ARTS Monday, January 19, 1987 The Michigan Daily Page 7 Nero fails to fire show reopie uancing' deivered an enjoyabie evening as the rerfornance Network. People danced By Katherine Hansen Whitley Setrakian and Dancers ought to change their name to People Dancing, Singing, and Displaying Quality Acting Ability. T'his local troupe of six performers, an apprentice, and a guest artist shone as their efforts were rewarded by people clapping. People Dancing, which per - formed this weekend at the Performance Network, displayed a repertoire that was intellectual but hot too much so, serious but not uffocating, and never spoil by condescension or self-conscious - ness. Unself-consciousness was even celebrated as the beauty of folk- culture expression, which usually goes unrecognized as legitimate art. '"Waiting for the Preacher,' a piece featuring Sacred Harp songs and traditional ballads sung by choreographer Setrakian, pald mel- ancholy tribute to backwoods cul - ture of the South. "Walting for the Preacher" not only elicited audience gratitude for the talents of People Dancing, but also for the artistic vein of an American subculture. The artistry of another subculture was borrowed for use in an untitled premiere piece. Accom - panied by the music of the Beastie Boys, Setrakian performed her own rap that chronicled her quadruple life. The audience could certainly appreciate the difficulty of her multiple roles as dancer, choreo - grapher, wife (of company member David Genson), and mother (of two). It's too bad that the vibrant music came to us via a single jambox; the sound quality was neither pure enought for Setrakian's voice to be audible, nor pervasive enough to obscure the sounds of the dancers' feet. Impure sound was counterpoint during the "Rachel" trilogy. Susan Cowling and Giles Brown warmed the audience's collective heart as they nostalgically danced to Nat King Cole's scratchy "Stardust Melody." As a charming Jack and Jill-ish couple, the pair narrated the tale of "Rachel," her Aunt Iris, and the busybody, limited world in which they live. After a strange ° traterrestrialencounter, the Cowling and Brown characters waltzed through an era past, in which Rachel and Aunt Iris remain. Guest artist Loi Kail performed a new piece entitled "A Ballet Book." Aided by a hand-drawn slideshow and Michael Roberts' piano music, Kail portrayed a fresh-faced balletomane. As she expertly per - formed the tendus and releves of a student at the barre, Kail's face revealed the sweetness of a young - ster scanning her first audience for a glimpse of her mother. Sparking the show was "Stuff to Do - a Study in Random Tasks." Company members and audience members alike roared as the dancers mimicked each other, demonstrating various dance genres, and providing expert comic commentary on their art. The premiere performance of "Rachel's" final chapter marked the show's conclusion. Set in a bomb shelter, the Cowling and Brown characters conveyed through dance and dramatic dialogue an annihilated world from which Rachel and Aunt Iris can no longer escape. By Alicia Stevens This winter marks the 25th anniversary of Peter Nero's career as a pianist, composer, symphony conductor, and arranger. He is probably mst famous for his juxtaposition of jazz and classical music, but he has also experimented with pop and rock. Nero performed to an almost full house at Hill Auditorium Saturday night, but those who were present probably didn't hear what they were excitedly anticipating. Any excitement generated at the concert was on the audience's part, and before the concert even began. Nero is a polished showman. He walks on stage with the dignity Records Snake-out Live Pizza Wanghead Of the three members of Snake- out who are on this record, only one remains. Tim Reagan, the group's original drummer, left shortly after the recording to be replaced by Dino Kovas, of Back Porch Video fame, who left to join The New Monkees, and now some other guy is drumming. Greg Mitchell, the bassist, is leaving the band to educate himself. The entropy leaves us with Len Puch, but since Len is the product of growing up with a name that no child ought to be saddled with, and since Len was the big Sperm Dancer to begin with, Snake-out is still trundling on, sort of like Motorhead. Since Snake-out is one big, obscene, whopper of a live act, they did a real smart thing when they recorded this record. They held a big party for all of their obnoxious friends and played, and pald an engi - neer a pretty paltry sum to tape the event. The end result is somewhere between a live album taped at a "real" concert, and secret tapes from a Hustler office party. This serves Snake-out well. The band's surf- gnge-sludge-garage-rocka-psycho - billy sound is augmented by the hoots, grunts, and horrendously off- key contributions of the gathered re - velers. The record is, on the whole, very good, grungy and ornery, but it lurches to true brilliance on two cuts, "The Devil in Mrs. Brady," a fire-and-brimstone condemnation of the possessed Florence Henderson, and "Hockey Night in Canada," an anthem for those who can't resist the deadly combination of Moose - head and Channel 9, (and they claim to have recorded it at the New Boston Ice Arena, which is a good lie if they didn't!). And, as if all this weren't enough, Live Pizza is without question the best-packaged LP of the year. It comes in a Pizza Box, with aposter (soon to be a hot New Monkee col - lector item!), a lyric sheet (which features a longi warning to critics like me, and other funny stuff), and a big piece of cardboard. A few more albums like this one, and Snake-out might edge the DeFranco Family to become New Boston's fifth favorite band. -John Logie Hysteric Narcotics Batteries Not Included! (Raffscallion) The Hysteric Narcotics, from that suburban Detroit la-la-land known as Livonia, are one of the area's fabbest live bands and the core of the local neopsych- edelic/garage scene. Their debut LP, Batteries Not Included!, recorded right here in scenic Ann Arbor, is one of the highlights of the past year's local vinyl and one of the year's outstanding garage releases. - Batteries should hopefully change the Narcs' status from one of garage's best-kept secrets to one of its better-known propo- nents. Blessed with industrial- strength chemistry and a sense of humor to match, the band seems to have the potential to go the distance. More than a jolt of garagey reckless abandon, Batteries" ter- minally-groovy trappings - the headache-inducing cover art, feed- back, fuzz, and cheesy organ - don't drown out the basically solid pop songwriting under- neath. The lead track, "Devil in' You," has a folk-rock-ish ring to it and comes off well, as does the fuzz-drenched and funny "Electric Children." The pointed irony of the Narcs' lyrics is rare in garage, and shines in tunes like "Char- lotte's Web" and "Such a My- stery," both of which are high- lights of the LP. "Shop Around" successfully butchers the Miracles' classic by merging thrash and psych. "Do Like Me" transforms the eerie Uncalled For obscurity off Pebbles 8.. It's one of the LP's best tracks, and typical of the Narcs' conscientious, aggressive approach to cover material. Only a couple of tracks, notably "Wild As Soul", don't quite deliver. Musically and lyrically "Wild" seems less clearly articulated, like the band's holding back. While not without its flaws, Batteries is an encouraging docu- ment, a real credit to the local scene and hints at even better things yet to come. If you haven't seen this band live yet, do so. Their light show, which was once owned by the Grande Ballroom and cast its freaky glow on luminaries like the MC5, has to be seen to be believed. Bat- teries not included? The Narcs don't even need batteries. As it- stands, it sounds as if they've got all of Detroit Edison behindf them. Avaliable at hepper local record outlets or via Raffscallion Records, PO Box 2275 Livonia, MI 48151. and subtlety of Sinatra and speaks with the deep sensitivity of Lou Rawls. But these analogies can only be drawn on physical appearances because by no stretch of the imagination can Nero stand up to these great artists musically. He simply lacks that certain energy which some artists possess. Starting with the first piece that he played (the classic "Pick Yourself Up and Start All Over Again" - usually an extremely upbeat, crowd- pleasing tune), there was a mechanical and almost vacant look and sound. His range and dexterity are remarkable. He never seems to miss a single note, but without seeming to enjoy and love the music himself, he can't generate pleasure to the audience. There was no written program for the twenty-odd pieces that he played, but the especially memorable ones included Billy Joel's "I Love You Just The Way You Are' (memorable because it had that rare sound one only hears in the nicest elevators and dentist offices) and Michelle LeGrand's "Summer of '42", for which Nero received a gold record for his interpretation. This tune was equally reminiscent of the elevator era. There were high points, though. Nero swung into a medley from the Broadway hit "The Wiz" and parti . cularly roused the audience with a piece entitled "Everybody Rejoice". But the highest point was without a doubt his Ellington medley. Included in it were classsics like "Satin Doll" and "Take the A Train." He flew over the keyboard but gave meticulous attention to every note. However, instead of having that loose and effortlessly cool look of so many jazz players, he looked stiff and awkward. Peter Nero will probably (and hopefully) never be considered a truly hot jazz artist. People who get into straight ahead, classic jazz would be smart to avoid him altogether. His concert was more for those individuals who like mushy melanges of classical, pop, and jazz music. WELCOME BACK WITH f WEEK OF SUNSHINE at TANNING CENTERS One week of tanning1, (one session n dny) west side $40 0 with this on campus 1896 W. Stadium coupon 216S. State 662-2602 5TUDENID.Expr 7478844J n . What's Happening Recreational Sports FOUL SHOOTING TOURNAMENT Entries Due: Wed., Jan. 28, 4:30 pm Schedules Ready: Thu., Jan. 29, 2:00 pm Tournament Dates: Sun., Feb. 1, 2:00 pm & Mon., Feb. 2,6:00 pm THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Winter Term 1987 Calendar of Events FRIDAY, JAN. 30. "Motivation and Schooling" - One day conference, first floor lecture hall, Rackham Building. Speakers: Walter Doyle (Arizona), Penelope Peterson (Wisconsin), Robert Slavin (Johns Hopkins), and Mark Lepper (Stanford). Free, for information, contact Prof. Scott Paris or Ms. Kathryn Houser at the Center for Research on Learning and Schooling, 3112 School of Education Building, or call (313) 763-2374. SATURDAY, FEB. 7. "37th University of Michigan Mathematics Education Conference" - One day conference, School of Education Building. Speakers: Thomas Post (Minnesota) and Kathleen Cramer (Minneapolis Public Schools) on "Middle School Mathematics in Transition," plus many others. Fees; $12, including lunch; for information, contact Prof. Joseph Payne, 1029 School of Education Building, or call (313) 764-8420. TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24-25. "27th Annual Michigan School Testing Conference" - Modern Language Building (Tuesday) and Rackham Building (Wednesday). Speakers: U-M Athletic Director Don Canham on "Proposition 48: Cure or Curse?" and Rita Foote (Southfield Public Schools) on "The Many Facets of Testing," plus many others. Fees: $40, plus $15 for dinner; for information, contact University of Michigan Extension Service, Conferences and Institutes, 200 Hill Street, or call (313)764-5305. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11. Meeting for Prospective School of Education Graduate Students-Tribute Room, 1322 School of Education Building, 6 p.m. Presentations by Office of Academic Services staff members as well as faculty and students. Free; for information, contact the Office of Academic Services, 1228 School of Education Bnilding or call (313) 764-7563. FRIDAY, MARCH 20. "Intelligence and Schooling" - One day conference, first floor lecture hall, Rackham Building. Speakers: Sandra Scarr (Virginia), Robert Sternberg (Yale), Robert Shweder (Chicago), and Zhang Houcan (Beijing Normal University). Free; for information, contact Prof. Scott Paris at the Center for Research on Learning and Schooling, 3112 School of Education Building, or call (313) 763-2374. FRIDAY, APRIL 3. School of Education Awards Ceremony - Schorling Auditorium, School of Education Building, 2 p.m. Speaker: To be announced. For information, contact the Office of Academic Services, 1228 School of Education Building, or call (313) 764-7563. For Information, Call IMSB - 763-3562