ARTS
Monday, January 30, 1989
The Michigan Daily
Page 7
Opossums don't
play dead
BY JIM PONIEWOZIK
T ONIGHT, the Opossums play at
Rick's American Cafe. Well, not ex-
actly the Opossums - not if you
pay attention to the concert calendar
posted at Rick's. It refers to them as
"Folkminers minus Sam.",
The Opossums, however, don't
believe that they're "minus' any-
thing.
Yes, three of the members of the
Chelsea-based band used to be in the
Folkminers. Yes, they used to be the
instrumentalists who put the jangle
behind lead singer/songwriter Sam
,,Apides' folk-rock reflections. Yes,
.hey reformed under the new name
two months ago after Lapides left to
pursue his strummings in Boston.
But they're not the Folkminers.
They're not, they're not, they're not.
OK, maybe this sounds like
overkill. But when your band is try-
ing to form a new identity while be-
ing saddled with the history of one of
the most-known local bands in recent
years - well, sometimes you've got
to fight overkill with overkill.
"A lot of people liked us (as the
Folkminers)," says guitarist/ song-
writer Marty Fletcher. "But a lot of
people hated us." And toward the end
of their previous incarnation, the
current Opossums members weren't
sure they felt that great about
themselves, either. Though their
crisp, acoustic/electric, generally
midtempo rock sound, along with
Lapides' intelligent introspective
lyrics won them a lot of respect, it
also gave them a tendency to be -
as Fletcher puts it - "mopey."
"I was talking to (former Joe's
Star Lounge owner) Joe Tiboni, and
he was really ripping on the Folk-
miners... it'd be 12:30 at night and
we'd be playing 'Wish You Were
Here,"' said Fletcher.
The Opossums, on the other
hand, are a different animal. As they
demonstrated while opening for the
Holy Cows last Monday at the Blind
Pig, the band had been hiding a steel
fist underneath the buckskin glove
they played with under Lapides.
They opened with "In and Out," a
song written by new lead singer/
songwriter/rhythm guitarist Mark
Neff, which showed them playing
both harder and poppier than they
ever did as the Folkminers.
The song, and the entire show,
showed both Tom Dunham's bass
and Randy Sabo's drumming coming
across strong and hard, as did
Fletcher's ringing electric and
powerful twelve-string (no, that's not
an oxymoron). The set showcased
not only the band's more aggressive
style, but also Neff's Irish-Spring-
fresh, earnest-but-powerful vocals, as
well as his ability to write strong
pop songs that are plaintive without
being whiny.
Neff is not exactly new to the
band. A longtime friend of Fletch-
See 'sums, Page 9
Bizarre Verge
defies disbeli~ef
BY BETH COLQUIT
ON The Verge is not a traditional sort of play, although given its sub-
title, The geography of yearning, one could probably be led to expect
anything. It is somewhat surreal, delightfully comical, and wistful
with just a little poignancy thrown in for spice.
The play opened on a black stage. Except for personal props, like pith
helmets and backpacks, there was no set. There were a few times when
trees and bushes were necessary, which were provided by members of the
stage crew covered in burlap. A stream was represented very creatively by
a long, narrow piece of white shimmery material which was rippled from
both ends of the stage by two crew members. I found the set to be perfect
for the needs of the play, since the vast unexplored wilderness ("terra
incognita") did not try to adhere to reality.
The principal characters, three 19th century female explorers, began in
Africa, then moved to a rainforest jungle, and then to great chasms,
snowstorms and ice which one would expect to find in the Himalayas.
The journey ended in what was probably a small town somewhere in
1955, specifically "Nicky Paradise's Casino, Bar and Grill."
See Verge, Page 8
CLASSIFIED ADS
TICKETS
S~BUSINESS SERVICES
A job that makes you think...
You didn't come to U of M thinking it would
be eas . Why take a job shelving books at the
SGay? Lclfirm is adding to our staff of
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tants. 665 -6063.
PLANNING A VACATION or sabbatical?
Mature, responsible and experienced house-
,sitter with excellent references. Contact Vir-
ginia Archer days 668-7652 eves. 769-7159.
GOING PLACES
S * break NASSAU/PARADISE IS-
From $299.00 Package includes: Roundtrip
air, transfers, 7 nights hotel, beach parties,
free lunch, cruise, free admission to night-
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Cancun packages also available!! Contact
Doug 665 -5441, Eric 995-3827 or Kiki 769-
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1-800-23 -0113 or (20)91-3330.
SPRING BREAK air to Aspen $318
roundtrip. Feb 25-March 4. Faber Travel
mer of Liberty and Maynard) 769-9011.
42
GOING PLACES
PERSONAL
,1 RT TICKET ON NW TO AND FROM
+ANYWHERE in U.S. Available ANYTIME
'~including Spring Break). $250 o.b.o. 747-
DAYTONA BEACH
1,7 nights at the Whitehall Inn: $119. w/trans.
9 $199. On the beach center of strip, poolside
bars, daily parties and more. Sign-up deadline
for thesow prices: Feb. 4 Call Don: 996-
0348.
DETROIT-LOS ANGELES O.W. 2/24 $150
or B.O. Call Linda anytime 747-8373.
'GO SKIING! Cabins w/ fireplace. Resort lo-
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IMAGINE YOURSELF parasailing in sunny
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Don't you deserve it ??
MARCO ISLE., FLA. - On beach, oceanfront
apt. 2 bdrm., pool, cable acuzzi. Also 1
~bdrm., sleeps 4. 813-642-5483.
ORIENT SUPERFARES SAVE 30%+
$bangkok fr. $859, Hong Kong fr. $759,
SSeofr. $729 Tai ai fr. $751 Tokyo fr.
4 ;$752. REGENY TRAVEL, 209 S. State.
Call 665-6122 for details.
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND $254
Spring Break-Join us. Alisa 764-1763.
SPRING BREAK
Acapulco fr. $489. Bahamas fr. $419. Ja-
maica fr. $509. Puerto Vallarta fr. $549. Ask
~about ACAPULCO Hotel El Cano SPE-
CIAL. REGENCY TRAVEL, 209 S. State.
Call 665-6122 for details.
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Sail 50 ft. Yachts in the Bahamas. Food in-
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SPRING BREAK IN CANCUN!
from $547 includes roundtrip air, 7 nights
* beach front hotel & private a 1 Call
Michele 761-5244 or La 769-557 now!
Limited space available.
CUPID'S HELPER
Dearest Carol,
Through every tral
Our love has he d true
Only time will show
If we will finish this mile
To weather this too
Is my single hope
Love, Joe
P.S. Forever is a long time.
The longer the better.
CUPIDS
are ready to shoot
arrows into your
loved one's heart!
Put a Valentine in
the Daily.
764-0557
I 7
X to NY Metro-Laguardia 2/24. Price ne-
gotiable-Must sell. Call 761-7460.
WANTED-Basketball tickets for MSU, W
Iowa, &fll. games. Call 994-0637.
WANTED: U-M Basketball tickets. Blue tier
only. Call 668-6282.
WANTED: one pair of good Blue seats. Call
463-8686.
MISCELLANEOUS
GREAT PARKING SPACE for rent! Excel-
lent location near central campus. Call 769-
8875.
ROOMMATES
AVAILABLE NOW- 1 rm. in 3-bdrm .Hill
& State. Big, pkg. fum. all util., $2B0 til
Aug., monthly OK. YTIck X68-8132.
ONE ROOM AVAILABLE NOW.
.monthly or semester basis. Located on S.
Forest. Cheap rent. Call 662-5446 ask for Jeff.
OWN ROOM AVAILABLE in 2 bdrm. apt.
$200/mo. 415 E. Hoover Apt. 304. Call Jim
or Greg at 769-6936.
TWO GIRLS seek fall housing. Prefer single
rooms. Call 930-0327. Thanksl
* * ATTENTION: Supreme Course Tran-
. scripts, the LS&A lecture notetaking service,
has the following notes avail, at Alpha-
grapics Printshops at 715 N. Univ.:Anthro
16f,Astro 101/1 I, Astro 102/112, Bio 100,
Bio 224, Bio 325 Chem 123 Comm 103,
Comm 202, Econ 201, Econ 2b2, Econ 401,
Geog 415 Geol 105 Geol 106, Hist 122,
Hist 160, 11ist 161, HArt 102, Poll Sci 101,
Poli Sci 140 Poli Sci 353, Physics 126,
Physics 140. all 663-6816 for more info.
* RUSH TKE RUSH TKE *
* RUSH TKE RUSH TKE *
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L RUSH TKE RUSH TKE *
* TAU KAPPA EPSILON WE-;TER RUSH
'89 *
* MICH{IGAN UNION BALLROOM *
* SUNDAY, JAN.29 5:00-8:00 PM *
* MON.-WED. JAN. 30-FEB. 1 7-10 PM *
* FEELING LONELY homesick or blue?
Sully's has genuine H&hi Bagels from N.Y.
AFFORDABLE ANSWER TO OVER-
PRICED LECTURE NOTES: 1st Class
Notes at Dollar Bill Copying, 611 Church,
665-9200. BioAnthro 161, Chem. 123,
Comm. 103, Hist. 122 Hist. of Art 102,
$17.00; Hist 160 161 'Po;li. Sci. 140, 353,
$14.50; Econ 201, 201, Geology 105, 106,
$11.00.
ALL KINDS OF FANCY SOAPS. Village
Apothecary. 11125S. University.
HALF-PRICE SALE at Sully's. All food
items half-price after 5 pm and all day Sun-
day from Jan. 22 to Jan. 31.
MODELS/ACTORS WANTED for TV &
print work. M/F. No experience. 663-6398.
Michael Jeff reys Model & Talent Agency.
FW.
MUSICAL
BANDS-BORED RECORDS is looking for
original/garage music to include on its mid-
west compilation roject. Send tape and a
brief bio to Bored Records 1908 Salem St.,
Lafayette, IN 47904. Entries must be post-
marked by Feb. 15.
TRUMPET AND JAZZ Im rovisation
lessons. For more info., call Larryr96-4186.
WE NEED A SINGER AND A DRUM-
MERi Talented, dedicated. Smiths, Cure,
REM, Lemon Drops, Chain, etc. Call 663-
79 17.
WANTED: STUDENT
PHONATHON
CALLERS
Part Time Employment
PERSONAL
GIANT FLEA MARKET
Used household items, fumiture,
jewelry, vintage clothing, junque,
150 dealers, 6-10 Fri. eve.,
10 am-6 pm Sat. & Sun.,
214 E. Mlchigan at Park, Downtown Ypsanti,
487-5890, 971-7676.
The School of Education will interview students by phone who will
be hired to call alumni nationwide for an alumni fundraising
phonathon.
* Phonathon held Sunday through Thursday, February 14 - March 24,
excluding Spring Break
" Callers will be expected to work two of the five nights each week
with some opportunity for additional hours
* $5.00 per hour, incentives, bonus pay, plus great work experience
For interviews, call 763-4060 TODAY!!!
The University of Michigan is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer.
INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS FOR:
Spring-Summer 1989
Study Abroad Programs are as follows:
TICKETS
7:40 PM, Feb. 23 AR LaGuardia RET March
6 at 9:35 AM. $190. 761-5462.
ONE ROUND TRIP TICKET - on Conti-
nental Airlines. Anywhere on the mainland.
Best offer taken. Call Evan 662-0428.
;I. ,
_
. . .
yi
PARIS, SPRING
Monday January 30, 4:00 P.M.
MLB 4th Floor Commons
FLORENCE,
SUMMER
Tuesday January 31, 4:00 P.M.
MLB 4th Floor Commons
SEVILLE,
SUMMER
Tuesday January 31, 4:00 P.M.
MLB Room B-116
- I U .