ARTS The Michigan Daily Sunday, November 14, 1982 Page 5 Pointing towards success By Mare Hodges R UTH, JUNE, and Anita. If those names mean nothing to you then I guess you missed the Pointer Sisters at the Michigan Theater Friday night. Actually, they were in Ann Arbor the entire day, touring the School of Music with their producer Richard Perry, a Michigan alumnus, having an open par- ty at the Union, and finally, performing a dynamic show that captured the audience and left them feeling So Ex- cited! What can you say about three black women who were only allowed to hear and sing gospel music as youths, who later, as writers, won a Grammy for Best Country Song in '75 ("Fairy Tale"), and whose desires to sing scat and rummage through thrift shops for the outfits in which they performed vir- tually started the Forties nostalgia of the mid-'70s? These characteristics are what make it hard to define the girls in traditional terms and what makes their distinct style of pop-rock-funk so purely 4(Pointer. Being a Pointer Sisters enthusiast for some time, I was thrilled by the oppor- tunity to meet them as they paraded in- to the Music School entourage trailing behind. Between introductions, autographs, flashing cameras and a tour of producer Perry's alma mater, I managed to pose a few questions which -,, revealed to me a group of enthusiastic, professional entertainers who have reached a level of sophistication in their field. The girls expressed delight in being able to perform for the Ann Arbor audience. Ann Arbor will not be their only Michigan appearance, but for the Pointer Sisters it was a unique ex- perience. As Anita claimed, performing for a college audience is "a wonderful opportunity because students always make up an appreciative audience." And appreciative they were, as was in- dicated by the turn-out at the Union and the enthusiasm of the audience at the show. At the Union, where the Sisters hosted a party of beer and munchies, fans got . to meet the girls, get autographs, and view the video of their The Pointer Sisters played at the Michigan Theatre Friday evening. latest single "I'm So Excited." The crowd seemed to enjoy the two hour party and as University student Joe Schwartz exclaimed, "I think it's a great idea, I think they should do it all the time. And when I graduate, and I'm rich, I'm going to do this too." But this casual afternoon party, although enjoyable, was no indication of the sensational event that was to follow that evening. The usual ex- citement hung in the air as the concert- goers filed into the Michigan Theater, filling two-thirds of the seats. However, the excitement turned into anxiety as time wore on and still no Pointer Sisters. Gossip floated around the theater about promotional problems, evidenced by Perry and Tract, who ran from backstage to an unknown office in the lobby while restless fans awaited the start of the show. The Pointer Sisters strutted onto the stage in flaming red minidresses, belting out their latest single "I'm So Excited." The mood of the crowd was immediatelytuplifted and their cheers indicated that the show was well worth the wait. The show progressed with a steady, upbeat pace, with each of the Sisters taking their turn at leading the band through their various hits, in- cluding their international triumph "Fire," last summer's smash single "Slow Hand," and their most popular tune to date "He's So Shy." Unlike many groups where there exists one lead vocalist with a few backup singers (e.g., Diana Ross and the Supremes), the Pointer's share cen- ter stage. They ended the evening with their en- core "Happiness," as enthusiastic fans danced in the aisles and rushed up to the stage for a better look at these magnificent performers. Their dynamic performance left everyone exclaiming "I'm So Excited." Living it up with Johansen By Jeff Gibson t HE CAPACITY crowd that "lived L it up" with David Johansen Thur- sday night at Second Chance came away with a good idea as the why the former New York Doll is perhaps the ,;hottest act touring the large club cir- cuit. The singer and his four piece en- semble made their way flawlessly. through a ninty-minute set that set the dance floor a-reelin' and the rafters a- rockin'. SLK, the fine local ska-revivalists, kicked off the evening with a set of their infectuous dance rhythms. The band displayed impressive energy and verve during their sixty minute show, but for those not on the dance floor, their act was about thirty minutes too long. The intermission between acts seemed inordinately long as the audience eagerly awaited Johansen's arrival. Since lengthy intermissions provide more drink sales than anything else, their discomfort was eased accor- dingly. Impatience was well rewarded, however, as Johansen (clad in outlan- dish yellow and black plaid trousers with matching jacket; a familiar enough sight to any who have ever ven- tured through the alumni section on football Saturdays) strode into the spotlight. Johansen wasted no time in capturing M.. the audience as he ripped into the siz- zling "Here Comes the Night." He 4 quickly established himself as a per- former fully in command of his { material. He followed with "Funky But uo Chic," "Bohemian Love Pad," "Build , '. Me Up Buttercup," and "Mellody" from Live It Up before introducing three new selections from his upcoming studio album: a lilting ballad, "Garden of Eden," a bragadoccio romp entitled, "I'm So Handsome Anyway," and a street strut cailed "Who You Cool." After Johansen and his band * displayed great versatility in covering an old Dominoes' classic, they broke the place wide open with tour de force renditions of "Stranded in the Jungle," the Animals' Medley, "Frenchette," and the Four Tops' "I'll Be There." During the latter song Johansen clim- bed the balcony and milled through the frenzied crowd while passing his microphone around, affording the audience the opportunity of belting out their best Levi Stubbs' impressions. As expected, Johansen was the con- summate showman; his stage presence was a sort of an impish cross between Mr. Dressup and Alex from A Clock- work Orange. His baner with the audience was engagingly madcap. "Your Momma's a Smurf! ," he got the audience to exhault repeatedly as he donned a jester's hat (one of about thir- ty or so different hats that he played around in all night) to introduce the Doll's classic, "Personality Crisis" as the first encore. Johansen's band managed to keep up with him step for step. They are an ex- tremely tight outfit, showing admirable restraint, providing each song with only what was necessary. As they joined hands with Johansen for a curtain call after the third encore, no one in the Chance had doubts that David Johan- sen is hitting the big time. ROSE BOWLI1 Flights to Los Angeles from $284 Rose Bowl Tours Available Christmas to New York $155 Other Bowl tours to be available if necessary-Heaven Forbid r - IV = m " lir IN SI1U WAY BUS TOURS Thanksgiving November 20-21 Nov. 24-28 Kalamazoo Gary, IA Chicago Round Trip Transportation from The Michigan Union to Columbus, Ohio. Christmas Dec. 20 - Jan. 4 One Night accomodations at Holiday Inn. Wine & cheese reception. I I - A pv-% P-wq v v V