S 0 a v W, w Page 14 -The.Michigan Daily, Thursday, September 10, 1987 -The Michigan Daily, Thursday, " ..ii iMii .."isii. .:4. ....' ia is......~ wi :"" «s..........ii4 R:"*i i :.":i : ."' "' ":.:.s: ''' s. . :.. " .. . ii.s "' " " i a i 4: "" " 4'"" ':. '": . : ::::' .. "fi f . . . . . . . . . . ....f """"""" "f""{f..." " .f ............ . . . . . ..{"f""""i{""" """{".. . . . f"........."""f"{.""""."{ .......{"""{ .4 i~iJliii{ii"i{iiif.. . . . . . . {~f{f"~{"f"a"{"""""{f""s .ii. a"* :ii4. . ....: i ": ..."...ii ". ...i. i." .: .:.:....i.." ...." .. " "" ". "". .:" i.i: s" i " ii." . ...1's' " .. i i.*4 * siii iii "". "". 4 44.4." . By Seth Flicker Ann Arbor is approximately the third largest film-viewing commun - ity in the country. This means that hardly a day goes by when you can't choose between at least fifteen different movies a day. Does this also mean that there is nothing better to do in Ann Arbor? Of course not. The University is just one wild, film-crazy place, and as you will easily find out, seeing a movie is one of the most inexpensive, enjoyable and acces - sible pastimes around. One of the side effects of a big movie town, unfortunately, is that celluloid takes on a certain snob- appeal. It tends to become a competition of who has been to the mos tGoddard films or who has analyzed The Seventh Seal most accurately. For this, you can decide to take either of two routes. Either you keep quiet or bullshit like the rest. It's more fun to bullshit. Be careful, though, because some of those esoteric braggarts may really know a thing or two. To combat this celluloid self-righteousness, you must do your homework. Your bible is the Cinema Guide. This masterpiece is put out about six times a year and lists all the second-run films playing. Make a calendar ahead of time because it's real easy to miss some gems. Of course in a place that shows thousands upon thousands of films a year the selection is wide but there are certain types of movies that are more copious than others. You may see Liquid Sky, Stranger Than Paradise, The Seven Samurai, Strangers on a Train and Koya - anisquatsi playing a few times each year. These are movies that have immense student and faculty turn- outs. These are your first assign - ments and while you may" think that you're the film king, this is only the beginning. To be really on top of things, look through Cinema Guide, not at the titles but at the directors. You'll quickly discover that certain names turn up much more often than others. Such names are Goddard, Bergman, Allen, Fellini, Hitch - cock, Wilder, Kurasawa, Houston, Kubrick and Scorcese. The key is to see these director's less known (or popular) films. For one, you will surely be in the spotlight in the many film-related conversations you will get into and, two, you may even be in for a nice surprise. One more hint. Get used to the locations that these films most likely will play in. Such places are the Modern Languages Building, the Natural Sciences Building, Angell Hall and the Michigan Theater. Take a walk around to these places before the big date or so that you do not arrive late to a film. Also, get there early. Second- runs are big crowd-pleasers and sell out a lot of the time. What makes Ann Arbor the film capital of the Midwest is not only the second-runs, though. We host some of the most prestigious film festivals around. The most well- known being the 16mm Film Festival. This event is graced with some of the best national and international shorts around. Rarely will you find such a diverse offering of celluloid than at the 16mm. It's a must see. For a few measly bucks you may catch the first film of a young Woody or Ingmar. The 8mm Festival is not as popular but should be. It is one of the only (if not the only) 8mm festival in the country. The films are short and easily digestible and while they may look a little bit unprofes - sional, may inspire you to make a couple of these rather inexpensive films yourself. Other festivals or series in the area consist of the recent Black film Series and the PIRGIM Non- inclusive Film Festival. These series are not as few and far between as they sound and provide an arena for some of the most rarely seen films. Another arena to check out is Eyemediae, located at 214 N. Forth. They often have obscure film series and an abundance of speakers (see side bar). The final part of film in Ann Arbor is the first-run movie theaters. There are four on campus. The first three are pretty standard fare: the Movies at Briarwood, in Briarwood Mall, Fox Village, in the Maple Village Shopping Center and the State Theater, 231 S. State. The Ann Arbor Theaters, 210 S. Fifth, is a little bit more unusual, though. Besides half-price coupon accessibility, the Ann Arbor show first-run foreign and low-budget films. This makes it the only one of it's kind in Ann Arbor. Keeping up with the Jones' in film is not very hard or expensive to do. Ann Arbor has an abundant wealth of film, but you must do your homework, and maybe even someday you can become film editor of the Michigan Daily. Eyenwdiae: art that' excites the mind By Mike Rubin College towns have a way of breeding musical excitement. Like mold on bread and strychnine on blotter, rock and roll somehow manages to rear its noisy, un- shaven, and acne-pocked head up in book-minded burgs all across this great wasteland of ours, and Ann Arbor is no exception. Bar bands, garage groups, and aggro aggregations have been sprouting like dandelions in this musical municipality for decades: Iggy Pop and his sonic compatriots in three-chord crime the Stooges, pounders and founders of a fuzzy brand of post-amphetamine grunge By Ryan Tutak With art exhibits, films, live music and poetry readings, Eye - mnediae presents virtually every artistic medium. But it is much more than just a venue. "Eyemediae is both a com - munity space where people come to see things and an interactive space where there is a chance to learn about something," Mark Schreier, an Eyemediae program director, said. Located on 214 North Fourth St., Eyemediae, according to Schreier, offers live Monday perfor - mances of "anything to have people interact with each other," and films relating to the performances on Tuesdays; both run from 7-10 p.m. Last June Chicano poets from the Detroit area gave selected readings from their works on one evening and a film on Chicano culture was shown on the next. "We had about 40 people watch the film. And about a quarter of them stayed around," Schreier said. "It was very informal, but real productive in a sense that thtey hung out for about an hour and a half afterward. Jose Garza (one of the poets) was talking .to the people about his heritage4" Eyemediae offers all kinds of films ranging from noir thrillers like "Naked Doom" to rock and roll documentaries like "The T.A.M.I. Show" to political films like Sexual Politics in the Capitalist Society." One of the coordinators of the. 8mm Film Festival, Eyemediae has also given shows at the Perfor - mance Network, the Kerrrytown Concert House, the Ann Arbor Theatre, and on campus. "When we do weekly shows, I like to use our space and gallery," Schreier said. "But for big events I like going out and spreading it around so we can expose ourselves to more people." Formed in 1982, Eyemediae serves to communicate ideas that get lost in the mainstream. "There is an important com - municative function going on that. is absent (elsewhere)," Schreier said. "There is documentary stuff and independently produced stuff that nobody ever sees. It's event - ually being sucked up by studios that produce on a larger scale." Schreier said that getting people to see this stuff is a different story. "A lot of independent stuff is great. But when people see some - thing like that is playing, they think, 'Avant-garde! Experimental! I don't know if I want to take a chance with it,' And I think that they are depriving themselves of a piece of the world, a big piece of the puzzle that might help to clarify something they never thought about or give them new ideas to think about." That's what Eyemediae is all about. As Schreier said: "It's all language. It's all ideas." ... Map of the World and-coming national band (like 10,000 Maniacs), prefer to cater to the frat-rock crowd by serving up a steady diet of bar chords and beer specials. Acts like Tracy Lee pnd the Leonards, Jeanne and the Dreams, the Urbations, the Detroit Panic, the Watusies, Iodine Raincoats, the Blue Front Persuaders, 66 Spy, and Mission Impossible (winners of the Daily's Weekend Magazine reader poll for favorite Ann Arbor band) bring crowds to their feet and customers to the counter through a combination of familiar chestnuts and peppy originals, all served up amidst the Dante-esque debauchery of a midweek pitcher night. No new ground is broken or pioneering trails blazed, but plenty of feet are stomped and bumps are ground as audience and band alike work for the weekend. Across town the Blind Pig offers up more of the same, tossing in some more ambitious local groups and some more challenging national fare (Soul Asylum and Sonic Youth, for example) for flavor's sake. Synth-minded students Before or After, with a self-released single "When In Rome"/"Such As I Am," and the Difference, have built up strong followings while balancing keyboards and classes, luring dance- oriented moppettes away from the gleaming mirrors and whirling lights of the Nectarine Ballroom and back into the poorly-lit recesses of bars and bistros. The Ark, while not really a bar as you must be a member to purchase alcohol, is a welcome change of pace. If, that is, you're interested in the fine but usually real, real mellow folk and jazz they serve up. On a more guitar-oriented note, several groups have employed a combination of sincerity and charisma while working under the umbrella of conventional rock music to establish enthusiastic foothold followings among the college-music crowd. Frank Allison and the Odd Sox have parlayed their golly-gosh harmonies into one seven inch 45, "This is Your Father Speaking"/"Oliver Wendell Holmes," while creative craftsmen Map of the World have released three records, including the Natural Disasters EP on Metroamerica Records, with both bands frequently opening up for touring national acts and headlining their own shows. Sam Lapides and the Folkminers are also- a favorite among pop music afficianados, with Lapides' whisky-smooth vocals and acoustic arrangements augmented by his electric backing band. The Folkminers are currently recording a six song EP, and Lapides already has the excellent dassette-only Yesterday's Dreams under his belt. Gaining less exposure through regular local performances are those bands who approach rock music from a more unconventional viewpoint. Despite their virtually complete and unfortunate absence Washington D.C.'s Adult Contemporary Records (following a cassette-release that earned them praise from Creem and the Village Voice), the Hyenas are poised to unleash their (Funhouse-era) Stooges'-influenced dissonant roar on the rest of the lower 48. More melodic but no less intense, Spahn Ranch will release their. debut LP on California's Insight Records, also following a self-released cassette whose music was some- where between Savage Republic, Tibetan funk, and an Ennio Morricone soundtrack. Beat-box bullies Circle Confusion will also release their debut LP, Meat Department ,possibly on Insight as well, following two cassettes and an appearance on a Louisiana compilation of blood-curdling con- temporary music. Other bands will try to hold their own by forming their own labels and pressing their own product. Anthemic avant-popsters It's Raining will release their first full LP, Awaken at Twilight , on vocalist Matt Smith's Certain Records, which also released the ban Tra spee Wit on inch WO tow still loca aga lege rior cull of prin par Eas Soi brc Liv circ pup Open Seven Nights a Week Voted by the Michigan Daily Ann Arbor's 'BEST DANCE BAR' Presenting the Best inc Live and Recorded Music DR. WU'S SUPER STIR The Original Healthy Fast Food Restaurant " Super Tasty " Super Fresh « Super Fast e " Super Nutritious e FREE DELIVERY " 747-8900 Ask about cash commission on group pick-up 707 Packard at State o Also in Michigan Union - --.-.-..-----..-----....----.- ..., DR. WU'S SUPER STIR 1 BUY 1 COMBO-Get Second at O Price I (Each Combo includes entree, drink, and dessert.) Expirs 10/311 - - ....8- - - all their own; Marxist muthas the MC5, who waved as many guitars as they did leaflets back in the white-hot days of post-riot turbulence in the Detroit of the late '60s; the multi-talented Miller brothers, whose most famous family member Roger jumped from a stint as drummer for mid-'70s punk pioneers Destroy All Monsters to the leadership of his own legendary band, Boston's much-missed Mission of Burma; and even the Midwestern demi-god of dunce rock, Bob Seger, all were weaned on Froot Loops, Fenders, and feedback in this pleasant, tree- filled Washtenaw County hamlet of ours. Today, despite some conserva- tism and over-cautiousness on the part of bar owners and promoters that limits the number of venues where an uncompromising band can shop their musical wares, the local scene is healthy and wealthy with a variety of bands that run the popular music gamut from under- ground dirge to Top 40 scourge. Ann Arbor watering holes tend to be vanguards of the latter, not the former, supplying the city with crowd-pleasing but safe sounds to sip suds to. Rick's American Cafe, while featuring their share of touring blues belters (like Lonnie Mack and Koko Taylor) and an occasional up- ... Non-Fiction from the showcase stages of Ann Arbor bars, these underground bands are alive and thriving through gigs at parties and in Detroit and the exposure gained from their independently recorded and released recordings. Heading this list are the infamous Necros, who have completed their transformation from early '80s co-founders of the Midwestern hardcore scene to a power-metal outfit that would make Grand Funk blush. Despite playing only three Ann Arbor shows in three years, the band has built up enough of a national following (through four U.S. tours) to secure a deal with big independent/minor major label Restles/Enigma Records for the band's .57 Magnum opus LP, Tangled Up . Currently on another U.S. tour with Megadeth and planning for a tour of Europe in late summer, the band is closer to major success than any local band in the last 15 years. Also flirting with greater continental acclaim are Ann Arbor's sonic yodelers from the Alps of Hell, the Laughing Hyenas. With their debut album to be released on '. "Elegant ultimate .The I AAA Rated # :...best " Cocktails SCECHU MANDA MASTERCARD - VISA - A MERICA * FORBIDDEN CITY WEST 3535 Plymouth Road 665-3591 0 4 510 E. LIBERTY, ANN ARBOR * 994-5436 I l