ARTS
The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 6, 2001- 13A
Last of Warped Tour offers more than just mediocre punk
By Jeremy Peters
Daily Arts Writer
All good things must come to an
end. Luckily for Michigan punk and
Vans
Warped Tour
Phoenix Plaza
August 12, 2001
ska fans, this
good thing came
to an end in Pon-
tiac. After trudg-
ing around the
U.S. for 45
dates, the Vans
Warped Tour
made its last
stop of the sum-
mer in south-
w e s t e r n
Michigan.
From the start
it was obvious
that the bands
However, the sell-out attendance of
nearly 15,000 provided ample reason
to put on one last good show.
The large lineup of bands, encom-
passing six stages in all, began at
12:30 p.m. with a set by the ever-
raunchy Cool Keith, and ended eight
hours later with Me First and the
Gimme Gimmes. Though some bands
who were originally scheduled to
play did not show, such as Alien Ant
Farm -who reportedly left the tour
for unspecified reasons that may
amount to prepping for their upcom-
ing tour with 311, or the fact that
they felt slighted that they were dele-
gated to the second stage - there
was still a gargantuan amount of
music on this Tour.
Other groups originally on the bill
included New Found Glory and
Jimmy Eat World, who also left the
tour early to begin prepping for
upcoming tours, and rappers D12 and
Esham, were forced to leave the tour
due to incidents of fighting which
broke out during the tour's Camden,
N.J. stop.
Aside from the massive selection
of music possible, there were also
many other sources of entertainment
to choose from. Highly touted
Incredibly Strange Wrestling troupe,
provided an interesting addition to
the musical focus of the tour. Audi-
ence members were tossed flour tor-
tillas, which they were allowed to
throw at the wrestlers, the announcer
or the ref. Warped Tour audiences
were also treated to such non-musical
entertainment as a local and pro
skateboarding competition, dirt and
bmx bike stunt racing, as well as
multiple merchandise tents represent-
ing the numerous bands and record
labels in attendance.
Though possibly not a place to
hear the most spectacular musical
offerings, the Warped Tour provided
a small stage for a small group of
local bands. The stage was often not
well attended, but such groups as
Strapped to a Rocket and Lazy Amer-
ican Workers drew steady crowds.
Overall, through all the trash and
grime, the possibility for violence but
lack thereof, the sight of 15- and 30-
year-olds crowdsurfing and the ever-
stinging four dollar slice of pizza
once you are in the venue, the tour -
at least the stop in Pontiac - was a
success. Despite the ability to easily
feel overwhelmed during the eight
hour experience, it was definitely a
well spent $30 or $40.
Less than Jake kept Warped Tour blowing.
were tired and road-worn, ready to
take a break from touring for a bit.
Novel uses music for message
By Beatrice Marovich
For the Daily
Ann Patchett's most recent novel,
"Bel Canto;' is in itself a beautiful song.
When it starts, the narrative is stiff and
Bel Canto
Ann Patchett
Grade: B
Harper collins
impersonal, but it
begins to color
and take on life as
we become
acquainted with
Patchett's array of
characters. Of
course, the story
is not without
some of the char-
acteristic drama
that belongs to
opera itself.
Patchett has creat-
ed a dazzling
world of strange
u
American vice president's living room,
when a group of terrorists burst in
through the air-conditioning vents. They
call themselves "La Familia de Martin
Suarez."
They are looking for the President of
the South American country who is,
sadly, not present. The Vice President
spitefully informs them that he has
stayed home because he could not bear
to miss the special evening episode of
his favorite soap opera. The terrorists,
angry and confused, their well-laid plans
foiled, move in for the long haul. By the
next afternoon they have released all of
the women and children but one, the
beautiful Roxanne Coss.
So begins a story in which terrorists
and their hostages create a dynamic
makeshift world within the spacious
home of the Vice President. Relation-
ships are at first a little fragile, and
alliances are unexpected. The fact that.
nearly everyone in the house speaks a
different language makes initial com-
munication difficult.
Language becomes less and less
important as the captives and terrorists
develop other forms of communication.
They play chess and soccer. They sit in
silence. They enjoy opera. Each day
begins with a performance by Ms. Coss
and an unlikely accompanist. Words are
unnecessary; a love affair begins
between Coss and a male terrorist, two
people who understand nothing of what
the other says. But this is marginal; what
they share is the experience they are
having. Their lives on the outside could
not be more different, but in the house
of the vice-president, they share the
same reality. They learn new ways of
regarding the world. Terrorists and
hostages alike begin to reflect that per-
haps this way of life beats anything they
had experienced on the "outside."
Stranger than fiction, it seems. And
really, it is. Patchett began the novel fol-
lowing the takeover of the real-life
Japanese embassy in Lima, Peru. They
ordered pizzas, Patchett heard. They
watched soap operas. The author was
fascinated by the fact that after a few
weeks, the story fell out of the news, but
the lives of those involved continued
with as much intensity and drama as ,
they ever had. The lives of her charac-
ter- are filled with that same energy.
Welcome Back
Students
Watch for future ads entitled
Food For Thought
I do not do business with
UM or UM students. I simply
want to offer information that
may or may not be counter
to what you have been
exposed to in the past.
Gary Lillie & Assoc., Realtors
www.garylillie.com
love, tragedy, friendship and the unex-
pected power of music.
A story that explores the most
unimagined places begins at a birthday
party for a powerful Japanese executive.
His name is Mr. Hosokawa, and the
party is intended to be a bribe of sorts.
The government of an unnamed South
American country has invited celebrated
soprano Roxanne Coss to perform,
knowing that the opera-loving business-
man would be unable to refuse his invi-
tation. Everyone hopes that he will
agree to build a factory in their country,
giving the lagging economy a boost.
Everything is running smoothly, with all
of the guests collected in the South
Wkq
...........
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