1 - The Michigan Daily -'eekend, etc..,Magazine =Orsday, December 2, 199 .~ ' W 1*-TeM cignDiy. e lec1 4;-" 4,,;ga - 44 ;L ; 1, 4,41'4 O 444sd Deem er4, ; , - +- 444 44Mm, 44-44 44i-,; ;;Wi W,,sM0 .Ii 8 C ° It's easy to get your arts event in The Local boys' funk gains attention List, the most widely read entertainment reference on campus. K: I By Jeff Schultz For the Daily All across the country, others realize the reputation University of- Michigan students carry with them - a reputation for working hard. Then there are:those who play hard. Some students like to end a week of studying by winding back on their, couches and throwing a movie in the VCR. Others? Well, sonie people like to dance all night, smile and sing, and just plain get funky. That's where the local band That's My Mama comes into the picture. That's My Mama is a four-piece band, originally formed here on campus two years ago. "Jon (Ratner, the bassist) and I played together in high school, and we'd been planning on forming a band when we got to Michigan," said drummer David Schwartz. By tle second semester of their freshman year, they had hooked up with Adam Kotok, the lead guitarist,. and Josh Eckhaus, former keyboard player. By the end of the school year, they were developing a repu- tation for blowing the roof off fra-. ternity houses,.like the gone yet not forgotten Phi Delta Theta. With the rep came i battalion of devoted local fans. "Yeah," Ratner said, "we started off covering anything from James Brown to Phish. but we've pretty much erased Phish from the reper- toire, moving on to more obscure and funkier (material), like: Galactic" And funk is their full-time goal when playing bars like Rick's and Touchdown's. At those times, the majority of the patrons are a virtual That's My Mama cult - up on their feet, dancing, and sometimes even singing along with Ratner, who is also 'Ihat's My Mama's lead vocal- ist. "I can't seem to choose which is better; Jon's bass playing, or his sweet vocals," said business school junior (and That's My Mama devo- tee) B.J. Hock- enberg. Keyboard speci a ist Eckhaus left That'S My the band. last Mama April, but he Rick's was swiftly Saturday at 10 p.m. succeeded by the dread- locked wonder, Paul Cox, who has no corn-t plaints. "I knew playing with these guys would be wild, and it's lived up my expectations," said Cox. "What makes it so much fun is just how much we feed off the energy of our fans. The more they get into the music, the better we play, and the more fun we have doing it." Cox pointed out he tries to add his own unique musical idiosyncrasies to bunch together with every note. "It's nearly impossible not to watch his hands when he solos. He really just blows my mind sometimes Call the' WeekendEditors at 763-0379. watching him rock," said Jodi Tepper, an LSA junior and Mama lover. Along with the pervasive funk, That's My Mama's eclectic array of musical influences includes names such as Joe Zawinul, Bob Dylan, and George Porter. "We cover artists anywhere from the Funky Meters to Stevie Wonder and the Grateful Dead, but we also have several original tunes," said Schwartz. Ever since That's My Mama received great reactions for the handful of original songs they have unleashed live, they have resolved to produce many more, some of which are now reportedly in the making. When listening to Schwartz on the drums, it is easy to tell he is holding his own in the rock drum- ming department, but he was actual- ly schooled as a jazz drummer. He brings the band a combination of energetic funk with his own creative rock motifs. That's My Mama also has a ten- dency to add extras to their live music, trying to surprise the bar crowd every show. Two horn players have paid them a few visits this year. "Our most exciting and memo- rable nights have been when the horns play with us," said Ratner. In addition, even a harmonica pliycr, Thomas Goss (no relation), has made a special guest appearanece. Goss might be more recognizablc to students for sharing his tunes with them in the Diag. That's My Mama is targeting an audience whose idea of fun is listen- ing to talented musicians, who enjoy good company or just want to gei down. Those who think they fill itc bill can find That's My Mama play- ing at Rick's on Saturday, Dec. 4, or at Touchdown Cafe next Thursday, Dec. 9th. Coverft his Saturday'so - shw at Rick's is $3. You must be 21 and have legai iD. If you have questons, call Rick s American Cafe at (734) 996-2747. _: 1 You are cordially invited to a celebration of life as Aids Awareness Week 1999 presents "Dancing Under the Stars" featuring Camp Heartland and other special guests Saturday, December 4,1999 8:00 p Michigan Union Ballroom Tickets $10, available at MUTO, 763-TKTS All proceeds o to benefit Camp Heartland Sponsored by UAC and We Can Help gold bond cleaners QUALITY DRY CLEANING & SHIRT SERVICE 332 Maynard (Across from Nickels Arcade) 668-6335 Formal Attire Refreshments will be served II