really means what he says, and it is a refreshing change from the hypesters who dominate the rock scene today. For those of you with long memories, yep, you're right, this is the same Corky Laing of Mountain and West, Bruce, and Laing fame. The drummer, right? Well, not solely the drummer anymore. LAING has a new solo album out, Making is on the Street (Elektra 7E-1097). He not only drums, but sings, composes and plays rhythm guitar. It is a good first effort; hell, it's a good any effort. In a recent promo interview with the Daily, he was open and frank about his career, past, present, and future. WE TALKED about his past with Mountain, and the relative obscurity that he had had as a composer. Laing wrote eight of the nine tracks on his album, the ninth being the oldie, "I Know". This cut is the only weak point in the album, and I asked him why it had been added. He told me that being one of his favorites, he wanted pops off with solo LP to add a heavy percussion line to it. Laing said that there was one constant in the world, that when everything else is done, "there'll still be the thing between a man and a woman. You know, mis- understandings . . . the prob- lems of being apart." Laing also said' that the lyrics are very personal. Both feelings can be seen in the way he sings the words to the single release, "See Me Through"; "Honey, would you see me through, after all I've done to you. If another man comes along, -what would you go and do?" LAIJNG SAID that when you're on the road, the main topic of conversation when you call home is the evening news. It's the only thing both ends have in common. This was in response to the Free Press reviewers' derog- atory comments concerning a line from "Don't You Worry". In this song, there are refer- ences to many different news issues. The reviewer took exception to this verse, specifically' the way it ends: "Don't you worry about the crime in the street, the ozone in the air or the subway fare, Don't you worry about the TV news, it'll all work out between the Arabs and the Jews." Apparently, the reviewer found it too hokey, and took it out of context in his review. To him I say, "Suck canal water." NOW, BACK TO BUSINESS. The singing on the album is rough, not in the technical sense, but because Laing's voice is gruff, husky. He told me that it was partially deliberate, but it was mostly his natural voice. It makes for an interesting con- trast, after listening to silver- throated, and top-40 stagnated, singers. It adds some to the al- bum because of its' novelty, while maintaining quality. THE, ALBUM is more of a rocker than anything else, but, it is subdued during some cuts. The musicianship (with guest appearances by Eric Clapton, Dicky Betts, and Jo English of Wings) is superb, and flow- ing. It sounds spontaneous, a good trait, because the album doesn't sound too planned out, or cemented. Each instrument (including the Muscle Shoals Horn Section) meshes easily with the others. Corky is planning a national tour, probably within the next two months. Detroit and Ann Arbor are on the schedule, so try to catch him. He is a star who is shining again, this time with a many-faceted brilliance. And as he says: "I'm growin' old with rock { and roll 'cause it's the only life I know, When I can use that rhythm and blues to make me feel alrighta from my head to my shoes. Havin A Wild Weekend? By DAVID KEEPS IT'S FRIDAY THE 13TH, and you know what the means. But -that's no reason why you should spend the day quaking in bed. Why not go to a movie? The Seven Mamurai is playing at Arch. Aud. (7:30 & 10), and the cartoon feature Hoppity Goes To Town (Aud. A, 7:30 & 9:30), and a Gene Wilder double feature at MLB 3, with complete shows at 7 & 9:45. At the commercial cinemas, the newly opened Harlan County, USA, a hard hitting documentary and Woody Allen's Annie Hall come highly recommended. Saturday night the film co-ops offer The Lords of Flatbush, starring H. "Fonzie" Winkler and ! S. "Rocky" Stallone (Arch, And., 7:30 -& 9:30), Fellini's autobiographical Amarcord (Aud. A, 7:30 & 9:30) and Shampoo and Straw Dogs in MLB 3 & 4 at 7:30 & 9:30. Sunday's free silent film is Fritz Lang's incredibly spacey Metropolis, at 8, Arch. Aud. NIGHTCLUBBIN': Stoney Creek plays Mr. Flood's, Bob White at the Ark, Mojo Boogie- Band boogies down at The Roadhouse, Rock's Gang rocks Second Chance, Moriah shakes at The Under- ground, Starfire Disco at the Blue Frogge. CATCH 'EM LIVE: Gary Burton, jazz vibrophonist and Eber- hard Weber, Power Center, tonight at 8. In Detroit, all weekend, in Greektown's Attic Theatre, Lori Jacobs, Capitol recording artist appears. Jazzman Herbie Mann plays the Music Hall Sunday. ARTSCOPE: Ann Arbor's Art Worlds sponsor a show featur- ing photographer William Pelletier in Gallery B. MISCELLANY: Sunday should be a big day for comic book freaks, if they attend the collector's collection held in Sans Souci Hall in Farmington (for info call: 557-8819). Or stay in toin for Sunday's classical organ recital at the Christian Science Church, 1833 Washtenaw. U-M organ instructor Don W. Williams will per- form at 7:30. TOP TUBE TIPS: Best of Ernie 'Kovacs-don't miss this- Saturday at 8 on 56, and at 12:30, Tuesday Weld and Tony Perkins in Pretty Poison. On Sunday, tune to Lou Gordon (Ch. 50, 10 p.m.) for a psychoanalyst's attempt to explain the workinsa of Richard Nixon's mind. Photo Expo '77 opens at Plaza THE newly - opened Detroit tic clinics, where faulty equip- photographer Tony Spina). Lec- Plaza Hotel in the Renais- ment can be checked and re- tures are subject to change. sance Center plays host to a paired, trade displays-and dem- The exposition also boasts an traveling photographic exposi- onstrations by major photogra- 800 piece photo gallery featur- tion in the Ontario Exhibition phic companies, and a series of ing the winners of aDetroit Hall this weekend. lectures and film screenings. Free Press contest, and work The exhibition, wwhich began Among the films to be by professional photographers yesterday, will be open to the screened are John Muir's High like Paul Strand and papparazi public Friday, from 5 to 9, Sat- Sierra by Dewitt Jones, an Ron Gallela. urday, from noon 'til 9 and Academy Award - nominated Those attending are encour- Sunday, from noon to 6. short subject and Bogart, a aged to bring their cameras, as General admission is $3.50, compilation of film clips star- the Barbizon School will pro- $2.50 with discount vouchers ring the inimitable Bogie, vide fashion models to photo- that are available in local cam- Lecture topics include: Photo- graph in connection with a pho- era stores. macrography, $ Portrait Light- to contest they are sponsoring. Ticketholders are entitled to ing, Color Enlargements at Additionally, Time/Life photog- participate in a wide range of Home, and Photojournalism (to raphy books will be awarded as activities that include diagnos- be given by Detroit Free Press door prizes.