ARTS Friday, February 5, 1988 Page 7 The Michigan Doily R y . Showdown Four local bands battle for Video By Michael Fischer Tonight you'll have the rare chance to take in four of the more popular live acts on the current Ann Arbor pop music scene. The Michi- gan Video Yearbook is throwing a. 'shindig at the Michigan Union, a "battle of the bands" contest between local groups The. Blue Meanies, The Difference, Folkminers, and Martin with the Kites. The winner receives a cash prize plus a video spot in this year's edition of the Yearbook. A group of five judges, including members of the Video Yearbook staff and local judges, will decide the victor. Here's the line-up of the bands to appear tonight in order of scheduled appearance: Martin With the Kites Martin Kierszenbaum: vocals/keyboards/guitar Dave Corradi: guitars Dan Carroll: bass/percussion Dave Proly: drums Kierszenbaum is the guy whose posters are plastered on every kiosk 4n town. But his music, a rather eclectic blend of engaging pop styles, is far more friendly than his advertising methods. In fact, his de- but cassette-only release, My Thing, ° has sold 100 copies so far and has been acclaimed by local critics. Recording that collection and his hew tape, Grow (which is released today), singlehandedly on a basement four-track recorder, Kierszenbaum gounds up his band, the Kites, for an odd gig every month or so. Yet this Yearbool system in particular. Indeed, The Blue Meanies are an uncommon lo- cal group in that four of their five members are Greek. Known mostly for their cover versions, they can be expected to dip into old Pretenders as well as other favorites for a variety of material - a crowd pleaser is The Jacksons' "I Want You Back." The' band's set ranges widely through genres, playing everything from hard rock to disco. The Difference Ramsey Gouda: guitars/vocals Tina Marcaccio: keyboards/vocals Marty Heger: saxophone Randy Martin: bass/vocals Tom Campbell: drums Commercially the most successful of the four bands featured, The Dif- ference have built up an impressive live following over the last two years, regularly filling the Blind Pig and Rick's as well as Detroit's spa- cious St. Andrews Hall (they also, have released a cassette entitled The k spot Difference). It's not surprising, con- sidering the band's appealing hand at pop melodies as well as their in- strumental skill, rare in its sophisti- cation for a local band. The Differ- ence conjure up a complex array of textures, sounds, and especially danceable rhythms, playing a set composed mainly of distinctive - if at times syrupy -originals. Look also for a few interesting covers, perhaps an extended version of Falk Talk's "Life's What You Make It," or a funked-up go at U2's "Seconds." The concert begins tonight in the Union Ballroom at 9 p.m. (dbors open at 8:30 p.m.) with an opening set by The Holy Cows. The evjnt will offer the chance to do a little comparison shopping; the -$4 admission will also gain you access to other diversions in the Union and the U-Club. A double-stage ar- rangement (not to mention one very busy sound technician) will be in place to keep the show running con- tinuously. The Difference is one of four bands competing for a spot in this year's Video Yearbook. The Difference is the most commercially successful band in the competition, but they will be seriously challenged by others who may not be as widely known in the bar scene. is the debut of a revised line-up from the Kites' last appearance in Octo- ber; an additional guitarist will free up Kierszenbaum to play more key- boards, allowing the Kites to play some dance numbers for the first time in their all-originals set. Folkminers Sam Lapides: vocals/guitar Tom Dunham: bass Randy Sabo: drums Marty Fletcher: guitar The release of their EP entitled Folkminers solidified this band's stance as more than a local cover band. Lapides has scribbled six poetic tales on the EP that range from the deliberately slow, strongly-strummed "Knockin' On Wood," to the straightforward, in- terweaving guitar lines of "So Tired." Along with their line-up of originals, the Folkminers have been known to spice their live shows with covers, but the band never loses their own sound. The Folkminers certainly won't knock you down with flash, but their music truly hits you with quality. The Blue Meanies Sue Cantor: vocals Jeff Berman: guitar Alec Miller:keyboards Jeff Lapin: bass Ira Weisman: drums Together for about one year, The Blue Meanies are a busy live band; playing about a set a week in local clubs as well as fraternity and soror- ity parties. 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