4 Page 8 -- The Michigan Daily - Monday, October 24, 1988 Missing Band New wave flock gets blown off course - roosts at local R&B house BY MARGIE HEINLEN QUESTION: What do a pig and a seagull have in common? a. Both eat things that other peo- ple throw away b. Neither are kosher c. Both make obnoxious sounds d. nothing t This were the only things I could come up with when I read that A Flock of Seagulls were playing at the Blind Pig tonight. Wait - don't be hasty. Let's think about this. Could this be the same band that put out the albums A Dream Come True ,Listen and the original A Flock of Seagulls and then re-released them all in '86 (along with "Best of' album the very same year)? Yes, this same flock thrilled millions of pre-pubescent boys and girls in the early '80s with their harmless new wave, new fash- ion sound, setting the stage for other such pretty boys as Duran Duran and later OMD. A band who seemed to soar so high and so fast only to smash into a cliff like Johnathan Livingston and disappear from the musical scene. Oh, and the hair. Lead singer Mike Score amazed the listening public with a hairdo that defied gravity and actually looked like seagull wings (in flight, of course), while producing successes such as Game Theory Two Steps From the Middle Ages Enigma We don't admit it, but there's a little part of all of us that likes to be hurt. The part that doesn't mind misery as long as we do a damn good job of wallowing in it. The part that purposely reminds us of lost loves just so we can have the pleasure of a good sigh. The part thatmakes us stick our tongues into cold sores just to feel that little twinge. Scott Miller has mastered that little twinge. He's captured it, dis- tilled it, and injected just enough of it into each Game Theory song to lead his listeners into that emotional territory that lies just be- tween elation and melancholy and feels better than either. Combin- ing edgy, complex, but affecting, guitar/bass/keyboard melodies with some of the most clever, if abstract, verbiage this side of Elvis Costello, singer/guitarist Miller manages to hit every known nerve in the human body on the San Franciscan quintet's fourth LP. Nowhere is his skill exemplified better than on "The Picture of Agreeability," a sparse, 50-second synthesizer and voice piece that should be listed in the dictionary under the word "poignant." Miller paints a succinct portrait of how people too mature for their own good can rationalize a failed relationship - romantic or otherwise - amid a more developed chord structure than most bands can create in five minutes. Ditto for "Amelia, Have You Lost," which tells much the same story ("Next life, I'll be the young distraught/ You be the jungle man, now caught/ Amelia, I can't give what I haven't got") while tearing your heart eut and sending it sliding down an endless fret- board into the deepest pit of remorse. But not all is woe on Two Steps. Miller's "miserable whine" shifts from melancholy to mali- cious on the distortioa-infused "What the Whole World Wants" and the sardonic anthem to covetousness, "In a DeLorean." And if "Leilani" doesn't leave you feeling like you've just swallowed a whole chocolate cake, it's time for therapy. Most importantly, this is a musically fascinating album. Miller's trademark ability to write complex, interesting songs will probably turn off a lot of listeners - with all the dissonance, unexpected chord changes, and intermeshing lyrics on Two- Steps, it's almost impossible to follow any song on the first listen-through. But let those pinheads listen to the Georgia Satellites, then. Better things await those willing to withstand the rush of dissected phrases and oddly-married chords that define the bizarro world of Game Theory. Go ahead, stick your tongue in that sore. You know you want to., -Jim Poniewozik Circus Of Power Circus Of Power RCA Records "Street Rock": the latest effort by a publicity department to affix a label on a musical style. The image: "...tattoos, motorcycles, and ral faded jeans...". The sound: mostly Aerosmith and Stones. Examples: Faster Pussycat, Guns n' Roses, Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction, and, case in point, Circus of Power. They've got the guitars, the jeans, the cycles, and the tattoos. Especially tattoos - courtesy of famed New York tattoo artist Spider Webb's work, amongst others. What they don't have is Zodiac's self- parodying sense of humor, G 'n' R's all-out coolness, and most importantly, they don't have the songs. Iggy Pop contributes a song to the album, but considering his work lately, that ain't much to brag about. The rest of the songs ain't much to brag about either. So why bother? -Chuck Skarsaune Remember these guys? NO? You probably don't remember hair mousse, The Preppy Handbook, or the movie Valley Girl, either, then. But you connoisseurs of early '80s culture can relive junior high with A Flock of Seagulls tonight. "Space Age Love Song," "I Ran" and other such disyllabic hits as "Wishing," "Talking," "Transfer" and "Action." On their latest album, Story of a Young Heart, maybe they'll tell us what they've been do- ing and where they've been going for the last seven years. And could this be the bar which has brought us Firehose's post-punk riffs, a Blues Festival featuring gui- tar. and piano classics, R&B great Barrance Whitfield, and the Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band already this fall? The Blind Pig has long been a sym- bol of classic, well, at least, good, old rock and roll, R&B, reggae and even a touch of bluegrass now and then for many Ann Arborites. Not exactly a haven for Nectarine-style synthesizer bands. It reminds me of looking into my granola-style roommate's closet to find some cool, all-natural earth clothes to wear, and instead finding a pair of red and grey parachute pants with zippers up the sides and a fish- net tank top from Merry-go-Round. It was a shock, but, hey, we've all got skeletons in our closet and something embarrassing in our wardrobe that we just can't seem to throw away. So, put on your parachute pants and colored hair mousse. You can wash it out the next day and no one at school will know about this part of your past. Sunipou -«p,, sT ' Uo3 om su? -IJ se ,uotooui u oeqd Sid e pu linguos op wq ,, 'uonsanb oqI of Iomsu oqi 'AvA otp £g If you want to find out for yourself, or just check out the new hair styles, A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS will be appearing at the Blind Pig at 10 p.m. tonight.Tickets are $12. '$ 44 Talk Radio Continued from Page 7 hard-hitting host. Stu (Ken Weitzman) tells us that he used to work with Champlain in his early radio days when Champlain would purposely play the same song 25 times in a row to aggravate his boss. In a poignant scene Linda (Maryscott O'Connor) tells of her strange and sporadic love affair with Barry. And from Dan (Darrious Hilmon), we learn that "Barry Champlain" is just a personality created for entertainment and profit purposes. Throughout the play everyone says "It's just a show," but this "show" is Barry Champlain's life. He eventually becomes the victim of his own fagade. Now, who calls in to "Nighttalk with Barry Champlain?" Well, as Champlain himself would say, if these callers represent the people of this country, then we're in big trouble. (But then again, the sane and productive people in the world probably aren't listening to his show.) We hear a great variety of personalities: an obsessed bigot who calls Champlain a "Jew boy," a ex- * convict cabdriver who beats his kids with brushes and belts, a woman who's terrified of her garbage disposal, an immigrant who wants to see new episodes of I Love Lucy and won't believe that most of the cast is dead, and many more. Only seven actors play 29 different voices, and you'd never know that there weren't really 29 ac- tors playing the roles. Melissa Zafarana, Keith Fenton, Eric Wolf, Ella Foley, Darlene Zweng, Alex Irvine, and Mark Wilson all do an extraor- dinary job of creating distinctive personalities. Although they are not on stage, the audience can visualize these bizarre callers as they sit glued to their radio listening to Barry Champlain, hero or enemy. Amidst all the talk of controversial issues, Talk Radio has its share of hilarious moments. Jon Casson plays Kent, in a smashing, unforgettable performance. Kent is the typical spoiled, stoned and generally clueless teenager who thinks that life is one big rock video. After Kent confesses that his melodramatic story about his dying girlfriend was a fabrication, Champlain invites him down to the station (despite his boss' refusal) as a special guest. All Kent can say as he staggers into the station is an awestruck "Wow... this is great!" Champlain mocks him as a sad future of America and says "Are you on drugs? Or is this just your naturally moronic self?" Kent then proceeds to give his warped philosophy on freedom, revolution and fascism. Champlain probes Kent for some kind of emotional and intelligent reaction, but fails. "Kent, we discuss a lot of disturbing subjects on this show. Tragic things. Frightening things. Doesn't any of that bother you?" "No," Kent says. "Why not?" "It's just a show!" Kent laughs. Well, Talk Radio is not just a show. It suc- ceeds in providing us with a candid look at America, its problems, and most of all, its peo- ple. We see the man behind Barry Champlain and understand why he's angry and frustrated. "The world is shot to hell and you're all goners," he declares. Is it? You decide; take the dare and meet Barry Champlain in Talk Radio. p ( WHAT'S HAPPENING I q a TALK RADIO kicks off the second weekend of its run this Thursday, October 27th at 8 p.m. at the Trueblood Theatre. Friday and Saturday's performances are also at 8 p.m. and Sunday's is at 2 p.m. Student tickets are $S with ID. RECREATIONAL SPORTS *ROCKCL IMBING TRIP TO GRAND LEDGE PARK TRIP DATE: Saturday, October 29, 1988 PRE-TRIP MEETING: Wednesday, October 26 7pm North Campus Recreation Building Call 764-3967 for more information and to sign up. GET ITI FROM THE GRAPEVINE The Personal Column MICHIGAN DAILY CLASSIFIED ADS NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Fellowships for U.S. students at or near the beginning of their graduate study in science or engineering. ANN ARBOR'S CHURCH OF CHRIST (Followers of Jesus Christ using the Bible as our only guide and authority.) Invites YOU to Worship with Us I SUNDAY...9:30 AM, 6:00 PM 53 WEDNESDAY...7:30 PM COLLEGE CLASSES ON... CHRISTIAN EVIDENCES You CAN prove that God exists, and that Jesus Christ is His Soni TRANSPORTA TION INFO 662-9928 30 W. Stadium Blvd. Phone 662-2756 T 1w- N UCt M Stdum W. Stadium P~ineer Course EllA f1 r ' A A =Walk- "The most important political trial of the decade." Wm Kunstler Political repression in the United States: The Puerto Rico-Hartford 15 case A lecture by Elias Castro Defendant in the Puerto Rico Hartford 15 case October 26 7:30 TOTA L IS NOW -FIRING r managers and cashours. : inxible hors pal 0/ art-mC; "." ,,s ased on *Competitive wag experience *profit sha ring Plan a qualifiedlocations . Health, Life & DisabilitY Insurance - paid Vacatons * pensionlplan (Bene fits available for full-time r~i~e~ pin person at the f'llowing ApFA .Ifltions fromOaa X I