ARTS
Friday, September 8, 1989
The Michigan Doily
Page
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BY MARK SWARTZ
You don't have to tell me. I know all about it.
You went to work and found another man doing
your job. Then you went home and found another
man loving your woman. You got the blues. You
got enough blues for the whole weekend.
So does the Pig. The Blind Pig, which has
hosted the finest in reggae, rock, and blues musie
on its cozy stage for two decades, is staging a
Grand Re-Opening to celebrate its recent expan-
sions and remodeling. There are two big shows
this weekend, starring Junior Wells tonight and
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown tomorrow night.
Harpman and vocalist Junior Wells has been a
key figure in the blues scene ever since he replaced
Little Walter in the famous Muddy Waters' band in
1954. A sampling of album titles from his solo
career spells it out: Hoodoo Man Blues, Southside
Blues Jam, Messing with the Blues. These are
loud, electric, beer-guzzling Chicago blues. His
longtime playmate, guitarist Buddy Guy, won't be
around; he's too busy running his own blues joint
in the Windy City. But the loss won't be felt too
badly. Wells promises to crank out a sweaty night
of houserockin' with his crack band.
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, a.k.a. the San
Antonio Ballbuster, puts it like this on the back of
The Blind Pig's Grand Re-Opening to feature et,
Junior Wells and Clarence 'Gatemouth' Browrn
his 1986 LP, Real Life: "The roots of American
music started out from forcing people to go where
they didn't want to go - had no business going.
These people were whipped, and when they cried
they cried out in harmony. That's what the blues
is right there." The boundaries of that simple, po-
etic thought encompass a galaxy of forms and
styles, and Gatemouth is a master of them all.
Drawing on the groundbreaking traditions of some
of the true American heroes like Duke, Louis, and
Muddy, he impossibly crosses a jazz orchestra
swing with zydeco stomp with a gospel wail and
then shrugs it all off as "a natural form of pray-
ing."
In Gatemouth's 35 years of praying through the
music, he's acquired a mastery of not only the six-
string ("I can take my guitar and have a conversa-
tion.with you," he brags) but also fiddle, harmon-
ica, viola, and drums. In concert, he switches from
one to the other as effortlessly as he switches gen-
res of music. Anybody who saw the show last year
at Rick's American Caf6 knows that at the grand
old age of 65, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown still
knows how to have a good time.
If you're going to make either one of these
shows, make sure you get there by 8 p.it
Virtually all of the stars of Ann Arbor's own ie-
pressive blues scene will be opening up the gig
Before Junior Wells tonight, Joanna Conner ard
Her Blues Masters, "Madcat" Ruth's Pressit S
Cooker, and the Steve Nardella Rock 'n' Roll Ttid'
will all make appearances. Tomorrow night it
the Silvertones, a trio composed of George Bedard,'
Steve Nardella, and pianist/visionary Mr. B.
"Madcat," and Joanna Conner will also play ti3
morrow.
These two shows kick off what promises to t
the best year ever at a better-than-ever Blind PiJ
This month alone no less than Commander Cod,
Yellowman, the Band of Susans, and Laughitfl
Hyenas will swing into the Pig..4"
After Happy Hour tonight, which runs 6-8 p:r
is the first leg of the Grand Re-Opening starri0
JUNIOR WELLS. Tickets at $12.50 are availae
at the Union. The performances tomorrow night,
starring CLARENCE "GATEMOUTI" BROW
begin at 8:30 p.m. The Blind Pig is located at 2f
South First Street. Z
_
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, a blues artist with an arsenal of in-
struments and a unique style of praying, will hold services at the Blind
Pig's Grand Re-Opening tomorrow night.
Monday Night is "Margarita Night"
Happy Hour, 4-7 pm, Mon.-Fri.
4890 Washtenaw (1 mile E. of US 23)
Open Mon.-Thurs., 11-10; Fri.-Sat., 11-11; Closed Sun.
Arts for the Masses
Come on, haven't you always wanted to impose your great
taste onto everyone around you? Let the world know that you
liked Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and think that 10,000
Maniacs can rot in hell? Grab your chance while you can,
because once you're out of college you'll regret missing this big
chance for fame. Write about music, books, art, theater, film, or
anything vaguely art-like.
It's easy! Just come to the second
floor of 420 Maynard St. at 1:00 this
University
shows greats
gratis
rithe
tjight ~
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ii
v;
Sunday.
We'll talk. You'll write.
Save Moiey
SIERSTORES
PRICES GOOD THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 14,1989.
ACKARDSBELL -.
America grew up listening to us. It still doe%
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College
WANTED
USHERS
For Major Events Concerts
MASS MEETING
Tuesday, Sept. 12 7:30pm
Anderson Rooms, Michigan Union
VETERAN USHERS- Those who have ushered
Major Events concerts in the past.
NEW USHERS- Those who would like to usher
Major Events concerts.
or
It's not the
struggling film
group of the
month, but it's
free
The Center for Japanese Studies will
show 19 films by master directo~
Kenji Mizoguchi on Friday nightd
throughout the . course of thd
semester. The festival, titled "Thd
Complete Mizoguchi," begind
tonight at 7 p.m. with The Wate,
Magician. All showings are at Lorc|
Hall, all will begin at 7 m., and
admission is always free.
The University's Program in Filrr
and Video Studies will attempt to
compensate for the -oft-lamented ebb|
of film viewing opportunities in Ann,
Arbor. The Film Classics Series
kicks off Sunday night at 7 p.m. in
Lorch Hall with The Bicycle Thief.
Showings of the film greats will be
every Sunday at 7 p.m. at either
Lorch Hall or the Michigan Theater,
and admission is free.
At Highland, we can help you
save your way through college!
Guaranteed low prices on
computers, word processors, TVs,
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