ARTS Friday, September 8, 1989 The Michigan Doily Page 'Blind swine,wish were mine...' you r , + r rg7r ,.,.. *. r°e" 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 ~ I' r 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% IBM COMPATiBED Computer 5 7 System tONLY $28/MONTH Expand your scholastic capabilities with this 640K computer system! Rgns most popular IBM® programs. Two 5 /4" disk drives. #PB500F Monitor sold separately. 'It le You're 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, stereos, microwaves, refrigerators, and more make High and a study in efficiency! SHAR U OR SIENTIFIC $124* Michigan Daily SPO-RTS ?63-0376 tONLY $20/MONTH Sharp Electronic Typewriter Daisywheel print. Auto lift-off correction. Auto return. #PA3100 $66* Cube Fridge Door stor- age. Freezer with two ice trays. 1.5 c u . ft. 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