The Michigan Daily- Friday, October 24, 1986 -Page 9
Another part of
By Beth Fertig
ife's rich pageant'
There was a time, not so way
back, when it was hard to snoop
out anyone who had heard of
R.E.M. other than a select batch of
collegiate or pre-collegiate hipsters.
In a span of five years, however, it
seems this band has been absolutely
seized by the press and lauded as
representatives of the most
successful transition from obscurity
to national prominence, all the
while maintaining their tradition of
artistic excellence. And if there's
anyone who doubts the veracity of
this claim, they obviously were not
present this past Wednesday night
for R.E.M.'s dynamic performance
to a sold-out Fox Theatre crowd.
The word was out after their last
tour that many of their fans had
been disappointed by R.E.M.'s
weak live shows. Wednesday
night's performance, however, gave
no evidence to support the
legitimacy of those complaints. As
on their new album, Life's Rich
Pageant, the band sounded tough
-and strong. They began with a roar
on the frenetic "These Days," on
which singer Michael Stipe,
dramatically decked in a black jacket
and top hat,, whirled around and
about the stage. The band was
~accompanied by a well-crafted
'Visual show: a screen directly
upstage (replacing the usual
position of a drummer- Bill Berry
was to the right) showed several
scenic bits of footage, and a
stunning light show utilized
contrasting vivid colors. The effect
Pwas particularly striking on "The
Flowers of Guatemala," where rays
of light appeared to rain on the
drumset and the stage was drenched
in a blue, then green glow giving a
still, fishtank-type illusion.
Stipe, himself, however usually
had the greatest bid for attention,
although guitarist Peter Buck and
bassist Mike Mills were clearly
enjoying themselves as they spun
about the stage, jamming away.
Whether clenching his microphone
like a praying mantis, dancing in
over-blown motions, making sil -
houettes, or using broad theatrical
gestures, Stipe always understood
thie meaning of drama. Making
feference to the fact that many have
called him "pretentious" ('I'm not
as fundamentally stupid as SPIN
tonight?
Buck: I had a great time, it
started slow but it got better. I have
strep throat now. Three out of four
of us do. I'm loaded to the gills
with antibiotics.
D: Do you usually play four
encores?
B: Three to four.
D: Michael Stipe's singing
sounds different on the new record.
What's changed? 4
B: Part of it is he's maturing as
a singer. We also wanted a more
punchy, straight forward rock and
roll texture as opposed to
something moody and murky.
D: What's it like looking back,
now that you're playing a place like
The Fox, at the days when you
played Joe's Star Lounge in Ann
Arbor?
B: Or Clutch Cargo's, where we
played to three people...It feels
better to look back than to do it.
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Joe's was fun; Clutch Cargo's
sucked...We worked hard on the
road for five years before we'd
gotten popular.
D: How much of your success
do you feel you owe to college
radio?
B: A good portion. We'd been
supported by college radio from the
beginning. We've got AOR now,
but college radio kept us afloat.
D: How much of this do you
think is also due to growth in the
importance of college radio?
B: Both college radio and us had
a gain in popularity together. We
got lucky because college radio
made a dent in the market at the
time we came along.
D : How do you remain
anonymous living in Athens.
B: I don't care if I'm anonymous
or not.
D: Do you get bothered by fans
or anything?
See R.E.M., Page 10
Band 0 Rama
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25th, 1986
HILL AUDITORIUM 8:00 P.M.
Tickets $3, $5, $6
Hill Aud. Box Office, 9 A.M.- 4 P.M.
Symphony Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band,
Friars, Marching Band
Doily rPhoto by ANDI SCHREIBER
R.E.M. gave a dramatic performance Wednesday night that was well
deservant of the four encores their Fox Theatre crowds demanded. Pic-
tured above is vocalist Michael Stipe.
magazine says I am") he continued
with his oftentimes lengthy,
purposely garbled song intros. The
audience might not have always
understood them (some were simple
explanations, others dramatic
speeches), but they ate it up
anyway. They also loved Stipe's
off-key harmonica playing on a rip-
roaring performance of "Pretty
Persuasion."
Theband introduced an extra
guitarist for "Shaking Through"
whose name (if mentioned) was
obscured, but they said he was a
roadie. He was brought back for a
handfull of songs, and added
strength to the sound. They also
covered a few songs: The Clique's
"Superman" (which is also on the
new album), on which Mike Mills
sung lead, The Classic Four's
"Spooky," which featured Peter/
Buck's vocals, and a Stooges
medley- preceded by "Funtime"-
on which Stipe sang (spoke) in
deadpan. They also played about
three new songs, some of which
were extremely thrashy and appeared
to bulldozer the crowd. One of
those tunes, "Firehouse," marked
Stipe's guitar debut. After four
encores they graciously bowed out,
Stipe acknowledging his strep
throat, which had finally become
noticeable on a slightly strained
"Begin the Begin"- which received
a long introduction explaining what
Stipe would have said if someone
asked him what he did for a living
("I am the world leader")- and
thanking their opening .band,
Camper Van Beethoven.
After the roar of the crowds had
long subsided, the aisles were clear,
and only the bouncers were still on
duty, The Daily had a few words
with guitarist Peter Buck.
Daily: Did you enjoy the show
COUNSELING
SERVICES.
R 3100 Michigan Union
764-8312
Counseling Services is offering the following groups
and workshops for currently enrolled students. These
groups are presently in the process of being filled. En-
rollment is limited. Many groups require screening
meetings with Counseling Services Staff to assure
best service.
For more information
and to make an
appointment, inquire at Counseling
8312, Room 3100 Michigan Union.,
Services,
764-
I. ALCOHOL
ME
4.2
MI
4
d
A
Hil
The Office of Major Events presents
C
1. DROP-IN DISCUSSION SUPPORT GROUP ON ALCOHOL -
MONDAYS -- (12-1) - NO SCREENING. Led by Penny Tropman.
2. ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS/IMPAIRED PARENTS -
THERAPY GROUP - SCREENING - Limited to 6-8 students.
WEDNESDAY (11-1), Led by T. Morson and D. Murasky.
3. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - THURSDAY (12:00) DROP-IN at
Counseling Services. NO SCREENING.
4. ALANON - TUESDAYS (12:00) - DROP-IN at
Counseling Services. NO SCREENING.
II. ACADEMIC STRESS
5. ACADEMIC SUPPORT GROUP FOR MINORITY STUDENTS ON
ACADEMIC PROBATION - TUESDAYS (4-6)-SCREENING.
Limited to 8 students-led by Gwyneth Awal and Tom Morson.
6. DISSERTATION SUPPORT GROUP - WEDNESDAYS (8:30 am)
- DROP-IN.
III. CAREER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
7. EDUCATIONAL-VOCATIONAL PLANNING WORKSHOP
(Freshpersons and Sophomores Only) THURSDAYS (4:10-5:30)
Three sessions (11/13 - 11/20 - 12/4). Limited to 10 students.
Students must take two tests by 11/5/86 to be enrolled.
IV. GENERAL THERAPY GROUPS
8. GENERAL THERAPY GROUP FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS -
WEDNESDAYS (3:10-4:30) - SCREENINGS.
Enrollment limited:
V. MINORITIES
9. INTENSIVE ASSERTIVENESS SKILL BUILDING WORKSHOP
FOR ASIAN AMERICAN STUDENTS - TUESDAYS - (3:10 -
5:00) Four sessions (11/4 - 11/11, 11/18 - 11/25). Enrollment limited
to ASIAN AMERICAN STUDENTS ONLY. Led by Steve Ino.
10. ACADEMIC SUPPORT GROUP FOR MINORITY STUDENTS ON
ACADEMIC PROBATION - TUESDAYS (4-6)-SCREENINGS.
Limited to 8 students - led by Gwyneth Awai and Tom Morson.
VI. NEW OFFERINGS
DAY, OCTOBER 26
Auditorium 7:30 p.m.
I