14 --The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 14, 2000 Majestic to host cheesy jams ARTS 8y Chsim Hoard Daily Arts Writer The jam band scene has grown at a remarkable rate over the past few years, as Grateful Dead and Phish clones have ,4 -141, String Ceese Majestic Theater Tmorrow at 9 p.m. cropped up almost as fre- quently as new boy bands. With so many young musicians taking the free-form route, however, it's tough to lend a fresh ear to every group that talks of its dis- taste for pop radio or a "magi- cal, spiritual con- nection" with its audience. the patchouli-scented crowd is sorely mistaken. Since 1993, the Colorado- based quintet of Kyle Hollingsworth (keyboards), Michael Kang (mandolin, violin), Keith Moseley (bass), Bill Ner- shi (acoustic guitar) and Michael Travis (drums) has carved out a niche for itself in the jam scene with a sound that's equal parts rootsy and stylistically diverse. At times, the SCI sounds like a down-home bluegrass band, having been invited to play at Telluride Bluegrass Festival in its home state several times in recent years. But bassist Moseley said the SCI members "don't claim to be a bluegrass band. We're more of a rock band that happens to play a lot of styles." Indeed, the SCI's two studio record- ings, 1996's "Born on the Wrong Plan- et" and 1998's "Round the Wheel," find the group drawing on folk-rock,jazz and calypso swing in addition to the revved- up bluegrass in which it specializes. But as much as these albums bear testimony to the jam band ethic of freedom, instru- mental virtuosity and feel-good cen- trism, it's during the SCI's live performances when things really get interesting. "We're definitely a live band. (Playing live) is what we're best at," Moseley said. Accordingly, the SCI's jam-soaked performances - dubbed "incidents" by the band's faithful - have drawn more and more fans during past tours. Mose- ley sees the band's fanbase increasing in numbers in the years to come. "It's defi- nitely been growing at a steady rate" he said, "and it looks like it will continue to grow in the future." Released on its own SCI-Fidelity label, the SCI's new double live album shows why fans have been turning out in droves at group's concerts. "Carnival '99" offers plenty of live standards and straightforward bluegrass numbers as well as an eclectic mix of cover songs everything from jazz standards ("Take Five") to Meters classic ("Hey Pocky BALLET Continued from Page 12 save her people. Srirama said she "always wanted to do a piece where a princess was not just a princess, but also a warrior. I am interested in how women always had to be stereotyped as an extreme - one woman can only be this, or only do that - but, really, woman can take up several different roles." In her own way, and not intentional- ly, Messina is also violating what some people see as norms. Messina, a first year graduate student pursuing her masters in Urban Planning at the Uni- versity, was initially attracted to the troupe in a way that probably many of the other dancers were also drawn to the troupe. She went to a 1992 perfor- mance, "got chills watching it," and began to take classes. Where Messina differs from her dance colleagues is in her non-Indian background. In regards to this Messina remarked, "I have come across some people who kind of question whether they want me to perform as a white person, because it may not seem authentic. But this has never come from an Indian person - Indians are usually really excited that I'm interested." She said that being non-Indian can sometimes make learn- "ho"*courtesy or Maison Mouse Old hippies are a dime a dirty dozen. Way"). The jams, likewise, range from raucous rave-ups with Kang's electric mandolin leading the way to the laid- back, jazzy noodling that the Dead made famous. In addition to writing material for a new studio album, the SCI are preparing for their annual "international incident," which will be held Memorial Day week- end in Costa Rica and which Moseley expects about 700 fans to attend. If you can't swing the plane fare, however, you can catch the group a little closer to Ann Arbor when it appears Saturday night at the Majestic. ing the moves very difficult and she "really has to put in extra effort t learn to associate movement with syl- lables I don't know, but this also goes for Indian students." At one time Messina almost quit, but her, friends convinced her to continue. One of the reasons Indian dance can be so difficult is because it is so detailed. Srirama said that it is a dance with "definite rules." Messina added that it is "very much based on religion A lot of positions and movements are trying to imitate ancient sculptures on the temples of India. It is very rhyth- mic, it accentuates the beats. It is very structured, very precise. There are, for example, different levels of facial expression. We show anger, sadness, surprise - it is a big part of this style of dancing." Both women agree that another important aspect of Indian ballet i the elaborate jewelry and costumes On average the performers must spend at least two and a half-hours before their entrances dressing themselves for the stage. This is one of the more traditional aspects of a dance style that can be quite unique. Tickets to the performance of "Vahini" can be purchased by calling the Union ticket office at 763-TKTS. g But anyone who writes off the String Cheese Incident as just another face in Congratulations! The Handleman Company wishes to welcome our own "Fab Five" University Of Michigan graduates who will be beginning our Management Associate Training Program (now in .its 6th year) in June 2000. Go Blue! Kimberly Eder Meredith Koenigsberg Galen Maynard Sarah Moore