The MichiganDaily - Weekend etc. - Tuesday, February 17, 1993 - 5 'Not born in the U.S.A.: Moxy Fruvous cross By TOM ERLEWINE When it comes right down to it, there's never been a Canadian Inva- sion of America. Sure, there have been a number of fine bands from the Great North - from Neil Young and ost of the Band to Bryan Adams and e Guess Who -but that's only four in the history of popular music. Now that we're into the '90s, things might change. We're currently experienc- ing the appalling success of the ex-, ceedingly smarmy Crash Test Dum- mies, but more importantly, the Ca- nadian sensation Moxy Fruvous has just released their first album, "Bargainville," and have begun their *st U.S. tour, opening for former Haircut 100 member Nick Heyward. Quite frankly, Moxy Fruvous are like no other band in popular music. Equal parts pop, folk, comedy and theater, Fruvous sound like Mark Russell fronting the Kingston Trio with origi- nal songs co-written with Paul McCartney. In short, Fruvous are not even close to being a normal, MTV- friendly rock 'n' roll band. "What we do is quite different from the status quo," explained Jean Ghomeshi, drummer and vocalist for the quartet. "I usually just say we're sort of a neo-vaudevillian hybrid of musical theater and political satire and folk music and pop music. The only funny thing about being called a pop group is that we're not exactly the kind of group that lands in America and has commercial hit radio written all over us. We've gone platinum in Canada." "Bargainville" was released six months ago in Canada; since then, Moxy Fruvous have not only gone platinum, but have had several radio hits and packed concert halls across the country. "The fact that we've gone platinum shouldn't make you think that we're a huge radio band," Ghomeshi clarified. "I think we went platinum despite of radio . We do get played on the radio now in Canada and it's funny because as late as a couple of years ago we were still busking in the streets. If you were going to come up to me and say,'You guys are going to be considered a pop band in a couple of years,' I would have collapsed in laughter." Indeed, Moxy Fruvous have not followed the expected path to star- dom. While in college three years ago, the band got together not be- cause they wanted to change the course of pop music, but because they wanted to have some fun. "I don't think it was originally intended to be anything," remembered Ghomeshi. "We were four guys who sort of knew each other before, then three and a half years ago we all got together, and we all played different instruments and we decided, 'Why don't we just start by singing.' We didn't have any sort of agenda but we had a general antipathy for the general status quo. "Besides that, it was completely reflective of our interests. A couple of us are really interested in politics, so there's political satire in the set. There's amusical theater background in the group, there's a folk back- ground in the group and these things just develop. I would even go further to say one thing that is interesting about this group is that never at any point did we come together with the thought, 'Let's form a band and try to score a big record deal and try to become rock stars.' So it's kind of ironic we're landing in America for the first time on Atlantic Records." For a band that didn't care about stardom, Moxy Fruvous' rise to the top of the Canadian charts has been very smooth. In the fall of 1990, a radio executive spotted them busking (entertaining in the street, pub or sub- way) and had them perform during the drive-time show. A year later, they began playing indoor dates; a year after that, their first cassette was released and they found themselves opening for the likes of Bob Dylan, Bryan Adams and Extreme. In the fall of '92, the Fruvous were voted Best New Central Canadian Group in the CASBYs, the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys. Finally, in 1993, their debut album was released to enthusi- astic reception. Now, the Moxy Fruvous are set to conquer America. They have only played a few dates in the U.S. so far - a couple in New York and one for the prestigious National Public Radio show, "Mountain Stage." "It's pretty wild being here," marveled Ghomeshi. "It's like on your Etch-A-Sketch - you've cleaned the screen and you're starting again. People don't know us here, and that's a real challenge and I think that's very good for our group." Fortunately, their tour offers American audiences a true, complete picture of the deceptively goofy, yet complex, band. "I think that one of the really strong things about the group, if I were to identify our fortd, is probably our live show," said Ghomeshi. "To a large extent, it's important for people to see the live show, I think, to really get it. It's always flattering when somebody hears 'Bargainville' and falls in love with the group, but I think for Fruvous virgins to really get it, they need to see us live because it all comes together - there's theatrics, there's the four guys in-your-face singing. I think that's something we want to use tele- vision and video to convey." Some Canadian critics have won- dered iftheirhumoris too regional for the audience in the States, but the band isn't worried at all. "We have written some Canadian satire," ex- plained Ghomeshi, "and some people in Canada have said, 'Are people go- ing to get this in the States?' As if we're going to the moon or some- thing. I mean, it's a different culture in many ways but I think we're going to do just as well in the States. What we plan to do is keep writing. What we have our core songs we perform - the songs on'Bargainville' - but we are always writing satirical songs and catering some song during the show - a little bit of the show is always improv and we always cater border some lyrics - we write a song the day before or a few hours before the show about where we are playing. We just wrote a song about Rush Limbaugh and we played it on'Mountain Stage,' the NPR show, and they freaked, they really liked it and we're going to be playing it quite a bit on the road." Moxy Fruvous' quest for sponta- neity and humor means that they're not for everyone's taste, but they have managed to win over the vast popula- tion of Canada. Hopefully, American audiences will be receptive to their pretty, endearing, satirical pop. MOXY FRUVOUS will be opening for Nick Heyward and Flop at St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit this Sunday, February 20. Call 961- MELT for details. THURSDAYS WOMEN IN - $ 00 BUIE JL~i MLSON 'PITCH.DRINKS FRIDAY SATURDAY ALL NIGHT OWE Trinidad Tripoli O s g STEEL BAND Tica and Regan keep a look out for all the latest hits from Liberty Street Video. Moxy Fruvous (Michael Ford, Murray Foster, Jean Ghomeshi and David Matheson) have a platinum album in Canada. ealth Issues and Answers These questions were taken from the Computer Health Information Program on MTS. UMCHIP is an anonymous server available from UMnet At the *Which Host' prompt, type: UM-CHIP. (Q.) What are some symptoms of migraine headaches? (A.) Migraine headaches are usually located over the temple on one side of the head and are usually throbbing and severe. Some migraine sufferers are forewarned of the migraine by an aura of light. Some people lose vision in one or both eyes, have tingling in the fingers and tongue, mild confusion and slurred speech. The migraine with aura is followed by a pounding headache that always strikes the same side. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and sensitivity to light. They may last several hours or days. There are different varieties of migraines and symptoms can vary from person to person and from time to time. (Q.) What causes acne? (A.) The cause of acne at any age is not completely known, but it does affect 70-90% of the population. It tends to be familial and is usually worse in the teenage years when there is rapid growth of oil glands. Worry and stress do not cause acne, but may make it worse. Other things that seem to aggravate acne are the use of oil-based creams or cosmetics, heat and humidity, constantly touching one's face or rubbing hard with towels or facial scrubbers which can irritate and block the oil ducts. Certain medications can make acne worse. Although eating greasy foods or chocolate have not been proven to cause acne, dermatologists recommend avoiding any particular foods that seem to cause a flare-up. Teenagers are more likely to get acne on the back, face, chest and upper arms, while adult's acne is Now j utrdud b. a and. )w. usually confined to the face. ijointly produced by MSA and UHS. m