$- The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, November 27, 1996 UK's Scene swims to Shelter Comedian . By Philip Son Fear the Daily The group has sold more than I million albums in the U.K., they hang out with Oasis. It is opening for heroes The Who on the "Quadrophenia" tou. What band is this? It's Birmingham, England's Ocean Colour Scene, which is touring America to support its MCA debut, "Moseley Shoals." With recent U.K. hits like "The Day We Caught the Train" and "You've Got It Bad," Ocean Colour Scene is ready to take on America. PR For all intents and purposes, Ocean Colour Scene uses the same pop for- mula that was been successful for earli- er British pop groups like The Beatles Tonighta and The Rolling Stones. "There have been bands who were wicked for their singles. Look at The Who or The Stones. From '65 to '67, they did five or six classic singles, just classic rock singles- rock. poetry. I think ultimately that I like the idea of a band having a relationship with the social form of the day," singer Simon Fowler said in an interview with The Michigan Daily. This fondness for '60s and '70s bands has led some to laim that Ocean Colour Scene's music is blatantly derivative or retro. But Fowler disagrees with any sort of categorization of his music. Fowler, along with guitarist Steve Cradock, bassist Damon Minchella and drummer Oscar Harrison, displays an air of confidence in his music even though the band's sophomore at 1 Wit album took five years to release. Record company struggles and Cradock's flight to Paul Weller's band left the group in the dust by the fickle British press. "I don't give a toss about the press to be quite honest. We don't need the British press. ... So you go front cover in Melody Maker. Well, about 60,000 people buy Melody Maker, that's all. You go on "Top of the Pops" (a weekly U.K. chart show) and 7 million people see you. So what's the fuck- ing trouble?" Fowler argued. "Most of the press that we've had is EVIEW completely vile-- it's awful. The thing nColour is: No one else agrees with (the press) ean C r anyway." Scene Ocean Colour Scene displays this he Shelter at 10 p.m. take-no-prisoners attitude in its music. This has helped it and Oasis remain friendly throughout the bands' careers. "Well, we've known (Oasis) and been friends with them in the same ways we are now when no one would touch us with the shit end of the stick!" Fowler admitted. He also gives credit to Oasis, whose worldwide popu- larity has opened the doors to similar bands like Ocean Colour Scene. "They've made it mainstream. ... We are a mainstream band now in England. That wouldn't have hap- pened three years ago. There hasn't been a band like Oasis since the Beatles. Not a band. I mean, they're bigger than Slade!" And Fowler does not shy away from becoming England's next big thing: "America is 60 percent of the record buying on Saturday . Bernie Mac attacks Motown Ocean Color Scene is wavy and dreamy. market in the world. Also. America is kind of where it began .... I don't really know how it works (in America) but I'd like to be as big as possible. "Tell you what: l'd like to play Shea Stadium. I mean, that's how big it would be good to be" Perhaps some day his wish will come true. Souls bounce through St. Andrew's on current tour By Coin Bartos Dadly Arts \riter -if you're getting sick of the monotony of 1990s California punk, the Bouncing Souls might be the band for you. These guys mike sure they don't sound like all those b4nds. Instead, Bouncing Souls blends old- school East-Coast hardcore and humor to tome up with a derivative, yet fun and unique sound. Guitarist Pete Steinkopf, drummer Shal Khichi, bassist Bryan Kienlen and vocalist Greg Attonito started playing together in high school in New Jersey. In a telephone inter- view with The Michigan Daily, Kienlen explained how the band was doomed from the start: "After high school ... we kind of just moved into a punk house together. I remember those days ... feeling like every- one had us convinced that we had complete- ly thrown away our future." The Bouncing Souls moved to New Brunswick, N.J., and put out a couple EP's and 7" singles. Then the band started to tour. "We got to the. point where we toured too much (and) we couldn't afford to ... pay rent "('The Good, The Bad, and the Argyle') is actually more of a collection," Kienlen said. "We threw all the 7" on there. and threw a couple of songs we had like ran- while we were gone. And then we got past that point," Kienlen said. "We've gotten to the point where we P actually prefer to stay \ T) on tour - so our homelessness (has) a sense of purpose." Saturday at St The group has been Descendents. to Detroit on various bills (four or five times this year alone), in support of its latest record, "Maniacal Laughter." Appearing on BYO Records, a micro-indie label, this is the second full- length album from the Bouncing Souls. It's different than the band's debut, "The Good, The Bad, and The Argyle," in that it is a com- plete record from start to finish. domly recorded EVIE W he Bouncing Souls . Andrew's Hall with The The concert is sold out. pretty much a dr us. for compilations, and then we did a handful, like five or six, songs at one time. 'Maniacal Laughter' was record- ed all at once. It was kinda like one whole thought regarding one year ... of just drink- ing and touring. It was unk, alcohol-soaked era for combined with silly '80s covers like "I Know What Boys Like" and "I Want Candy" make it fun for the listener. The music sounds like a raw East-Coast version of Rancid at times, but without the political banter. Influences like Black Flag, The Toasters, Fishbone and '80s pop music define the Souls' sound, and that wide range gives the band its unique out- look. One thing you won't see the Bouncing Souls doing is telling fans who to be. The group wants kids to decide for themselves when they see the Souls play. "For bands to go up there and preach about anything or to go and bitch about anything -- that's crap to us" Kienlen said. That's one reason why you'll see Souls fans are among the most diverse fans in the punk scene. And everyone sings along and has a good time. This is the thing Kienlen liked best about his band's appeal. "There's room for everybody!" By Eugene Bowen Daily Arts WNriter Bernie Mac is coming to town. Well-known for his appearances on "H BO's Def Comedy Jam" and his long list of movie roles - including the not-o- saved minister in "Friday," the blunt-speaking unclijn "House Party 3," a homeless beggar in "Above the Rim" and the sarcastic "nigga-need-coat-like-coat-need-nigga" passen- ger in "Get on the Bus" - Mac is no stranger to fans African American comedy. Even if he prefers that no think of his style of humor in that way. PREVIEW "I don't con- sider myself a Berie Mac black or a white Appearing at the FoxTheater comedian," Mac on Saturday at 8 and 11:45 p. poite ou i aTickets: $27.50, $35,$5; pointed out in a recent interview with The Michigan Daily. "I'm just a comedian. Every 4, is human. It baffles me that (1) have to have a title*~ 'African American man.' Why can't I just be a mant? I've per- forned to about everybody: In biker bars and in gang bars and at elite corporate functions. That was my training. Now I can cover the whole spectrum of people." This Saturday, Bernie Mac will bring his more than 20 years of "gentle- man's comedy" to the Fox Theater .in -' ~ Detroit for two shows, one st w ing at 8 p.m. and the other begin- Wing at I:45 p.m. And from where will his' be getting his mater- ial? "The people. From observing and listening," noted. everybody can listen, but I can. Comedian Bernie Mac arrives in Detroit Everybody is this weekend. The performer Is known funny; comedi- for his wide range of TV and film work. ans just know how to presen it. I use a different perspective. I turn tragedy into humor. That's a part of all our lives, and people relate to it. "My comedy is about sharing from the heart. I am gonna be your entertainer. No insults, no cussing. I'm gonna be doctor for an hour and a hal f. I'm gonna make you double over and laugh." His ability to make audiences smile in a world that gives us more reasons to cry is exactly what makes Bernie Mac and his material remarkable. Don't miss him. Not known for subtlety, the band's mem- bers write songs about whatever pops into their heads. And it usually turns out to be good for a laugh. Originals like " Like Your Mom," "The BMX Song" and "These Are The Quotes From Our Favorite '80s Movies," KAPLANWeekend - M A G A Z I N E Si . MAKE A STATEMENT WITHOUT ALL THAT HIGH-STEPPING. 3:k1' r <~: p d 7 ib?+$ K{ . ~.