ARTS The Michigan Daily Wednesday, March 15, 1989 Page 5 'Garden grows following, hair BY MIKE RUBIN THIS evening's weather forecast calls for cold and rainy conditions, but that big bombastic boom like thunder squared and darkness doubled you'll hear at about 11:30 p.m. won't be meteorological in the slightest. Instead, the earth-splitting squall will be Seattle homeboys and A & M recording artists Soundgarden making their Ann Arbor debut at the Blind Pig. The shaggy quartet has been kicking out their version of arena rock without the Bic lighters for the last four years, roaring through a rather meteoric route to the thorny precipice of hair-wag success. On the basis of just a single and two EPs (1987'sScreaming Life and 1988's Kingdom of Come) for the grungier- than-thou Sub Pop label and Ultra- mega OK, their recent debut LP on SST, the band has been signed to perform their leadfooted whomp 'n' wallop for corporate giant A & M. If all this wasn't enough to ensure a loud and glorious future for the group, their selection by Guns N Poses' singer Axl Rose as one of his favorite bands (in the Rolling Stone celebrity poll) certainly has them earmarked for fame and fortune among mainstream mall rats and college radio coneheads alike. Despite some sonic similarities to Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, however, Soundgarden are not to be misconstrued as total '70s retreads or dinosaur descendents. Their hair may have reached Samsonite lengths, their riffs may be heavy as cement sneakers, and singer Chris Cornell's he-banshee whoops and wails may be reminiscent of King Diamond as much as Robert Plant, but the band displays plenty of characteristics of the post-hardcore era, not just the Pre-Cambrian. For starters, their use of tape samples and found sounds on Screaming Life's "Hand of God," their faithfully funky cover of the Ohio Players "Fopp," and Ultramega OK' 's two brief art/fart noise pieces, "665" and "667," are anything but an AOR cliche, and the band still retains the 0-90 m.p.h. in ten seconds ap- proach of their punk rock roots. In fact, Soundgarden at their best are a streamlined synthesis of the above- and underground musical develop- ments of the last ten years: heavy metal guitar whiplash run through a spiked leather gauntlet, or album rock radio blasted on a beat-to-shit jam box with a Minor Threat sticker on it. Despite the possibilites of en- croaching stadium superstardom, the band has maintained a healthy sense of humor about it all. They covered the somewhat-less-than-dusty chest- nut "Swallow My Pride" by fellow Seattle slime merchants Green River, they based an entire remix of "Fopp" around Raymond Burr's melodramatic mayday message in the original film version ofGodzilla, and their version of Howlin' Wolf's classic (and Grateful Dead standard) "Smokestack Lightning" contains a scratchy snip- pet of Sonic Youth's "Death Valley '69," an indie in-joke that refers back to the Sonic's inclusion of the Stooges' "Not Right" on their 1985 Bad Moon Rising LP. In the face of a veritable onslaught of stale-joke- and-rimshot bands like the Dead Milkmen and They Might Be Giants, flogged-horse gimmicks like disco revivals and polyester costumes, and super-serious death trippers intent on too much junkie business (you fill in the band here), it's refreshing indeed to find a group able to flex a musical muscle but still with the presence of mind to crack a smile. Barring the unlikely occurrence of a buying boycott (the result of a sludge rock backlash by short-haired fanzine editors), Soundgarden will emerge in the months to come as one of the "hot new bands" on the head- bang circuit. So avoid the crowd: catch them now, before the bleacher seats and t-shirt vendors spoil the view. SOUNDGARDEN will play at the Blind Pig tonight. Cover is $6. - , Morehouse confirms chorale traditions BY MARGIE HEINLEN FAITH is on the rise. You can see it in politics - the condemnation of drunken sinner John Tower; in literature - Islamic attacks on heretic Salman Rushdie; and even music - the evange- lism of George Michael. But I'm not talking }about puritanism or fundamentalism - I'm talking about soul. Morehouse College's Men's Choir has got more soul than Michael, is cer- tainly less commercial and God knows he wouldn't give a free concert, well, unless it was for a really, really good cause. These 50 sonorous male voices have per- formed in Africa, the Carribbean and throughout the United States and Canada. A capella and with accompaniment, Morehouse Choir selections range from folk to big band but focus on spiritu- University choral group the Friars first invited Morehouse here in 1968 to see how the boys from Atlanta do it. als by Black American composers, many from the repertoire of their own founder. Dr. Windall Whalum, famous music historian, organist, con- ductor and composer, founded the Morehouse College Choir and brought music to many other Black colleges. Ann Arbor has strong ties to the Morehouse group. University choral group the Friars first invited Morehouse here in 1968 to see how the boys from Atlanta do it. Present Conductor David Morrow is a graduate of the University School of Music, and our own, venerable vice Soundgarden, under the aegis of an A&M recording contract and a big thumbs-up from Axl Rose, could be on their way to being the biggest thing to come out of Seattle since the 747. BETTER THAN THE BATHROOM WALLS! c IGive your message a VeZOIY&21Touch... e ~tA itui 0 D t Personals 764-0557 FREE TUJTORING available in all lower level Math, Science, and Engineering Courses UGLi President of Student Services, Henry Johnson, can apparently carry a tune - he's an alumni of the Choir. If your Mom is like mine, you can tell her, yes, you went to church and gave (without won- dering if you are supporting any fundamentalist or puritanical causes) and not have to go to con- fession for lying later. Have a little faith and check it out. THE MOREHOUSE COLLEGE MEN'S CHOIR will do their own thing at the School of Music's Dean William Patterson's "Our Own Thing Chorale" tonight at the First Congrega- tional Church on E. William tonight at 7:30 p.m. There is no admission fee, however dona- tions are being taken at the door. They don't take Visa or Mastercard but checks are acceptable (seriously) and of course, the standard, hard cash. Rm. 307 East Lounge Mon,Wed,Thur BURSLEY Mon ,Wed SOUTH QUAD 7-11 pm 8-10 pm 8-10 pm 8-10 pm ZI. Dining Room Mon,Wed Auditions and Opportunities runs Wednesdays on the Michigan Daily Arts page. If you have information regarding any auditions or theater opportunities, contact Theater Editor Cherie Curry at 763-0379. FcGET AGREAT SUMMER JOB. GET TO THE POINT. Library A Service of Mon, Wed MARY MARKLEY the following Honor Societies: Tau Beta Pi Eta Kappa Nu Adams Continued from Page 1 ture. Adams explained the social rel- evance of his work (none), his prob- lems with deadlines (many), his fa- vorite Dire Straits song ("Tunnel of Love"), and how to make the infa- mous Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster (it has gin in it, but unfortunately, can't be made under normal atmo- spheric conditions). He interspersed the questions with anecdotes of his career as a writer and producer, thoughts on his favorite writers, and his feelings about his own writing. Unfortunately for his many fans, a project to make The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy into a major movie has been shelved, although an adaption is possible for The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul. Adams is currently producing a series of BBC radio segments on the lives of animals. One of these segments was recorded in China. From his experi- ences there he was able to explain to the audience the proper BBC proce- dure for waterproofing a microphone - wrapping a condom around it - and how difficult it is to buy con- doms in Shanghai when you are un- able to speak Chinese and must rely on hand gestures. In the future, Adams said that he wishes to create an "interactive multi-media" version of the Hitch- hiker's game. Although no future Hitchhiker's books are planned, Adams said he plans to keep writing until he runs out of ideas. For a man who created a starship that goes places by figur- ing out exactly how improbable it would be to go there, a planet where everybody claims to be a virgin (but isn't), and put a restaurant and cabaret at the End of the Universe, this could be a long career indeed. This summer, you could once again get the same old boring, just- make-some-j money job. Or a job that's so much fun, it has an amusement park built right in. Ajob at The Point. Cedar Point. Right now, Cedar Point is looking to fill 3200 posi- tions in over 100 different NO APPOINTMENT NECES DATE: Thurs., March 16, 1 TIME:10 am.-4 p.m. LOCATION: Michigan Unio Summer Job Fair CONTACT: The Summer Job Fair, March 16 in the Michigan Union areas of the park. We'll pay you well, and you'll have the opportunity to earn a bonus. We have a great hous- ing and recreation pro- gram. And it'sjust steps from a terrific Lake Erie beach. Make friends for life, and gain valuable lifetime ex- perience. Make this year's summer job Cedar Point. ;SARY 989 )n Get to the Point. CEDR PO!NT® u I NICHGA$ gambling, games, and a good time Alpha Pi Mu- ponsored in part by: GENERAL ELECTRIC,UMEC,MSA Friday, March 17 3:00 p.m. Keynote Address Phyllis Frelich Broadway Star of Children of a Lesser God Mendelssohn Theatre 4:15 p.m. Lecture/Demonstration "Sign to Word - Word to Sign" Mendelssohn Theatre 8:00 p.m. Performance "A Handful of Voices" School of Music Recital Hall Saturday, March 18 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Panel discussion "Linguistic and Cultural Considerations of Sign Language Theatre" Trueblood Theatre 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Workshop led by National Theatre of the Deaf Trueblood Theatre 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Panel Discussion "Performance Aesthetics of Sign Language Theatre" Trueblood Theatre The above program is open to the public at no cost. 8:00 p.m. Performance King of Hearts Power Center Tickets are $15, available at the Michigan Union Box Office Staged Hands: Sign Language Translation in the Theatre Wednesday, March 15 9:30pm Battle of the Bands Thursday, March 16 9:30pm Battle of the Bands Friday, March 17 9:00pm Jazz Cafe Saturday, March 18* 8:00pm Arcade Battle of the Bands Finals Carnival Jostens Gold Sale. For one week only. Order and save on the gold ring of your choice. I