The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 23, 1998-9 I i cpultura to present world music fln Rosli krtn Writer >ultura is not only Brazil's heaviest music but it is also the country's musical ambas- to different countres and cultures. The has toured all over the world - including in Spain, Mexico, Japan and Austrailia-to its music and its fascination of the world's ; nicity and tribal heritage. While its last vas n support of the Brazilian tribal-influ- "Roots" album, the group now returns in it of its latest release, "Against," an album that is Japanese in presenta- tion and concept. Sepultura guitarist Andreas Kisser, provided pUitUra enligtenment on this newly Detroit adopted ethnicity. "We recorded a track with the Tonighta Japanese drum group, Kodo, and in a way it was the same concept as when we recorded 'Roots' when we went to the village of the Xantave tribe and recorded with them. We used their image, their themes and everything to make 'Roots.' ent to Japan this time. The Japanese are so and unique in their culture and artistic abili- e re attracted to this,so in a way it was a urn of what we did with 'Roots' except this time instead of the Xantave tribe with their culture and themes, we used the Japanese. Through the Kodo drummers we had a source for the presentation of the new album," said Kisser. One may wonder how the Kodo drummers and a group like Sepultura, clearly musicians who on the surface have nothing in common, ended up collaborating together. Kisser explained, "The Kodo is a group that we have known for about six years or so, a group that Igor (Cavalera, drummer) discovered. He was very impressed with the sounds, the patterns and everything which is very different from Brazilian music. We had a chance to see Kodo live in Belgium four years ago and we got a chance to talk to them and they knew about Sepultura which was very surprising at that time! Since then we talked about doing something together someday, somehow. This time was the perfect time. It was suitable for us and for them so we went to Japan and spent five days there in the islands. It was amazing! Same way we spent time with the Xavantes but now we did it with a Japanese 'tribe' by way of the Kodo drummers." The group has played in Japan before, but said the experience of working with the Kodo drum- mers was still something special. "It was great because we wentto the Sago Islands," said Kisser. Adopting the Japanese theme for "Against" is not the only departure from the group's previous efforts. "Against" is also the group's first album without its former singer and rhythm guitarist, Max Cavalera, who has been replaced by its new singer Derrick Green. While the vocal chores are handled by Gretn, the group decided to just leave Kisser with the bulk of the guitar work. "It's a lit- tle different," Kisser said of this new arrangement, "but its something that I enjoy a lot. There's more room to work with my guitar parts. More room for (Bass player) Paulo as well as for me. We just explored those holes that Max left:" "But the main thing (in replacing Cavalera) was really personality, I mean we basically have to live together and travel together on the same bus and shit like that. We met a lot of very good singers throughout the auditions but we were looking for people who we could live together with without going insane. With Derrick it was very easy, he's a very fast learner, he's learning a little bit of por- tuguese right now and he loves Brazil. He goes to Brazil for holidays now. He's got the good stuff!" Stylistically, Green bears very little in resem- blance to Cavalera. "It would be very stupid to find someone else like Max. I mean Max is only one, Paulo is only one, Igor is only one and I am only one. It would be very foolish on our part to copy something that is not there anymore. Even to try to copy 'Roots' or 'Chaos AD' (an older Sepultura album) musically, for us it was more a challenge and more exciting to try to write differ- ent stuff, to learn different stuff," said Kisser. Despite having played in many different countries, the group has found that its fans are quite similar everywhere after the superficial differences are overlooked. Talking about Sepultura combines flavors of world music into their own brand of rock. Sepultura's fans Kisser said, "Of course it's a lit- was crazy!" Sepultura's Michigan fans should tle different everywhere since they have their expect no less either as this Brazilian heavy own different cultures and customs. Like the musical ambassador heads its way to Harpo's fans in Japan are very polite, they love to watch tonight. Kisser promised, "the same kind of but they really enjoy it as much as the fans that shit! A lot of energy, loud music! Just go there go nuts in Mexico or in Spain. We played and have fun, we're going to play some old Indonesia in '92, it was amazing! There were stuff. We're just very glad to have an opportuni- 50,000 people who came out to see Sepultura; it ty to play again to all the Michigan dudes!" ancid tour draws moshers and ska fans ex Khachaturian s Writer re is a list of things one can expect 'ancid show: live performances of s as "Ruby Soho" and dtlively mosh pits with flying is and bodies, valiant attempts at I surfing and an overabundance of active high school punks throwing bodies around. Don't, however, be sed if the main attraction from ley, Calif, unexpectedly shows up ut their characteristically colorful wks. er a noticeable three-year absence *merican music scene, Rancid k, but this time with a new look, a lbum, a new tour, and pleasantly icipated ska undertones. a recent phone interview with d bassist Matt Freeman, he dis- : the band's whereabouts over the "'ight after our last album ('... And Out Come the Wolves'), we went on a year- long tour that ncid ended in '96. People always for- ate a Cargo, get that we tour Pontiac after a record rrow at 8 p.m. comes out." On its latest album, "Life Won't Wait," Rancid delivers in usual punk rock form, but delves heavily into ska, reggae and even a sit of blues. "I don't think we're ng toward ska for any reason in lar," said Freeman. "We just want- "ut the best songs on there that we whatever we feel like putting out, what you hear." Rancid most ly marketed this new sound over miner's biggest ska/punk/reggae "The Vans' Warped Tour," fea- lucrative music careers Rancid made its debut with "I'm Not the Only One" in 1992. Since then, the band has produced four full-length albums with Epitaph Records, including their first hit, "Hyena," coming off of their self-titled album in 1993. They went on to become mainstays on MTV and on major rock radio stations across the country in 1995, resulting from the release of "Time Bomb" off 1995's "...And Out Come the Wolves:' Freeman views Rancid's initial break- through into the mainstream American punk rock scene as the best measure- ment of its success. "Our first goal was to put out a full-length record and go on a US tour," he explained, "and we met that about five years ago, so now it's just about having fun" The United States and Australia tour extends until Christmastime, they then have their sights set on Japan. As far as Rancid's long-term future plans, expect Freeman and the boys to be singing,"... destination unknown." Judging from Rancid's extensive touring schedule, its fifth album won't come out until early next century Thank You for the Honor of Being Voted Best Shoe Store* 1200 S. University at Church St. 734-994-9401 adidc s Your Authorized Original Adidas Retailer For Al/ of Yi Footwear Needs From Fnoy Fashion to Co:y Comfsrt Ife Also Carry Birkenstoc. Doc Atartes. Vans. Nike. Dansko. Fluer g. Aluro & Many More Full line of Adidas clothing coming February '99 Courtsyof"ita"R eo s Rancid is currently touring the word, playing hits from " ... And Out Come the Wolves." Luring artists that contributed to "Life Won't Wait," including The Specials, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Hepcat, who opens for Rancidtomorrow night. As a result of"Warped," which conve- niently played to Rancid's crowd, and also began touring almost the day the new album was released, Rancid's name was restored to the upper ranks of itspre- sent genre. In fact, the band gained enough popularity to be asked to open for two of the summer's most highly anticipated artists on tour, Pearl Jam and the Beastie Boys. "Those shows were fun and both bands treated us really nice, but it's a trip playing for an audience that doesn't real- ly know who you are. That really doesn't happen to us much anymore, it was kind of like the old days (before Rancid became well-known)," Freeman said. Freeman would certainly be expected to be quite knowledgeable of the old days. As a veteran in the industry for more than a decade, he has plenty of experience. In 1987, it was Freeman and his childhood friend, current Rancid lead vocalist, Tim Armstrong, who founded the ever popular band, Operation Ivy. After two years Op Ivy broke up and, although Freeman and Armstrong remained friends, they could not work together because of Armstrong's serious problems with alcohol. This plagued Armstrong for years until he, with Freeman's support, decided to encer an alcohol detoxification program with the Salvation Army. "He hit rock bottom' explained Freeman, "the program basi- cally just gave him food and a place to sleep, (in return) he had to work his ass off every day picking up junk for the Salvation Army, and that just shocked his system. He saved himself, I just helped," Freeman said. It was at this point that Armstrong decided he needed something to do to truly cure him of his ills. He and Freeman picked up Brett Reed, a drum- mer frequently performing at Gilman Street in Berkeley. The creation of the band not only played an instrumental role in Armstrong's cure, but also changed the lives of the three musicians by putting them on a road to successful, 322 E. Liberty 734-662-9401 *by The Michigan Daily Readership Poll 217 S. Main St. 734-741-9401 4U AMERICAN UNIVERSITY W A S H I N G T C3N. 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A representative of American University will visit the Graduate School Information Fair Thursday, October 29, from 11:00am to 3:00pm at the Student Activities Building of the * University of Michigan, Ann Arbor or contact: American University School of Public Affairs 4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20016 Phone: (202) 885-6201 or 885-2940 'Fax: (202) 885-2353 E-mail: spagrad@american.edu World Wide Web: http://www.american.edu ANEQUAL OPPORTUNITYAFfRMATVE ACTION UNIVERSTY Now if you don't know the answers on the test, you can call someone who does. Okay, so maybe you're no credit checks, one of those Einsteins who . and no long-term commitments. Plus, knows all the answers. Well, AirTouch is offering special discounted what you may not know is, with AirTouch rates to Michigan college students. 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