w w w w w w w w w w w T T T qw -W MUSIC From on high RESTAUI By Andy Rosenzweig The Nylons Saturday, October 12 The Power Center, 8 p.m. A S A DEVOTED MEMBER of the Friars, I tend to be constan- tly on the lookout for new songs for the group to perform, and, especially, new groups from which to "borrow" songs. (For the uninitiated, the Friars are the U-M Men's Glee Club's singing, dancing octet.) Imagine my happiness when a former Friar came by last Fall with a tape he had bought in Europe of a Canadian a cappella quartet, called the Nylons. Happiness turned ecstatic when I listened to the album and discovered 10 imaginative, exciting songs, all with superb arrangements. Suddenly, the Friars had a new favorite band. What we didn't know then was that the Nylons had been an international hit for the past four years, appearing throughout the world and selling albums in virtually every market but the U.S. In Canada they enjoy near- superstardom, possessing three platinum albums and playing regularly to packed houses. The Nylons have created a com- pletely original sound, borrowing from various styles to become the fir- st group to successfully bridge the gap between a cappella and rock. Fittingly, the band has invented the term "rockappella" to define its as the Persuasions and California's The Bobs. The Nylon's live show is said to be particularly impressive, combining elements of music, theatre, and comedy into a refreshingly unique production. Says Cooper, "People leave our concerts saying they felt like there was some sort of plot to the show. There isn't, but the presen- tation of the songs makes it seem as if they're all tied together." The theatrical aspects of the show are accounted for by the background experiences of the Nylon's members; they were working actors in Toronto before joining together to form the group. Retaining a theatrical bent, the Nylons fill their show with choreography, lighting effects, and costume changes, and perform from an art-deco set. While the energy of the Nylon's live performance obviously accounts for much of their success, it is the quality of their music that really proves the group's worth. The band's first American release, One Size Fits All, originally released in Canada in 1982, is an enthusiastic, high-quality collection of cover tunes and songs written by the Nylons. Each of the members has a pleasant and powerful voice, and the solos are consistently soulful and exceptionally well-sung. The solos are the focal point of each song, but equally dynamic are the ensemble accom- paniments, arranged by producer Peter Mann. While not necessarily of high complexity, the Nylon's arrangements are always clever and entertaining,and support each song without cluttering it. One Size Fits All shows off the Nylon's versatility as well, the material ranging from jazzy tunes to ballads to traditional doo- wop. Despite all their quality in recor- ding and performance, I've always wondered how the Nylons would fare in the restrictive world of pop music, since their sound is so far outside of the norm. U.S. pop radio, limited by its formats, seems a tough market for a band like the Nylons to enter. Yet Cooper is optimistic, based on the band's similar experience in Canada. "Stations in Canada resisted playing us at first, until we had sold a couple million records and they had to play us because people were calling us up and asking why they weren't. The stations had to be shown that we wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb in their programs. Such is the challenge the Nylons face once again as they try to make their mark in America. While the American public is a tough and rather inflexible audience, I hope that we're not that much unlike the rest of the world and can come to appreciate a top-quality, hard-working band that happens to perform (gasp!) minus guitars. The signs are good, though; the Nylons have performed in the U.S. occasionally, andthe response has been as strong as in their other markets. In addition, one Size Fits All has sold 50,000 copies in the U.S. since its release, 10 times what their label had expected. So, if you want to be in on the ground floor of what could be a major breakthrough, or you want to support an innovative, creative band, or if you just want to be well entertained, come to the Power Center tomorrow night and check out the Nylons' highly- touted show. I know the Friars will be there. Open,, yet intimate. By Jere Williamson OysterHBar and Spaghetti Machine 301 W. Huron Hours: Sunday-Monday, 5-9; Tuesday- Saturday 5-10 p.m. T HE SUN WAS SETTING Friday night as our little Daily dinner party journeyed off campus to explore the Spaghetti Machine and Oyster Bar. Known to regulars as simply The Spaghetti Machine, this cozy bistro is tucked away beneath the Rubiyat at the corner of Washington and First Street. This fact in no way hinders it's popularity, so we decided to investigate what many Ann Arborites regard as their own special find. Arriving at seven, the place was not yet crowded and we had plenty of time to peruse the menu. It features pasta, green,. white, or whole wheat noodles with a variety of sauces, from simple tomato (organically grown in. the owner's garden) to an exquisite white clam. Besides the 'pasta possibilities, there are a variety of veal dishes, and of course, oysters. For students who have come of age, the wine list offers many fine reds and burgundies, with only a few white vin- tages to choose from. We started off with our own little loaf of fresh bread still warm from the oven and accompanied by fresh parmesan and pure butter. This was replaced instantly with another at the first sign that we were through. As the time came to order we decided to try oysters, Fettucine Alfredo (green noodles) and Veal Marie Creole. All dinners come with a side dish of pasta and salad bar. Yet the salad bar here is by no means ordinary. The creamy garlic and Caesar is homemade and the selection includes capers, fresh olives, feta cheese! !!, sesame seeds, three kinds of onions, and crisp bean sprouts, to name a few. This salad bar is like Christmas to those who dare to contemplate salad beyond the tomato and lettuce threshold. The restaurant consists of one open room sectioned off into four different seating areas. The kitchen nook is tucked away into one wall, separated only by a grating which supports pots, pans, and other utensils. Smaller than the kitchen is the bar next door which also opens on to the room. The restaurant is open yet intimate. This feeling is augmented by soft lighting, stucco accents, and warm, wood paneling. There is very much a feeling of privacy despite the openes of the room. Real wicker, checked tablecloths, and opera music give the place a cozy atmosphere topped off by the opera in the background. We were lucky to have arrived early, for the place was packed by eight. Reservations are not taken for parties of less than six, so there can be a slight wait if one arrives later in the evening. Our dinner arrived. The oysters were excellent, the wine (1981 Sartori Bardolino, Soave) tasted and ap- proved before pouring, and the en- THE SPAGHETTI MACHINE: Hidden away on sloping West Huron Street is a THE NYLONS: A cappella delight. unique marriage of traditional doo- wop to modern songs and production. The band is not a cappella in the stric- test sense, but uses electronic per- cussion and rhythm effects to enhan- ce their music's appeal. Nylons member Paul Cooper ex- plains, "People grew up on the beat and are really hooked on it. We com- trees placed before us. Fettucine Alfredo to die for! with a sauce so creamy, your eyes roll back in your head. The Veal Marie Creole held true to its New Orleans heritage with real, creole spices. It's refreshing to find a creole that dares to be truly hot enough to make your face perspire. Most northerners are too wimpy to emulate the real thing, but we were not disappointed here. Hot Espresso with a slice of lemon finished us off as we leaned back in our seats, discreetly groaning with pleasure. The service is excellent, our waitress never intruding, yet knowing exactly when to be at our table. The patrons seated around us were, for the most part, not students. It's an older crowd, made up of business 1 1 1 1 bine the a cappella sound with the familiar beat and come up with something that's different but that people still want to listen to." One listening to a Nylon's album proves that the rhythm does make the difference, giving the group an up- dated, dynamic sound that eludes other modern a cappella groups, such ME COLUMN Hateful Musings AMODEST, thoughtful column- A s ould vercreate a list of things he hated. He would interview well-known people and create a list of their pet peeves. But I won't do that. The way I figure it, the things that bother me are infinitely more interesting anyway, therefore a list of the things I hate follows. 1) Blatantly ridiculous cautions printed on certain products. Until very recently the following was written on the side of Pop Tart boxes: CAUTION: Pastry may be hot when heated. I have burnt myself many times while handling scalding hot Pop Tar- ts. I simply never made the connec- tion that the pastries might not be hot after I toasted them. Thankfully Kellogg's provided a warning for people just like me. Since I read it I Catch of the Day bMike Ac Fich L. u y1a"-Jv r\ i I)U' A haven't harmed myself with a single breakfast pastry. I'm still won- dering, however, why Pop Tarts get so cold when I freeze them. Another caution that irks me is the one printed on lawn mowers which reads: Do not attempt to clean lawn mower blade while the blade is still in motion. Anyone who doesn't recognize that he will turn his fingers into goulash by placing them onto a sharp, fast-moving metal blade should not be allowed to use a rake let along a lawnmower. Or how about the caution on washers and dryers which reads: Do not allow children to play inside of washer or dryer. Can't you just hear loving parents suggesting that Billy and Cindy go play quietly in the spin cycle? 2) Phonetic spelling on the menu at Taco Bell. If you never noticed, the old Taco iI Bell menu (which now sits in the restaurant's front window) provides customers with both the proper spelling of its entrees and phonetic versions of the same. Apparently, the American consumer is not worldly enough to pronounce the word taco without a pronounciation guide. For those of you having problems with the pronounciation of this rare and exotic Mexican dish Taco Bell's phonetic spelling is a tah-co. I hope that clears things up for you. Taco Bell also provides pronounciation guides for the words Burrito (buh- ree-toh) and tostada (tos-tah-da). 3) The. P.A. system at Burger King. When I eat at Burger King I can't make insane requests like I do at McDonald's because the people who work at B.K. have a microphone system and they would announce my order over the damned P.A. system. I like to cause havoc but I'm no exhibitionist. Also at Burger King, everyone knows what you have ordered. I turn a nice shade of pink when the waitress bellows my plain ham- burger/ice water order over the P.A. She might as well be saying, "Hey everybody, this guy over here has no class and he's cheap." 4) A posh toystore in New York whose name I cannot recall. A few years ago as I examined the said toy store's wide selection of Tonka vehicles a man clad in a bright red sports jacket asked my if I had any form of identification (he turned out to be a proud member of the toystore's trusty security staff). I asked him what the hell (being a rather foul-mouthed youth) he was talking about. He pointed angrily to a sign on the front door which read: Those under 16 will not be admitted unless accompanied by a parent. With an air of confident indignation I pulled out my learner's permit and thrust it right in front of the security guard's face. Once he was convinced that I was indeed old enough to check out the Tonka Trucks I was left alone. But what if my younger brother wanted to look at the new Evil Knievel Stunt Cycle? Would he have to have a fake I.D.? 5) Hand dryers. I once unwittingly washed my face in a public bathroom only to find out that the normal paper towel racks had been replaced with hand dryers. As the stalls were all occupied, gaining access to toilet paper was an impossibility. I had no choice but to drop down to my knees, and dry my face under the stream of hot air emitted by the dryer. I have done more suave things in my life. Years later when I became a man I learned that the hot air blower can be tilted up to accommodate face washers. I still bear a grudge. 6) Use of the phrase "luv ya." "Luv ya" is a phrase used com- monly at the end of yearbook signatures. "Luv ya" does not mean I love you. What it really means is: I don't know you very well, but it would be awkward for me to write that. When there are no true feelings of love in a relationship the phrase "I love you" is shortened and a term of quasi-endearment is created. Insane lunatic. Ostensibly, the man o' muscle behaves like a hell-bent killer because of his kidnapped daughter, the one he took swimming and fishing. I com- mend the scriptwriter for not suc- cumbing to the temptation of laying the blame on the Vietnam War or some other ambigious social cause. But how well can 90 seconds of heavy- handed tenderness between a father and daughter justify wholesale c-l.ghter? Great - preservation of the family and all - but this guy is a meat wrecking machine. The girl is held in an island fortress, guarded by a full division of troops, i.e. dead meat. James Bond probably would make a surreptitious entry to the fortress in the trunk of a car, spring the girl, and get back out with two or three casualities. What does the hulk of a man do but stage a fron- tal assault on the whole army. 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