____- __RTS The Michigan Daily Wednesday, January 24,1990 Red Hots burn for Ozone BY BRAD HEAVNER IT'S happening again. Glory be. Last year's benefit was a genuine house rocker, not to mention that it raised money for one of Ann Arbor's outstanding public services. And with this year's show featuring an important anniversary plus some of Ann Arbor's best known blues artists, it appears that another evening of goodwill and sizzling sounds is in store. They're calling it the "Ozone House20th Birthday Benefit" and once again the headliner is C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band. They brought the house down last year and if they remain true to form they're sure to do it again. In addition, this year's event will fea- ture Peter Madcat Ruth and Catfish Keith. These two top-notch solo musicians playing together on one stage is guaranteed to put the audi- ence in blues heaven. The organiza- lkion's own Ozone House Band will mark its debut as well. Ozone House has been serving runaway and homeless youth and their families in the Ann Ar- bor/Ypsilanti area since 1969. They provide individual and family coun- seling; emergency food, clothing and shelter; temporary foster care; parent and youth support groups; a 24-hour crisis line; community presentations and volunteer training; and an Inde- pendent Living Program for home- less youth. In recent years, they have expanded their services to include the Substance Free Support Program and Miller House, a transitional living group home for 16- to 19-year-old homeless people. Clayton Joseph Chenier is the son of the man recognized as the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier. C.J. was the first in his family to be born outside of Louisiana and, although he grew up independent of his father's career, he obviously had that New Orleans swing in his blood. He led R&B bands in his youth as a saxophonist, also filling in on any other instrument he could get his hands on. According the the liner notes on his first record, one day in 1978, plays a Soprano brand accordion that his father gave him about a week be- fore his death. C.J.'s style differs somewhat from his father's, given his R&B background. Their album, "Let Me in Your Heart," features zydeco mu- sic tinged with various influences and has sold well throughout the U.S. . Sticking with Southern musical styles, Madcat Ruth is Ann Arbor's Ruth's bandmate for the benefit, guitarist Catfish Keith, specializes in Delta Blues, Hokum, and Down Island numbers. His first nationally distributed album has been a great success and the collaboration with Ruth is sure to be one of those rare live jubilees that it hurts to miss. The benefit serves as the kickoff of Ruth's and Keith's grand five-night Clayton Joseph Chenier is the son of the man recognized as the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier. C.J. was the first in his family to be born outside of Louisiana and, although he grew up independent of his father's career, he obviously had that New Orleans swing in his blood. Page 8 UMASC artists strike abalance BY RONA SHERAMY Many Asian Americans feel "white American" inside and look "yellow Asian" outside. The dichotomy creates inner conflict and confusion. Many wish to feel completely American. Two criteria to feeling American: not only am American but look American as well. Changing one's look is difficult, but in Art, it is easy. - Jong Kim, LSA senior, in "The Banana Syndrome" In the University of Michigan Asian Student Coalition's (UMASC) third annual art show entitled "Striking a Balance - Asian and American," contributing artist Jong Kim describes the difficulty of feeling American while looking Asian. In his work, Manifestation of a Banana Syndrome, Kim paints a stereotypical American - a blond, blue-eyed male - in front of the American flag. According to Kim, some Asian Americans feel their features prevent them from being accepted completely as Americans, and Manifestation is representative of this. The Banana Syndrome - being yellow on the outside but white and all-American on the inside - results in frustration and inner turmoil, he adds. Kim's painting easily transforms the Asian figure into someone "all- American." But, Kim asserts, such a denial of cultural background does not resolve the conflict. Asians should not have to peel off or paint over the layers of their skin to reveal an acceptable, American core. Rather, he said, they should be accepted as both Asians and Americans with the freedom to express each cultural identity. Christopher Yin, a senior in the School of Art, echoes the tension of- the Banana Syndrome in his logo design for the Asian American Association. The display of Yin's design fits well into the exhibit because the logo also addresses the relationship between the East and the West. Yin's design combines Asian-style lettering that resembles quill and ink calligraphy with Western-style lettering that looks like typewritten print. The logo, consisting only of the letters "AAA," asserts a message of both conflict and harmony. While the eastern "A" differs greatly from the western "A," the letters still form a smooth, gradual line of transition. The design presents the uniqueness and the union of each printing style and indeed strikes a balance between East and West. In contrast to Kim's painting and Yin's logo, Rich Yun's sculptures and stoneware do not make an overt statement about being Asian and American. As Yun describes, his pieces do not have "a conscious Asian American quality," as it is difficult to embody cultural identity in a single artisitic piece. Yun displays a unique style in the exhibit, though, through three curvaceous, bulbous stoneware pieces. See ART, page 9 No, they're not about to get blasted by Greenpeace for breaking environ- mental codes. C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band are actually perpetuating the trend of rockin' for a cause. Michigan tour. After that, the duo will likely exist only as a memory for those who saw one of the shows. The good done for Ozone House, however, will live on. C.J. CHENIER, MADCAT RUTH WITH CA TFISH KEITH, AND THE OZONE HOUSE BAND will per- form at the Ozone House Benefit, tonight at the Blind Pig at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance at Schoolkids, Herb David, and PJ's Used Records; $10 at the door. Clifton phoned C.J.'s mother. "Tell him to meet me in Bridge City," he said of his son, "I'm takin' himon the road with me." After four years as a member of the Red Hots, C.J. was appointed band leader. The next year, Clifton began teaching him to play the accordion. Today, C.J. claim to national blues fame. He has been blowing a mean harp in and beyond this area for many years and anyone who has seen one of his live performances with The Pressure Cooker knows the power with which he can get an entire hall full of peo- ple on its feet. eeipe Thursday January 25 7:30 PM Pond Room Michigan Union m m Mas MeetI ing I ARE YOU THICK AND TIRED OF IT? The Weight Control Clinic at The University of Michigan Interested in: r r- Nutrition Seminars, Exercise Classes, Counseling, Body Composition Testing, Computer Diet Analysis, Personal Exercise Training -I 11 I ,s ., S " concert promotion, sound production, graphic arts, publications, booking. meeting jazz crtists. learning about Jaz, or just hearing some great live music? I * Winter Program Begins January 29, 1990 Registration by Appointment January 8-25 * Winter Open House, January 18, 7-8pm Room 1250 Central Campus Recreation Building 747-2722 OVERWHELMED BY THE SEARCH FOR HOUSING? LET US END YOUR SEARCH. 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