7W
7W
LOCAL BAND
Walking
on
sunshine?
By Hobey Echlin
W ITH THE GLUT of pseudo-
psychedelia and the all-that-
jangles-is-gold musical ethic that
seems to be invading every nook and
cranny of the new music psyche, it's
no wonder there are fewer and fewer
bands that haven't succumbed to the
care-free, cow-punk, have-a-beer-
and-a-song style of the Replacements1
or R.E.M., fearing a "too serious, too
sophisticated" label. After all, they
are people first, and the record com-
panies make damn sure you know it.
In the face of all these trends, It's
Raining is coming back. And thank
God for that. For three years now, the
Detroit foursome, led by
singer/songwriter/guitarist Matthew
Smith, has been proving that you can
have your musical sophistication and
your real-person humanity, too; and
with the new bassist Brian Salk,
they'll keep right on doing it.
Ever on the prowl for new venues,
the band has played numerous Half-
way Inn gigs, as well as plenty of
warm-up shows for acts like
Guadalcanal Diary and solo U-Club
MATTHEW SMITH: Dark often melancholy lyrics, but a frenzied and upbeat approach.
realistic, even sardonic, approach to
looking at the world. If the music can
be called idealistically upbeat, the
lyrics bring it back down into the or-
dinary world of an almost
Hemingwayish sense of realism. In
"The Party She Cried," Smith offers
the tale of the social strike-out.
The hours seem like minutes/but
time keeps dragging you along.
And when your youth slightly
falters/Your confidence is shat-
tered. Another means of
alienation/Is waiting just around
the bend/As you sit silent drunk
with sorrow/And watch the at-
mosphere as it disqppears.
Sure it's a bit depressing, but it's
also real and accessible, something
painfully lacking from today's
paisley-profundity revivalisms where
mysticism and "depth" take a
tiresome upper hand.
And before you pass It's Raining off
as some bastard spawn of the Joy
Division and the B-52's, consider that
they do not lay claims to any gim-
micks or image. The band-next-door
bit, the musicians-having-fun cliche,
so forced in some bands, comes
naturally to It's Raining. They're as
danceable as they are thinkable. And
claiming no philosophy except a
commitment to producing the best
music they know how to make, they
are there for your taking with a show at
the U-Club October 25.
I spoke with band leader Matthew
Smith about his career and relation-
ship to It's Raining. He offers often
biting, but very real and frustration-
filled cynicism regarding the state of
today's music, but still has plenty of
good things to say about the Damned.
Here goes:
Weekend: What kind of music did
you grow up with?
Smith: I grew up listening to
Motown when I was a little kid. Then a
lot of other things happening at the
time, like Steppenwolf and Iron But-
terfly. I started buying records at a
real early age. Years later I was into
Roxy Music, I got into the (Brian)
Eno-type stuff about '78. And this was
the stuff that made me want to do
music very seriously.
W: And your influences?
S: Brian Eno was a huge influence.
Bands like the Damned and the
Stranglers and Iggy. People like that
have been influences, I think more in
the spirit of their music than their
See RAINING, Page 5
INICKELS ARCADE
appearances. Knowing Ann Arbor's
limits, Smith has taken his band to
Detroit for numerous shows, most
recently their August appearance at
Paycheck's Lounge.
After a shaky summer of personnel
problems, It's Raining now includes
Smith on guitar/vocals, Stefan Ver-
nier on synthesizers/keyboards, Brad
Fairman on drums of all kinds, and
Brian Salk on bass.
They've wasted no time in:;
reestablishing themselves as an in-
tegral part of the Ann Arbor/Detroit
new music scene with studio time
already booked for recording a new
single, record companies already ex-
pressing interest, and an October 25
date set for the U-Club.
Musically, It's Raining takes all
that relatively obscure '70s "new
music" (Eno, U2, Damned) as a
spiritual and stylistic base, and ex-
pounds from there.
Clearly defined chords buzz inter-
mittently over subtle keyboard lines,
complementing bass parts, as strong
drum patterns keep the sound earth-
bound. Smith's McCulloch-like voice,
a sort of on-key Lou Reed, at times
approaches .Scabian-like (Damned)
hollow depths, providing bits of
humanity to make plausible. -
Their Radioland EP, a four-song
testament of the band's ability-to-date
in 1984, was an instant success with its
clear, almost too-slick production -
proof that eight-track recordings are
viable as any for producing fine
music.
The title track and "Go Along With
You" were evidence of Smith's
songwriting capability as well as the
competence of the band, with soaring
vocals and chorused-guitar riffs an-
choring the almost funk electric drum
lines. (The drums have since been
replaced by a more acoustic set to
deemphasize the techno-rock
monikers critics all too readily
assigned the band.)
Rounding out the EP was a sort of
departure from the more upbeat
quality of the rest of the record, with
Stefan Vernier's "Looking Glass." An
instrumentally eclectic ballad, ever-
ything from the electric drums and
classical guitar, to an Edge-like
stacatto guitar line and almost sar-
donic keyboard line, found their
respective places in the song. Busy?
Sure, but the effect pushed the
engineering limit of eight-track
recording, making the EP as much of
an overview of the band's style as is
possible in four songs.
As if an antithesis of the ethereal-
rock qualities of the music, Matthew
Smith's lyrics offer a bit more
SATURDAY
Bars and Clubs
The Apartment-(769-4060)-The
six-piece show band, Glass, featuring
three different lead vocalists-Debbie
Peterson, Edgar Martin, and Edmund
Glass.
Bird of Paradise-(662-8310)-Jazz
tunes courtesy of the Jeff Kressler
trio.
The Blind Pig-(996-8555)-You
may have heard their single, "Heart
Is a Hunter" on the radio, now listen
to the Stingrays, straight from
Detroit.
The Earle-(994-0211)-The jazz of
Rick Burgess and Patty O'Connor is
here-watch out, it may just cure
what ails you.
The Heidelberg- (663-
7758)-Country folk singer, guitarist
Shawn Williams.
Main Street Comedy
Showcase-(996-9080)-Stuart Mit-
chell is back for more laughs.
Mr. Flood's Party-(995-
2132)-Jazz with a twist from Detroit
band Juanita McCray and her Motor
City Beat.
Mountain Jack's- (665-
1133)-Comedian and folk musician
Ron Coden.
The Nectarine Ballroom-(994-
5436)-Dance with Domino, whose
Motown style will move you until all
hours of the night.
Rick's American Cafe - (996-
2747)-Buzz to the music of the
Kingbees.
Performan c
Ann Arbor Dance Works-University
Dance Department
This newly-formed group performs
tonight at 8 p.m. See Friday's listing
for all the details.
Leo Kottke-The Ark
A fine performer whose concerts
are both humorous and loyal to
tradition, Kottke's musical
prominence is evidenced by the fact
that he is a five-time winner of the
"Best Folk Guitarist" award in
Guitar Player magazine's annual
readers' poll. 7:30 and 10 p.m. at The
Ark, 637/ S. Main. Tickets are $10.50
HARRY'S
ARMY SURPLUS
ALL
LEE'S & LEVI'S
Men's and Women's leans
20% OFF REGULAR
Name Brand Insulated
and Waterproof Boots
(to 20 below zero)
to 30% OFF
limited stock
201 E. Washington
CORNER OF FOURTH AVE.
~ Openl7 days
994-3572 °a week to
serve you MD
in advance at Schoolkid's,' PJ's, arid
the Michigan Union Ticket Office. For
more information call 761-1451.
Loot-Suspension Theater
A detective farce by Joe Orton. See
Friday's listing. Performance begins
at 8 p.m.
William Breiker Kollektief: Eclipse
Jazz-Washtenaw Council for the Arts
One of Europe's most popular jazz
groups, this 10-member Dutch en-
semble has been compared to both the
Charles Mingus Band and the
Mothers of Invention. Composer and
saxophonist Breiker leads Kollektief
through a wide variety of styles, in-
cluding jazz, marches, classic, Latin,
and honkey tonk. 8 p.m. at the Lydia
Mendelssohn Theater. In addition,
Breuker offers a free workshop this
afternoon at 4 p.m in Trotter House,
1443 Washten.aw Ave. Tickets are
$6.50 in advance at Schoolkid's, PJ's,
and the Michigan Union Ticket Office.
Call 763-1085 for more information.
Campus Cinema
Dogs of War (John Irving, 1981) Hill
Street Cinema
Silly, implausible, and dull advan-
ture flick with Christopher Walken as
a one-man army hired to attack an
African director. Hill St., 7:30 p.m.,
9:30 p.m. $2.50.
Enormous Changes at the Last
Minute (Mira Bank, Ellen Hovde,
1985) AAFC, CG, C2
Three Grace Paley short stories
adapted for the big screen. Aud. A, 7
p.m., 9 p.m. $2.50
Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill! (Russ
Meyer, 1966) Ann Arbor Film Co-op
Bizarre and sometimes funny,
though bloody, romp. Leave the kids
and most of your intelligence at home.
MLB 3,7 p.m., 10:20 p.m. $2.50/single,
$3.50/double.
A Passage to India (David Lean, 1984)
Michigan Theatre Foundation
A meticulously directed film with
epic details painted with precision
and care. A young English woman
travels to India and discovers much
more than a wild land ruled by
Rr;ains. Alec Guiness gives the film a
spiritual soul as a mysterious mystic.
Mich., 8 p.m. only $3, $2.50/students,
seniors.
A Soldier's Story (Norman Jewison,
1984) MED
Mediocre movie version of the com-
pelling stage play stars !Howard-
Rollins as a military attorney who
must find the truth behind the killing
of a black sergeant in the segregated
army of WWII. MLB 4, 7:30 p.m., 9:30
p.m. $2.50.
Witness for the Prosecution (Billy
Wilder, 1957) Alt. Act.
The quintessential courtroom
drama, based on the Agatha Christie
play. With Marlene Dietrich, Charles
Laughton, Elsa Lanchater, and
Tyrone Power. Nat. Sci., 7:30 p.m.
only $2.50/single, $3.50/double.
Lady From Shanghai (Orson Welles,
1947) Alt. Act.
More' of a technical exercise than a
full-fledged movie. Welles' cicematic
tricks are still exciting after all those
years. Nat. Sci., 9:30 p.m. only.
$2.50/single, $3.50/double.
Furthermore
The Comet Halley: Once in a
Lifetime/Autumn Stars-University
Exhibit Museum
Once again it's time to go star-
gazing with two new shows ! The
Comet Halley: Once in a Lifetime and
Autumn Stars. 11:30 a.m. (Autumn),
1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m., and 4 p.m.,
(Comet Halley), at the Exhibit
Museum Ruthven Planetarium, Ged-
des at N. University. $1. Call 764-0478
for more information.
'50's Sock Hop-Ann Arbor Hands-On
Museum
Put on those old letterman's
sweaters and twist to the 50's show
band Wedsel's Edsels. Beer will be
sold, but the hamburgers and pop are
free. 50's outfits are encouraged, and
proceeds will help pay for the two
top floors of Hands-On Museum,
located next to the old fire station. 8
p.m., Ann Arbor Fire Station, N. Fifth
Ave. at E. Ann. Tickets are $25 per
person. For more information call
995-5439.
SUNDAY
Bars and Clubs
The Ark-(761-1451)-Eric An-
derson brings his folk songs to Ann
Arbor.
Del-Rio Bar-(761-2530)-Paul Vor-
nhagen & Friends will entertain you.
Main Street Comedy
Showcase-(996-9080)-Open Mike
Night!
Mr. Flood's -Party--(995- i
2132)-Local rockers Bob Cantu and bo
Joyhouse. co
The Nectarine Ballroom(994- ev
5436)-Dance it up with DJ the as
Wizard. C
Performance CA
At
Ann Arbor Dance Works-University i.
Dance Department T
A new eight-member resident an
professional dance company con- ir
tinues their series of performances. L
8:00 p.m. Refer to Friday's listing.
Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra
The symphony's 57th season opens
under the direction of Carl St. Clair, a C
dynamic new conductor. The A
program will include works by A
Berlioz, Rachmaninoff, and
Beethoven's famous Fifth Symphony. ea
A free concert prelude (1:30-2:30 p
p.m., Michigan League-Henderson re
Room) will include well-known local d
musicologist, Edna Kilgore and her $2
comments on the day's program. A
Dessert and coffee served. Show 1
begins at 3:30 p.m., Michigan
Theatre, 603 E. Liberty. Tickets are $3 to
for students. For more information h
call 994-4801. th
Faculty Recital - University School of C
Music.
The autograph scores for S
movement 2-4 of Debussy's Premier 1
Trio en Sol were discovered and
rescued from potential obscurity. b
How? University music professor s
Elwood Derr found them among the o
papers of Debussy pupil Maurice f
Dumensil and his wife, mezz-soprano $
Evangeline Lehman. Upon Lehman's M
death, the papers were presented to H
the University, and tonight the scores
will be brought to life through the r
talents of violinist Camilla Wicks, vi
cellist Jeffrey Solow, and pianist p
Eckart Sellheim. The concert also p
features Ravel's Violin Sonata, N1
Debussy's Intermezzo for Cello and
Piano, and Debussy's transcription of s
Schumann's Canonic Studies for Two n
Pianos. University music theory t
professor William Rothstein will join P
Sellheim on piano. Concert at 4 p.m.
at the Rackham Auditorium. Ad-
mission is free. Call 763-4726 for more
information.
George Carlin-Office of Major Even-
ts
George Carlin, the man who gave us
Seven Words You Can Never Say on
I PREFER SATURDAYS
Enjoy Saturdays minute by minute at University Towers!
1 minute from all away football games via cable TV
in our newly refurnished lounge!
S minutes from all pregame shopping!
10 minutes from any point near the Diag!
20 minutes from the University of Michigan
football stadium!
UNIVER-Y TOWERS
Newly remodeled & refurnished apartments.
Visit our models conveniently located at:
536 S. Forest (corner of S. Forest & S. University)
Phone: 761-2680
riu *. Or 1. the sofa that rolls
over and plays bed.
On its own or on one of our lovely frames, a
futon is a practical, versatile, and comfortable
addition to your home.
We carry NATURAL FIBER bedding.
1115ii tar t fuaroS
NEW
r
4 7
BOERSMA
TRAVEL
Call the
FRIENDLY
AGENT
Ask about our
Halloween trip
drawing,
BOERSMAETRAVEL
DOMESTIC[
14 NICKELS ARCADE
994-6200
. ..
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1 i;r .
U--
' SPECIAL THIS WEEK "as
OLDE FASHIONED -
ROOT BEER FLOAT
r Corner of So. University & Church
.1 ~~ma g g~ssg~
I
WOULD YOU PAY F
NON-MEMORY TYP
LOW PRICES ON:
" ACADEMIC PAPERS
(handwritten)
" Resumes
. Theses, Dissertations
" Letters and Applicatic
P 1'r~
AININ CNT
&ma . = .
769-COPY
CONVENIENT LOCATION:
(High-speed Copy Ser
i
3185. ashIcy
0 ann arbor'
761-7858
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4 Weekend/ Friday, October 18, 1985
Weekem