The Michigan Daily - Weekend etc. - Thursday, November 10, 1994 - 5 osstonespartytoward us in a plaid dream By BRIAN A. GNATT that the only thing they can expect is the unexpected." The bad in plaid Mighty Mighty Bosstones have re- Besides their slight musical evolution, the Bosstones turned once again, with another new and innovative al- are also growing up a bit, and may be beginning to sway bum, and enough skanking ska to scatter anyone's brain. away from their career obsession with plaid. 'The eight man, Bostonian ska-core band is just as cutting "The records are still plaid on the inside, and we still wear ,edged as ever, spreading their unique and awesome music it, but this is the first Bosstones album that doesn't have any ,'4roughout the world. plaid on it. It still means a lot to us, and to be honest, in the The fresh, fun and simply brilliant music is what gives beginning it didn't mean anything," Gittleman admitted. the Bosstones their allure. As what vocalist Dicky Barrett "We consider ourselves to be musically plaid. Plaid -humbly described earlier this year as "A good rock 'n' roll symbolizes to us unity and people coming together, much e-band, maybe," is an understatement to say the least. The like the way 2-Tone symbolized in the late '70s, for the hand's large and devoted fan base is enough proof that The Specials and those bands. It means a lot, but in the beginning '{osstones are anything but your typical rock'n' roll band. it didn't mean shit. It was just to look stupid. It's still there, This time around, the Bosstones are happy to present we still wear it, and it will always be part of what we do." "their latest album, "Question the Answers," which was Switching toamajorlabel has exposed theBosstones to leased last month. The album explores some new and a whole new base of fans, and also successes. undeveloped territory by the band since their last record, "We were scared, but it worked out to be for the best," e major label debut "Don't Know How to Party." Barrett said. "We always want to be an independent band 46"I'm really proud of 'Question the Answers,"' bassist and we have completely independent hearts. We were afraid Joe Gittleman said. "I see it as a change from 'Don't Know of the big rock 'n' roll machine. Mercury allowed us the How to Party' but I don't really see it as a change overall. creative freedom we needed and asked for." It's always a change from one album to the next, but if you Gittleman agreed. "We were really cautious going into look and listen to all of them, you'll hear they are more it. It wasn't something wejumpedat,orreally something we similar than you might think. It's more like our first two wanted to do. It was just that Curtis (the owner of Taang! records than 'Don't Know How to Party."' Records) was ripping us off. We were out there busting Either way, it is still a groundbreaking album from a our ass, and he was selling records and keeping all the trailblazing band (the way Gittleman puts it), that was the money. We were left with no other alternative to be the first American ska group signed to a major label. Bosstones. We had to look for someone who would * "We just wanted to have some different textures," support us while we recorded our next record at least, and Gittlemansaid."Thething aboutitis, weneversitdown and to pay us for the records we sell, which is something that discuss what it's going to be like. We're willing to try Mercury does." different things. We may be a little more willing to get out As the band releases more albums and their airplay of the standard Bosstones formula. steadily increases, so does the popularity of the band. "You find yourselfin the position that you're damned if "It's always bigger," Gittleman said. "Our first tour "Vou do, and you're damned if you don't. If the album was in 1991, and it's been a steady increase in fans, which sounded exactly like the lastone, oroneof the others, people is great. That's where I get my gratification, is seeing more would say it sounded like the last one. If it doesn't, a lot people turning up at shows. As opposed to the record of people are bummed out it's not what they are used to. company, and finding outhowmany records we've sold. All hink that people that really know the Bosstones know that shit seems so intangible to me. You can't touch that t C r 1 r i i O F Y T C 1 I i t t Whether or not you think Boston is cool, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones are cool. See them pronto. and appreciate it." "We're into touring and we're going to tour as long as we're into it.We played 250 days out of last year, which is a fucking lot of shows. We might scale it back a bit, but you never know. But for now our MO's the same, it's just tour, tour, tour." Constant touring may be a difficult thing to do, but for the Bosstones it's a way of life, and also a lot of fun. "It's unbelievable to hear somebody bitch and com- plain, who's job it is to tour around and play for an hour every night, and get paid fairly well to do it, drink free beer, and hang out with cool people," Gittleman said. "They sit back and say 'It's so hard, it's so hard.' It's like, c'mon and look at the people around you working at the club who just came off a nine to five shift. It's just absolutely ridiculous. I have no time for any of that shit. "And to hear about bands who cancel tours because of exhaustion?Exhaustion? I'm always exhausted for Christ's sake. Exhaustion is like a rich man's affliction. People that have to work don't have time to be exhausted. Billy Corgan, Jesus Christ, I'm sorry you're not feeling well." Surprisingly, the next scheduled Bosstones project is a home video, planned for release early next year. It would include the group's six music videos and also some live footage of the band. "We've been shooting a lot of video footage on tour," Gittleman said. We got a lot of stuff of us clowning around in Europe, and want to put it together in something kind of cool with all the videos. Maybe if we can work it out with Taang!, the videos for 'Where'd You Go' and 'Devil's Night Out' also." After a bad experience with one Detroit club, the Bosstones have been screening clubs before agreeing to perform. "When we really started to try and look at the places we were playing, a few really shitty venues got by us, and it really tends to bum out a tour," Gittleman said. "I like St. Andrew's, I think it's really cool. Harpo's was a real fucking drag. That place sucks!" THE MIGHTYMIGHTYBOSSTONESwillbeperforming the show ofyour life at Harpo's! No, just kidding! They'll be at St. Andrew's Hall.. Call 961-MEL Tfor more info. 'Interview' with Anne Rice's multi-media blood-sucking 'Vampire' juggernaut By JOSHUA RICH Anne Rice was mad. Notnecessar- ily because the film adaptation of her cult novel "Exit to Eden" was a stinker, but because Tom Cruise was chosen to play the lead role in her more famous k, "Interview with the Vampire." WThis story, which examines the more "human side" of vampires, has ,pecome a major literary phenomenon over the past decade. When a film version was proposed, Rice wanted an older, more experienced actor to play the lead role of Lestat the vam- pire. While she thought Daniel Day- Lewis or Jeremy Irons would fit the part, the producers of the film chose euise instead. - Unlike Rice, whose appeal is lim- " ited to those who read her racy and occasionally graphic novels, Cruise's popularity has, over the past eleven years, become universal. And he is not the only young actor to become so preferred. Starring with Cruise in "In- terview with the Vampire" are two otheryoung and talented actors-Brad t and Christian Slater - who have }ently become quite successful. As a riesult, all three have been placed in a .relatively strange, mature setting by acting in "Vampire." ,w, -Casting decisionssuchasthesenow favor younger actors, despite angering some members of the entertainment bureaucracy, such as Rice. So why does Tom Cruise get this role, while a more acclaimed performer such as Jeremy Irons is left out? Cruise, Pitt, and Slater have gradually proven themselves to be more than just pretty faces. They are talented performers who are now recognized as positive contributors to their movies. Cruise first became popular by dancing in his underpants in "Risky Business" (1983). While this movie was acclaimed for its racy comedy and originality, Cruise was not yet considered a strong screen presence. In "Top Gun" (1986), however, Cruise rocketed into the Hollywood spot- light as a charismatic and handsome action star. But his acting talent re- mained hidden. It was not until his role as the troubled brother of an autistic man in "Rain Man" (1988), that Cruise was viewed as a refined and talented ac- tor. And even though he has occa- sionally stumbled with such failures as "Cocktail" (1988) and "Days of Thunder" (1990), Cruise's work has improved, culminating in a Best Ac- tor Academy Award nomination in 1989. His portrayal of a Vietnam War veteran in "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989) showed Cruise to be not only a sex symbol who draws at the box office, but also a skilled actor. Likewise, Christian Slater had a career that began in obscurity, but has led to a major role in one of the biggest films of the year. When "Pump up the Volume" (1990) was released, however, viewers saw the fine acting ability that Slater possesses. In this film, Slater showed versatility, as well as a capability to express true emo- tions. But neither Cruise nor Slater'sjour- neys to the high levels of Hollywood film have been as rapid as that of Brad Pitt. This actor, who first gained noto- riety as a sex object in "Thelma and Louise" (1991), has quickly become a popular actor since. His skill was best displayed in "A River Runs Through it" (1992), in which he played the rebellious young son of a fly- fishing minister. Like Cruise and Slater, Pitt has proven himself to be more than just ahandsome actor-he can act, and he does it well. Hence, comparing these actors with some of their contemporaries, proves that talent really determines the longevity and acclaim of young performers' careers today. Why have other promising young actors like Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio and Molly Ringwald not become as suc- cessful as Cruise and his "Vampire" costars? Are they any less attractive or appealing to young audiences, even when they play less mature charac- ters? These three other actors all have good looks and can play flat charac- ters. Nevertheless, they are not tal- ented. One can be intrigued for a short time by beauty, but after that, entertain- ment only comes with quality. Anne Rice recently discovered this fact. After she saw an early screening of "Vampire" (which opens this week- end), Rice admitted that Tom Cruise really is a fine actor. She publicly apologized to him by writing a full- page letter in the New York Times. Just like the world movie audience, it took Rice a while to discover the true talent hidden behind Cruise's pretty smile. And now the real question re- mains-can he save "Vampire" from dying like Rice's "Exit to Eden" did earlier this fall? Cruise may be get- ting better, but even the most skilled of actors may not be able to accom- plish that feat. Used & Rare 0 BOOKS Bought & Sold 113 W. Liberty (1/2 block W. of Main St.) 995-1891 It's Worth the Trip! Boo since 1975 Colic WINV A 18996 Cbo METRO Buy Rollerblade skates with Rollerblade protective gear and receive a ten dollar mail-in rebate. Fill out a sweepstakes entry form and enter to win a sporty new 1995 Geo Metro LSi Coupe or LSi Sedan! Ann Arbor Cyclery &Rdl~e e Ge 1224 Packard 761-2749 Soc N E S Mand yes, we do have 16 pound bails. Every Thursday Night iop.m.-ia.m. Guest DJ"the Buckster!" 1950 south Industrial Ann Arbor, MI 48104 665-4475 Night! r-] Out of town prescriptions welcome here Prescription delivery avaliable Visa, lasterCard, American Express Apothecary 1112 South University 663-5533 Mon.-Sat. 9-9, Sun. 12:30-5 -I vent Bring in ten (or more) cans of foo to participating KAPLAN Centers and save $50 on the world's best test preparation.* 337 East Liberty St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 220 M.A.C. Ave.-Ste. 200 East Lansing, MI 48823 Through November 1994, you rossroadsOffice Centre have a chance to help others 16250 Northland Dr.-Ste.007 and a chance to raise your Southfield, MI 48075 score on the big exam. The Westgate Building Help others and let KAPLAN 3450 West Central Ave.-Ste.102 help you. Be a part of over Toledo, OH 43606 fifty years of test success. 151 South Rose-Ste.304 VA . :': . I I