Page 9 - "-Michigan Daily - Friday, March 31, 1989 Bluefields: Musical architects that kick some flying buttress BY D. MARA LOWENSTEIN A friend handed me a tape a few days ago and asked me to "take a listen." At first I thought, "Oh great... another feebly made recording of anti-intellectual, post- progressive, bad garage-band rock that smacks of mediocrity." I put off listening to the tape for a few days. The cover looked great, but I wanted to make Caught between the Irish ballad, I the English Merseybeat and the New Southern sound of R.E.M., the Bluefields break the Ann Arbor Sound Barrier. sure I was in the right state of mind before panning the recording. When I finally listened to the tape, I was blown away. Far from the "garage" sound that I had expected I was treated to a sound that was reminiscent of both James Keelaghan and R.E.M. Caught between the Irish ballad, the English Merseybeat and the New Southern sound of R.E.M., the Bluefields are a local band that breaks the Ann Arbor Sound Barrier. The band started out in the summer of 1986 when Mike Campbell (vocals, guitar, and bass) and Dave Stanton (vocals and lead guitar) began to "jam." It wasn't until May of 1988 that Campbell and Stanton recruited Brian Ferriby to provide the percussion. Once the band was together they "started booking gigs." The band travels a lot, often playing in small towns and resorts in northern Michigan. They only recently be- gan playing in Ann Arbor; they delayed their debut because they "haven't figured out the (Ann Arbor) se- cret yet." The band's theory of composition is one of strength, patterns, and structures. The band contains one LSA student, Dave Manchel (guitar), and three ar- chitecture students, Campbell, Stanton, and Ferriby. Having three architecture students in the band is "purely coincidental," but the musical structure is not. The intricate patterns of melody and harmony are clearly defined by the strength of voice, be it human or instrumental. The music is vibrant, colorful, innova- tive, and even danceable. The group released its first recording last Friday. Highpower Creek displays the band's enveloping sound. The first track, "Art & History," thematically depicts Mike's view on human existence. "Life in this world, right now, is [full of] opportunity," he says, "but people are passing it up. People should be re- sponsible for their existence on this planet. A strong belief in protecting the environment and supporting human rights influences much of the songwriting without constricting it." Redheaded, impish, and strangely reminiscent of the hobbit, Campbell comments on the apolitical aspect of the band: "I think I am up to something, but I'm not quite sure what yet." The band is good, really good. So go hear them - really, hear them. THE BLUEFIELDS will be entertaining the masses during Happy Hour (5:30 - 8:30 pm) at the Apartment Lounge tonight. The Harmonettes, a division of the Women's Glee Club comprised of non-music majors, will perform in their first "big" show. Harmonettes Group to inspire humming BY AMI MEHTA COMBINING upbeat, slow, dance, modern, top-40, and '50s and '60s songs, the new and improved Harmonettes plan to present a show that will bring audiences to their feet and send them singing all the way home. The Harmonettes are a unique division of the Women's Glee Club. They were founded in the 1970s as a subdivision of that club and can be likened to the Friars. But the Harmonettes have a style all their own. The group consists of the new voices of eight undergraduate women at the University, consequently none of whom are music majors. They are simply part of an organization that promotes and broadens their enthusiasm for singing, and they hope it will carry over to their audiences. A self-directed group, the Harmonettes arrange all of their songs, combinations and dance steps themselves. According to Mary Randolph, a sophomore Harmonette in LSA, "It's sometimes hard with no director, but we try to make sure things are equal with solos and group numbers. We are very democratic." Mainly a profit organization as well, the Harmonettes have performed concerts for local businesses, the University Business School and campus fraternities and sororities. This upcoming concert is the first one primarily for the entire campus - their first "big" show. A lot of hard work and daily rehearsing has gone into this particular concert, according to Randolph, even more so than usual because of the new structure and new voices of the performers. "We don't really have a model to base ourselves upon," said Randolph, but this doesn't discourage her. Instead, it will encourage innovation and creative spark on the part of the Harmonettes. So, come out and see the new and improvedHarmonettes - you might just find yourself humming a tune or two all the way home. THE HARMONETTES will perform April 2 at 8 p.m. in the Michigan Union Ballroom. Tickets $2.50 at the door. music offers jazz and Blues - Quit playing that air sax in front of your bedroom window and come to the Eclipse Open Jazz Jam Session this Sunday from 8-11 p.m. at the U-Club. The sessions, which will be held every Sunday in April, are open to the public. Suggested donation $1. " Amazin' Blue, the 12-member a cape/Ia University choral group, will performaits spring concert tomorrow at 8 p.m. in the Michigan Union Ballroom. Admission is $2. Mona Continued from Page 8 know where she is from" seem to follow her. Mona is very much like Betty Blue, another strong-willed female main character in a French film. Betty also rebelled against society, and also lost, but neither film pushes the idea that rebellion is wrong. Instead, Vagabond 's director Agnes Varda makes it clear that it is society as a whole which is to blame for the non-acceptance of those peo- ple considered rebels. Sandrine Bonnaire is powerful in her portrayal of the vagabond, show- ing both the strong and weaks points in Mona's character, while alwayq being sincere. The score, composed by Joanna Bruzdowicz, is beautifully foreboding, building upon the at- mosphere created by Varda and Bon naire. The result is a touching, yet dour, story about a woman who re- presents a bit of each of us. VAGABOND is being presented by Cinema Guild Friday at 7 and 9 p.m. at MLB 3, and Saturday at 7 and,9 p.m. at MLB 4. Local bands, fraternity Rock For Life BY D. MARA LOWENSTEIN I hate rock charity bashes. I hate the Greek system. Putting the two together seems not only incompre- hensible, but, rather, impossible. I've always looked at the whole "charity rock bash" thing as some- how incongruous with the notion of charity itself. There appears to be something wrong with a whole group of rockers getting drunk and sexually charged-up over cancer re- search. I guess, however, that money is money, and if it's raised while celebrating life, well... I can't how- ever get over the notion that this is simply an excuse to have a big block party to celebrate the coming of spring and the resurgence of hor- mones. With this in mind - and cynicism in check - there is a rock charity bash coming to Ann Arbor tomorrow. "Rock for Life" is the name of the bash. Co-sponsored by CBS Records and the Delta Sigma Phi house, the bash will raise money for the T.J. Martel Foundation. The foundation, named for a CBS record executive's son who died of leukemia, was founded in 1975 by a small group of record executives, and provides financial support for cancer, AIDS, and leukemia research. The bash will close off South Forest with performances by Juice, Kenny Neal, Big Box of Nines, Ann B. Davis, and Mission Impossible. There will be lots of giveaways, in- cluding records, posters, sunglasses, etc., as well as volleyball, booze, etc. The bash will raise revenue through T-shirt sales, donations (i.e., bucket drives), and corporate sponsorship (Soho Soda). ROCK FOR LIFE takes place tomorrow noon-8 p.m. at the Delta Sigma Phi house, corner of Hill and S. Forest. 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