The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, October 4, 1994 - 9
* Pavement's early show sends
adults and kiddies home with
Leo Kotkee worked his acoustic magic
Guitar virtuoso played at the Ark
renewed faith in
By JENNIFER BUCKLEY
"God damn, it's late!" shouted a St.
Andrew's employee as the audience
filed out following Pavement's all-ages
show on Saturday evening. True, the
set, which began around 7:15 or so, had
rock 'n' roll
ended just in time for the junior-high
croydto make their bedtimes. Most of
the -night remained, however, for the
olde members of the crowd to search
for elsewhere. And after this show,
any ing else would be a letdown.
Aftera solid, hour-long set by open-
ing end Polvo, during which the bass-
ist brke andrestrung astring, all within
twodMinutes, Pavement took the stage.
Facng one very crowded house, lead
singer/guitarist Stephen Malkmus and
company launched into two-plus hours
of dissonant-but-catchy, glorious
racket. Pavement pleased the new kids
with ' Cut Your Hair" and "Gold
Soundz," the current singles off of their
excellent LP "Crooked Rain, Crooked
Rain.", Hard-core fans were satisfied
by rocking versions of older, less ra-
dio-friendly (and better) tunes like
"TwStates" and the slamming "Con-
duit fog Sale!" from 1991's masterful
"Slanted and Enchanted."
Malkmus radiated arrogant cool-
ness as he nailed down his bored, sub-
urban-white-boy vocals perfectly,
chewing gum the whole time. Shaggy
hair obscuring his face, he was in total
control of his songs and of his band.
Indeed, guitarist Scott "Spiral Stairs"
Kommberg and bassist Mark Ibold
played facing their lead singer for most
of the concert. Ibold provided a wel-
come contrast to Malkmus' stony, al-
most annoyed demeanor with his
happy-go-lucky attitude and enthusi-
astic playing.
Highlights of the set included "El-
evate Me Later" and "Summer Babe,"
which Kommberg sarcastically intro-
duced as "a song we wrote for Winona
Ryder. It's off the 'Reality Bites'
soundtrack." Even those who believed
him had to marvel at how Pavement
injected old material with such energy.
The gorgeous "Here" showcased
Malkmus' relentlessly intelligent lyr-
ics, while encore song "Boxed Elder"
from the EP "Westing (by Sextant and
Musket)" left a smile on every happily
bobbing head in the smoky place. Three
new songs from a forthcoming album
were brought out for a trial run and met
with enthusiasm.
Stretching theirmusical boundaries,
screwing up their lyrics, giving their
songs a surprising emotional pull, Pave-
ment sent the kids and adults alike
home with their belief in rock music
renewed.
By CHRIS O'CONNELL
The cozy confines of the Ark proved to be the perfect compliment to the
acoustic magic of guitar virtuoso Leo Kottke in the first of two shows last
Friday night. The air of the small performance room was full of anticipation
as the lights dimmed and he approached the stage armed with two acoustic
guitars and a head of disheveled hair. It was Kottke's first show at the Ark in
two years and it proved to be well
worth the wait.
Without so much as a nod to ac-
knowledge the audience he fumbled
Leo Kottke with his guitar for an awkward minute
then jumped in to three instrumental
The Ark arrangemnts.
September 30, 1994 Kottke made his complex rhythmi-
cal style of playing look easy, as if all
he had to do was show up and hold the
guitar and everything would take care of itself. At times his playing was full
of such frightful intensity that he appeared to be riding his guitar like a wild
horse.
After the third song he finally spoke to the audience, telling hilarious stream-
of-conscious stories, the rambling nature of which seemed to be fueled by a few
backstage nips of something stronger than Shirley Temples. His fingers proved
to be more eloquent than his stage presence, he understood this and let his fingers
do the talking when his stories started to fall apart. Each song he played held the
crowd captive and some were even moved to tears.
Known primarily as an instrumentalist over his 26-year career, Kottke
showed that he can write lyrics as well as play with the song "Room at the Top
of the Stairs," off his 27th and most recent album, "Peculiaroso," which is a
collaboration with singer/songwriter Ricki Lee Jones.
The highlight of the show was the encore for which he stumbled back on
stage to play a version of the Allman Brothers' song "Little Martha."
Afterwards the audience filed out of the Ark almost hypnotized by the mastery
of this virtuoso.
Leo Kottke hypnotized audiences at the Ark last Friday with his mastery.
1 I
Write for Daily Arts. Positions still
available in film, theater and fine arts.
$png
0
a sample review to 420 Maynard:
Alexandra (film)
Matt (fine arts)
Melissa (theater)
Ann Arbor's own Wig
will be at the Annex (next
to Schoolkids' in the
Michigan Theatre Bldg.)
Tuesday, Oct. 3 @ 4 pm
Get their brand new
album on sale
(CD = $10.99 and
cassette = $6.99)
& meet the band.
Such a deal!
CAN'T DECIDE ON A MAJOR??
then come to the
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
OPEN HOUSE
~ Meet students and faculty of the Physics Department.
b/ Discuss opportunities that exist for Physics majors.
: Learn about our two outstanding degree programs.
Wednesday, October 5, 1994
3:30-5:00 pm
North Campus Commons Blue Lounge
Refreshments available
See
them at Rick's
on Oct. 11
I . 1". -- I-M, Pow"m
777
N I 'I
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Associate Opportur
Wednesday, October 6
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Michigan Business School
School of Business Administr
Assembly Hall
Upper and Lower Hale Lobby
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