I urf,~ £tdt&wn UatI~ 'Star Wars' Opens The re-release of "Star Wars" hits screens today. Check out all the new footage producer George Lucas added to the 1977 classic to cele. brate the 20th anniversary of the film. See Han, Luke and the gang trash the Death Star and teach the evil Empire a lesson they'll never forget. At Briarwood (4804555) and Showcase (973-8380). Friday January 31, 1997 5 Comic Hug] By Eugene Bowen Daily Arts Writer Happiness from despair, joy from sadness, comedy from tragedy - herein lies the life of funny man D.L. Hughiey. To those familiar with the African American comedy circuit, Hughley's trademark throaty-voiced jokes poking fun at audience members and forever declaring that somebody "needs Js" are nothing new. He's been prming professionally for the past five years, appearing on 0 HBO's "Def Comedy Jam," MTV's "Comedy Half-Hour," CBS's "48 Hours" and the Tickets $25-$32.5 "Oprah Winfrey Show." He was also the first host of BET's "Comic View." And now he's heading for the Fox Theatre. Exactly one week from tomorrow, Hughley - accompanied by Michael Collier, Shang and Detroit's own Teddy enter - will headline a guaranteed hilarious n t of ghetto-style humor. Not that his life has always been a big riot. From age 12 to 18, Hughley was in fact a member of the infamous Los Angeles' Bloods. He finally left after the gang-relat- ed :murder of his cousin, whose bloody corpse was dumped by his killers onto his mother's doorstep. "It was a terrible thing" Hughley said in a recent interview with The Michigan Daily. "And what was even worse was that he was in a rival gang, the Crips. So I couldn't even go to his funeral, or I might've been shot." hley finds way to Detroit s .I 5Q, While working as a circulation manager for the Los Angeles Times, Hughley was dared by his barber to participate in a comedy showdown. That was five years ago. The rest is history. "I'm the same cat I always was," Hughley said. "I used to always run off at the mouth and talk about peo- ple. I just didn't know that it E V i E W would make a living for me. But when they put that microphone in L. Hughley my hand, I knew stand-up would Feb. 8, 1997 be my life. I guess that, in a way, it Fox Theatre always has been. Call (810) 6456666 "One of the most beautiful things in the world I've ever seen or heard is people laughing, even when there seems to be so little reason for them to laugh. No matter how bad things, you can at least be happy that you woke up this morning. Many people didn't." Hughley speaks from experience. More than once, he could have been one of those people. "I'm glad I found my way out (of the Bloods). There are a lot of people who could grow up to be great community assets. Unfortunately they don't live long enough to" For Hughley, things have really changed. Now he's a rather young-looking 32 with a wife of almost 11 years, three children and three dogs. And as he tried to talk to me from his home in Los Angeles, he had to contend with a number of domestic issues, including helping his daughter tie her shoes, stopping a dog from jumping on the couch and greeting a visiting neighbor. "Damn the fact that I'm doing an interview," he finally told everyone. "I've got to get my own place." "About nine months ago we moved to the L.A. sub- urbs. And now, for the first time in my life I live around white folks. They are the nicest neighbors, and they are the funniest people to live around," Hughley laughed. "They'll be mowing their lawn, and they'll volunteer to mow yours ... for free. They be carpool- ing. But I don't trust them with my kids. You might not have to worry about anybody breaking in your house, but you definitely have to worry about serial killers and child molesters" Hughley is much like Bill Cosby or Richard Pryor. He's hilarious even when he's serious. Take the recent presidential elections. "I voted for Bill. Honestly, I'd pick a young white guy over an old white guy for president anytime because the younger guy is more likely to have been influenced by the great social changes of the '60s and '70s," Hughley noted. "I don't care if he's messed around or smoked weed or any of that. Hell, I would. I mean, you the most powerful man in world; you'll get you some on the side. The one thing women love more than money is power. I could be president of my fifth-grade class, and I'll try and get me some. I'll be like, 'Hey girl. You want a hall pass? Then I'm the brotha you need to kick it with.' See HUGHLEY, Page 8 " "You need Jesus" If you don't go see D. L Hughley next Saturday in Detroit. ehalk make Chalk Farn Notwithstand Co mbia There is nothin about the Los Ang Farm except for t solid rock 'n' roll ingly honest and a strikingly short p has gone from pla coffeehouses to r .ust recently finis Better than Ezra " withstanding" genuine talent but and quality songm guitarist/vocalist N guitarist Trace Rit It is not difficu familiar influenc casual yet powerf notes of the o Tomorrow" remir acoustic narrative S~cket and so catchy tune behin Orlando Sims an of Duff's vocals. er on-the Live-es features a mini Tony Scarbrough driving guitar t somewhat of a dis The radio-frie Lie" shows the F i ring voice e~tion and harm the playing of Sin chorus that is sur your feet and hui song's end. Duff other dimension preach a messag on political: "I thi Farm, Exceptions good on new albums than legislation / I think it will take us more than filling graves / and I say that ing you can not force appreciation.' Perhaps the most intriguing of the songs on "Notwithstanding" is "Lilly ig terribly exceptional Anne," which starts off moderately ;eles-based band Chalk paced and teases the listener as it builds the fact that they play slowly, note by note, until Duff and the songs with a refresh- gang finally explode into an invigorat- simplistic style. Within ing chorus. The unorthodox rhythmic eriod of time, the band progressions and subtle chord changes ying house parties and create an exciting sound that forces you cording an album and to want to hear the tune over and over hing up touring with again. . Their debut release The sentimental "It's Up To You" fea- " showcases not only tures The Wallflower's Rami Jaffe on creative musicianship accordion. "Sunflower" and "Lose" are writing on the part of two other tracks worthy of praise, both of Michael Duff and lead which start off at a medium pace but sim- ter. mer down into a quiet melodic verse only ult to recognize a few to be again thrown into a faster chorus. es in Chalk Farm's The intertwining of electric and il sound. The first few acoustic guitars seems to be a popular, pening track "Live trend in alternative music these days, nd the listener of the however Chalk Farm has plen- style of Toad the Wet ty of its own original musi- an build into a rather cal ideas and talent to nd the athletic bass of keep their sound ener- d the soothing melody getic, fresh and Things get a bit loud- deserving of much sque "Wonder" which attention.' drum solo lead-in by - Brian Cohen and spurts of thick ightly arranged into sjointed rhythm. ndly single "Lie on The Exceptions arm at its best. Duff's Five Finger Discount quivers slightly with Jump Up Ska nonizes perfectly with J* Upk ms and Ritter during a e to have you tapping The Exceptions have always been imming along by the Detroit ska at its best. Even after chang- 's lyrics add an entire ing its line up of members, the band has to Chalk Farm and released yet another ska classic entitled e of hope that borders "Five Finger Discount.' nk it will take us more Never to be taken too seriously, the 'Luke' uses the force to teach about Jesus By Evelyn Miska Daily Arts Writer This weekend, Broadway actor Bruce Kuhn will be retelling the story of pos- sibly the most influential man in history - Jesus the Nazarene. "The Accounts of Luke" is taken directly from the Bible and retells the story of Jesus' life from P the viewpoints of eyewitnesses from ' almost 2,000 years ago. Today Y ® .v Uj c What do they grow at the Chalk Farm? Exceptions have composed 1I hilarious songs about girls, the police and even kleptomania. The first track, "Trailer Park Girl," is about a psychotic girl who wants to get preg- nant and married so that she can get out of her present situa- tion. By the end of the song, singer John Williams seems amazed and embarrassed to have found out that "she was only 15.' The songs on this album are much like old Mighty Mighty Bosstone tunes from "Devil's Night Out?' combining a large horn section with hard guitar lines and drumming during the choruses. The singer sounds similar to Mike Patton of Faith No More and Mr. Bungle. But overall, the Exceptions are all ska, all Detroit and cool as hell. "Me, Me, Me" is the hardest, yet funkiest song on the album, with the singer screaming through a barrage of drums, "I've got so much trouble on my mind!" "Boss' Wife" is a satire about killing the boss' better half. "She's gonna dock your pay," and "Mind your own business," are sung by Williams. Being the exception to the style on this album, "Oven" is a slow, jazzy ska melody that will make its listeners want to swing. Then there is the title track, an upbeat song about being a kleptomani- ac. Williams sings, "I had no money left, but I still walked in," while the whole band shouts "five finger discount?' The Exceptions will never cease to amaze the music industry with their premier ska. "Five Finger Discount" is proof of this, and if this album doesn't get you skankin' around your room, there is definitely something wrong. - Brian M. Kemp A collection of Kellogg Aud., (Dental eyewitness accounts, "The Accounts of Luke" is taken word for word from the Gospel According to Luke in the Bible. Don't be fooled; though, because although the Bible is sometimes thought of as dull, Kuhn reassures people that "Accounts" has a fair bit of humor in it. "It's remarkable material, regardless of your religious knowledge. People don't real- ize how much humor is in it, in the way Jesus dealt with people;" Kuhn said. The very idea that religious matters often have the tendency to become bor- ing is the greatest challenge Kuhn has had to overcome for "Accounts?' The main objective of the show, though, isn't to have the audience rolling in the aisles. In an age of neatly tied up, half an hour sitcoms full of violence, sex and immoral behavior, there seems to exist a lack of decent programming. By per- forming in "Accounts;' Kuhn hopes to make a change. "I hope putting truthful, good stuff out there will bring people closer to God," he explained. Kuhn also finds working in "Accounts" challenging because it is a show containing numerous layers. "It's great for me as an actor to work with material I can explore," he explained. 31 Having performed in shows such as "Chess" and "Les Miserables," this one- man show is quite a change of scene. In a recent interview with The Michigan Daily, Kuhn reflected on his switch from musicals to a more serious drama. "I was tired of musicals and want- ed to do something R E V I E W with meaning and impact,"Kuhn said. 'he Accounts Regardless of of Luke one's previous and Tomorrow at 8 p.m. experience with the School). Call 995-6311 Bible, Kuhn wants people to know he's trying to present this material in a dif- ferent manner. He stresses that the show isn't a laundry list of do's and don'ts. "Accounts" premiered in 1983 at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, after direc- tors there had heard about a similar show running on Broadway. The show had a limited one-month run but was revived by Kuhn eight years later. Currently Kuhn is taking "Accounts" to universities and churches across the nation. As for how long he'll continue to perform "Accounts," Kuhn said, "I'll quit before the show suffers." When that time comes, Kuhn will then move onto another similar show, "The Acts of the Apostles" Prior to the Friday night perfor- mance, Kuhn will be presenting a free preview that will also include time for questions. The preview will be held at 2:30 pm, in Room 126 of East Quad. "Jesus changed Western history if nothing else, and I'm just trying to tell it the way it might have been originally told," he said. So no matter whatever beliefs one has regarding religion, "The Accounts of Luke" should be an extremely interesting and informative performance unlike any drama before shown in Ann Arbor. _ 1 'IHE END IS HERE gartys People Poll presents 'II / IL 1ETL TH ISS FOEE!!! WICH MICHIGAN IJNIVERSITT it ULLT UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN MICHIGAN STATE CENTRAL MICHIGAN EASTERNMICHIGAN WESTERN MICHIGAN FERRIS STATE WAREHOUSE CLEARANCE SALE Our corporate warehouse is overstocked & we have received a shipment of hard & soft cover adult & children's titles at unheard of prices. 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