Poetry for Mitch's Victims Poetry reading to benefit victims of Hurricane Mitch. Catch poet- ry readings in both Spanish and English for a good cause. The reading is organized to benefit victims in Honduras and Nicaragua. It all takes place at the Kerrytown Concert House at 415 N. Fourth Ave. Admission is $10. For more information call 668- 1628. Ufte Ldigman ai Tomorrow in Daily Arts: Check out the final Weekend, etc. of the semester, com- plete with the List and a feature about the absence of a blockbuster in the upcoming Holiday movie season. Wednesday December 9, 1998 Boston group energizes crowd By Jewel Gopwani Daily Arts Writer The success of a million one-hit wonders put together can't compete with the wisdom consistent and positive experience in the music business offers. With more than 10 years in the industry to its name, Buffalo Tom knows that real success in music comes in the form of life-long dedicated fans, a lesson brought to the forefront on the band's current tour. Since the start of it 1998 tour, Buffalo Tom has opened for the radio-friendly Goo Goo Dolls. But Buffalo Tomr St. Andrew's Hall Tomorrow at 8 p.m. its performance tomorrow night at Detroit's St. Andrew's Hall marks the group's third show as a headliner. Just as the band's opening stint concluded in Los Angeles, lead singer Bill Janowitz discussed the obsta- cles of playing for the Goo Goo Dolls' crowd. Opening acts often receive the raw end of the perfor- mance deal, especially when the headliners have loads hit singles. But Buffalo Tom saw the slot as an opportunity to Courtesy of School of Music Director of University Choirs Theodore Morrison will conduct the return of Beethoven's Mass in C Major tonight at Hill Auditorium. Great work reurs ocampus By Jeff Druchniak Daily Arts Writer It's painful to pile another potential burden onto students' already ludicrous end-of-the-year schedules. But music buffs be warned: Anyone not at tonight's joint con- cert will miss a critical part of the classical music repertoire that they might never get another chance to hear in Ann Arbor. University Orchestras and Chamber Choir Power Center Tonight at 8 p.m. The piece at hand is Beethoven's Mass in C. The setting will be 8 p.m. at Hill Auditorium. The concert showcases t h e University C h a m b e r Choir and University Philharmonia can't understand why so much time has elapsed without another mounting of the work. "I have no idea why it's not done more often ... for so com- pelling a piece," he said. Morrison selected the entire program for the upcoming con- cert. He speculated that the more widely known Beethoven's late "Requiem" may be partially responsible for overshadowing this work from the same middle period as the composer's Fifth Symphony. "The only trouble with that piece is that no one can sing it or play it," Morrison added, only half-joking. "This is a much more appropri- ate selection for young voices and young musicians." The second half of the program will include the Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kenneth Kiesler, performing the Metamorphosen and Till Eulenspiegel, two compositions for strings by German composer Richard Strauss. The preparation for this concert included an added obstacle in that the Philharmonia has gone through the year so far without a resident conductor. The University is in the process of conducting a search for new candidates. As a result, Morrison stepped in to conduct rehearsals and pre- pare for tonight's concert. He added that rehearsals had gone outstandingly. If you need other information, contact the School of Music. Admission is free, and remember, if you see it now, you won't have to wait around another 10 years. reach some younger music fans. "We didn't know what to expect, because it's somebody else's crowd," Janowitz said. "It's a bit challenging because we have to try to win them over." Buffalo Tom's emotionally engaging songs and its rip roaring stage presence create an energetic live atmosphere only reached through years of touring experience. "It's a very passionate- show," Janowitz said. ,Very rarely is the audience not involved." Touring in support of "Smitten," Buffalo Tom has tweaked its live show a bit to display the instrumental evolution evident on the new release. The band practically added a new member to the line up. Keyboardist Phil Aiken brought a more tradi- tional sound to "Smitten." And with Aiken's help, the band is able to play new tracks to its full poten- tial and to illuminate older more classic tunes on stage. "He ends up playing on almost every song," Janowitz said. "It adds a whole different texture," Another development in Buffalo Tom's show includes Chris Colbourn's new singing role. Janowitz and Colbourn know they have a good thing on "Wiser," a det between the two. The song, which is played at every show on the tour thus far, balances Colbourn's soft almost childlike singing with Janowitz's down and dirty vocals. Although the band's maturity is very clear on its at uetroits t. UAndrews Htllu tomorrow night. latest release, touring allows Buffalo Tom, whose members are in their 30s, to feel like young rock 'n' rollers again. "We're immature on the road," Janowitz said. "We're still jumping up and down and sweating like we were at 25." Buffalo Tom is well aware that their stop con- flicts with the ensuing end-of-semester panic, cur- rently engulfing the University's student body. But the band guarantees it's show will be worth taking a night off from studying. "We're definitely a good band for catharsis," Janowitz said. "There's a lot of emoting and yelling. We put a lot into the show." All fans can look forward to an energetic show ( and a great stress releaser) when Buffalo Tom takes the stage as the feature presentation at the very intimate St. Andrew's Hall. Now that Buffalo Tom has most of the night to itself, the band can play more from older albums, including the fan favorite, "Taillights Fade." And something that experience has given Buffalo Tom is a deep appreciation for its fans. Not only does the band work hard to please the crowd, but through its WebsiteJ (iww.buffalotom.com), Buffalo Tom holds con- tests for fans to get on the band's guest list. Janowitz posts his tour journal on the site to keep fans up to date on all of the band's exploits, In an entry he wrote sitting in the passenger seat of the tour bus on the way to San Francisco, Janowitz revealed the driving force behind the band's career. "People's enthusiasm is contagious and it breaks the tedium for us," he wrote. "Our fans are our saving grace." Doors for the Bufflalo Torn show open at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster outlets or by calling (248) 645-6666. Jack Drag and Carrie Newhouse will prep the crowd for the headliners. Courtesy of Pdiydor Buffalo Tom band members Chris Colbourn, Bill Janovitz and Tom Maginnis are psyched for their headlining gig 'A 'nrit t A rnas mli m rnrnch Element combines eclectic talents 0 Orchestra, together with the Symphony Orchestra. The three groups unite for a two-part program that will be the fall concert for each one. First, the Chamber Choir and the Philharmonia will combine under the direction of Theodore Morrison for the Mass in C. So what is the big deal about the Mass in C? Well, it's one of Beethoven's signature religious works, yet it's been more than a decade since it was last per- formed on campus. As director of choirs for the University, Morrison, who actual- ly was the conductor of the last campus performance of the piece, By Amanda Scotese Daily Arts Writer Tomorrow and Saturday, Ann Arbor's The Element will be creating musical chemistry at two different local venues, Touchdown Cafe and Mitch's Place. The Element Touchdown cafe and Mitch's Place Tomorrow and Saturday at i10 p.m. / The four-piece band of University stu- dents will be concocting a mixture of rock, jazz, funk and blues with its guitar, bass, drums and unique vintage keyboard. Its sound1 heavy '60s/early influence, bluegrass, but added that LSA senior and guitarist Evan Greene brings in an element of classical music. Art senior Jeremy Bronson brush- es the drums, while Music senior Jordan Shapiro rounds out the group on keyboard. Greene said that each band mem- ber has their own musical strengths and weaknesses that together bring unity to the music. "Jordan's ear for harmonic complexity, Jeremy and Dave's rhythmic foundation, and my pop sensibilities ... that is what we try to combine," he said. Manager Lee Seelig describes The Element's lyrics as "a mix between contemplative aid partying," but emphasizes that the group is not a pop band. He said that the members pride themselves on improvisation while jamming, and that they definitely want people to leave the shows feel- ing the music rather than focusing on the lyrics. All the members write lyrics, but usually Dave Bronson and Shapiro contribute their poetry to the songs. The Element has been playing around Ann Arbor since its members were first-year students at the University, and have actually been rocking out together since the wee age of 12. Shapiro joined the trio last year has a late '70s from V *1i r!-e SO(c i5 NOWAI *Pi iN CEP-1K<--Take orders for advertising services and balloons. ' ,iv,262--Drive one of those cool little university trucks! 02AP4,iC AriSr--Design diag boards and banners. Contact sundholm@umich.edu for more information! These are student positions. Deadline is December 21. both the organ-like keyboard sounds and its classic rock energy. The Element uses the wahwah with the keyboard and a mellow gui- tar to create a sort of '60s swirl of melodies. In other moments, the bass speaks up and gives the music a more straightforward declaration of funk. LSA senior and the band's bassist Dave Bronson said that The Element's sound usually ranges from Led Zeppelin and Hendrix to Phish and after playing in the Ann Arbor band Enchanted Iris for three years. Although all of the members are seniors, they plan to keep the group together after they graduate. In the future they hope to release a CD, perform several benefit shows and expand their audience outside of Ann Arbor. Tomorrow, The Element will play two sets at the Touchdown Caf beginning at 9 p.m. The 21-and-over show requires a $3 cover. On Saturday, expect the same at Mitch's Place, except that this is The Element's final show for 1998. Courtesy of Lee Seelig Jordan Shapiro, Evan Greene, Dave Bronson and Jeremy Bronson comprise the- band called The Element. The group plays tomorrow at Touchdown's. Check out the Daily Online at ~ I I Check out the Deily Online at www.michigandaily. com |||||||| II INSIDE DCn c-CC~iniAI2Eui r e: I I . ,. *, 4 fl