Friday Aril 11, 2003 michigandaily.com mae@michigandaily.com ARTS 5 I Author Ayers arrives in Ann Arbor By Neal Pais Daily Arts Writer At a time when Ann Arbor served as the cradle of political radicalism, Bill Ayers was the vanguard of stu- dent activism. A prominent member of the Ann Arbor-founded Students for a Democratic Society, and later leader of the Weathermen (a militant faction of the SDS), Ayers was one of the principle architects of a revo- lution that inspired pro- found political dissent through- out the 1960s and '70s. Today - some 30 years later - Ayers, a Bill Ayers Fugitive Days Tonight at 8 p.m. At Shaman Drum Courtesy of DreamWorks Nice day for a white wedding! By Joel Daily Mu Afte rock o throug record hardco band h enthus record- A.F.] just Hu increas .receive general going t there ai up to n Alth gain pc stream from w noticed Hunt duction ments compliz EN FUEGO HARDCORE' S FAVORITE SONS A.F.I. HIT DETROIT 1 M. Hoard - sets them apart from other hard rock acts: "Not a usic Editor lot of bands pay attention to that. We're trying to add a new dimension to our sound." Elements of punk, hard rock and goth combine with catchy hooks to form a style that isn't easily pigeonholed. r a decade of relative anonymity, California A.F.I.'s attitude in the studio represents a vast utfit A.F.I. (A Fire Inside) finally broke departure from the it's-fine-as-long-as-it's-loud h this year with Sing the Sorrow, their first approach taken by their hard rock and punk forefa- for DreamWorks and sixth overall. Blending a thers. The group takes a rather businesslike mindset re sound with first-rate studio production, the when writing and recording. "When it comes down to as made a record that appeals to both punk songwriting we generally know where we are trying ;iasts and the mainstream to go. As a band we know it's important to do what's [buying public. A.F.l best with the songs," Hunter said. I. bassist Hunter (yeah, it's unday at 9 p.m According to Hunter, the band draws on a wide nter) attributes some of the u a ' variety of material from the world of rock and sed attention that band has ClearChannel ' beyond. Personally, Hunter finds inspiration in "all d to the resurgence of rock in sorts of different places. I love Elvis Costello and . "Any sort of public focus is Prince. I listen to a lot of Motown, jazz." to help rock bands. Definitely it helps when For their live shows, A.F.I. try to bring the massive, re more bands in the focus. People are opening layered sound of their most recent record to the stage: ew types of music," he said. "We're trying to create the studio sound live as well ough the rock renaissance has helped the band and take the audience to a new level. It's working opularity, Hunter admitted that finding main- pretty well, Hunter said." success was never at the forefront: "Coming Currently on tour to support Sing the Sorrow, A.F.I. where we're coming from we haven't really will play at a sold-out Clutch Cargo's on Sunday night what the mainstream focus was." with openers the Explosion and Blood Brothers. er thinks his band's interest in polished pro- What's next for the band? "I think we'll do exactly - which incorporates a wide range of instru- the same thing as we've always done. I imagine after including piano, bells and strings to this tour cycle in a year or two, we'll really focus on ment lead singer Davey Havok's soaring vocals writing." You can't argue with results. one-time fugitive from the law, makes a return to the University to discuss his reflections upon his tumultuous life as an activist and his regrets about some of his actions. Reading tonight from his recently published "Fugitive Days," Ayers will provide current students with a riveting account of a generation characterized by countercultural dis- illusionment, virulent anti-govern- ment sentiment and extreme political polarization. The memoir traces Ayers' days as a University student to his life in hiding as part of The Weather Underground, the group that inspired a titular docu- mentary by Sam Green and Bill Siegel. "Fugitive Days" seamlessly juxta- poses the tumult of the '60s with Ayers' awe-inspiring personal histo- ry. The book opens with a haunting prelude - a flashback reference to the accidental death of Ayers' former lover, Diana Oughton. Setting the' lamentable tone for the rest of the memoir, Ayers' frenetic thoughts are layered on top of his personal narra- tives. He writes, "Memory is a motherfucker," a statement indica- tive of the compunction he feels over the activities he engaged insas part of the Weathermen. The book is largely around the storied history of the infamous out- fit. Formed in 1968, the Weather Underground was initially estab- lished as a response to what the more radical members of the SDS felt was an unjust war in Vietnam. Headed by Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn, the Weathermen quickly pro- pelled themselves to the forefront of radical activism. Drawing their name from a Bob Dylan lyric, the group broke away from non-violent protest,, believing in bare aggression as a means to bring about social reform. Cooperat- ing with the Black Panthers, they engineered Chicago's "Days of Rage," during which time hundreds of protesters violently confronted city police in an effort to "bring the war back home." Among their other high-profile activities were the springing of LSD guru Timothy Leary and the bloodless bombing of the Capitol Building. Lying at the center of the book is the explosion that killed Diana Oughton and two comrades in one of the New York "cells" of the Weather Underground. The tragic accident ultimately prompted the leadership of the Weathermen to go deep under- ground. Continuing with several bombings of key federal targets, Ayers and close friend Dohrn eventu- ally reached criminal prominence with their placement on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. "Fugitive Days" also chronicles the 10 years Ayers spent running from the law, stealing explosives and practicing "tradecraft." Throughout his book, Ayers maintains a unique perspective on his crimes; He writes openly about the mistakes that he made, yet remains resolute about what he per- ceives was right. His account is thus remarkably honest, and provides readers with a window to one of our nation's most incendiary periods. Now a professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago and happily married to Bernadine Dohrn, Ayers enjoys a life of relative normality. The disparity between this respectable existence and that as the elusive leader of a band of stu- dent militants is nearly inconceiv- able. As Ann Arbor welcomes him once again (during its own period of discord), students may learn about a similarly controversy-laden chapter of University history. Perhaps older members of the community might re-live old memories, too. Morbid 'Friends' no 'Itchy & Scratchy' By Jason Roberts Daily Arts Editor PiAPPY TRE FNV The Brazilian invasion stops at EMU By Lynn Hasselbarth Daily Arts Writer Daniela Mercury and her Afro- Brazilian Dance Party will culminate the University Musical Society's yearlong Brazil Festival this Saturday at the EMU Convocation Center at Eastern Michigan University. A night of sultry vocals, samba rhythms and a Brazilian flair that breathes life and vitality, this performance is sure to be a powerful and electrifying event. Singer-dancer Daniela Mercury will grace the stage with this unique one-time performance, singing a wide range of traditional Brazilian ballads while incorporating pop, techno, funk and hip-hop. She is joined by a tal- ented group of backup singers, dancers and musicians, who collaborate in the atmosphere of an energetic Brazilian dance themes and emotions, Mercury appeals to all audiences, striking at our needs to move and express, relax and let go. As one of the world's most suc- cessful Brazilian artists, Mercury intends to carry on the tradition of Bahian music with its assertion of black culture and celebration of life. However, as her U.S. manager, Leti- cia Montalvo notes, Mercury is "truly a woman of the world." She recreates herself every year, bringing fresh ele- ments to albums and world tours. Her most recent project is a compilation acoustic album sponsored by MTV, which includes various artists from Europe and South America. While her commitment to Brazilian roots is essential to her mission, Mer- cury's presence on stage is enough to solidify an enormous fan base. Audi- ences embrace her music and irre- sistible energy, her graceful command of the stage and her radiat- ing warmth. She travels every year to adoring fans in Europe and the Unit- ed States, performing at festivals and sold out solo performances. She is revered as the highest-selling artist in Portugal, where her album and tour sales top that of Madonna and the Beatles. This June she returns to the United States for a two week tour that stops in San Francisco, Montreal and Tampa Bay, to name a few. Saturday's performance marks a special one- time event, as it is Mercury's first Michigan appearance. Mercury's versatility is endless, p U In true "Itchy and Scratchy" fash- ion, "Happy "Tree Friends, Volume 1: First Blood" -has brought the grue- some hack and slash cartoon to the forefront. While trying to deliver humor through violence alone, this oddball anima- _ tion disappoints H far more than it Happy Tree satisfies. Friends In short, Ventura Distribution "Happy Tree Friends" features a group of cute, cuddly animals, consisting of brightly animated squirrels, bears, moose, beavers, and the like, that all get hor- ribly and viciously mutilated, electro- cuted, decapitated, torched, impaled, dismembered, sliced, diced or other- wise destroyed in each of the 14 episodes. Though it may elicit laughs through shock value alone, the DVD is nothing more than a web site on disc. This type of gross-out humor has already been explored and exploited with Internet sites such as joecartoon.com, which feature short animations of bizarre and over-the- top violence. While some of the episodes, such as "Treasure These Idol Moments," seem more thoroughly conceived and better thought out, most end up feel- ing like nothing more than cop-out methods to destroy these little crea- tures in the most unusual and grue- some ways possible. It may be amusing once or twice, but it quickly runs its course. The extra features included on the disc are unimpressive. Aside from the standard creator's commentary and voiced-over sketchbooks, there are four interactive "Smoochies," fuzzy critters that you're allowed to destroy and dismember through three differ- Show: *4 Picture/Sound: *** Features: ** r. ent and unique means. While admit- tedly funnier and more clever than most of the standard episodes, in the end, the "Smoochies" wind up fol- lowing the same formula as the infa- mous "Hamster in a Microwave' and "Frog in a Blender" stints of joecar- toon.com. The sketchbook commen- tary provides a few laughs as the creators mock each other and laugh over sketches of the early, conceptual Tree Friends, but there's nothing too spectacular about it. The other features, including the original "Happy Tree Friends" cartoon, "Banjo Frenzy," as well as playing card style biographies on each of the Tree Friends and pop-up video like com- mentary over each of the episodes, are hardly worth mentioning. Fans that have followed "Happy Tree Friends" across the Internet and through the Spike and Mike Twisted Animation Festival may get a kick out of the DVD and the fact that they won't have to wait for the cartoons to buffer because of slow bandwidth; others will find the humor and the originality lacking. Afro-Brazilian Dance Party Saturday at 9 p.m. $10 Students $35 Adults At the EMU Convocation Center party. The show resonates the sounds and movements of Mercury's native homein Bahia, Brazil. A thriving multicultural center, Bahia has a distinct musical flavor. Its traditional music, known as Axe, combines African and Latino rhythms and melodies. Mercury expands on this, creating a highly diverse reper- toire based on a hybrid style called samba-reggae. While this style of music evokes a certain social con- sciousness and critiques of race rela- tions, Mercury's lyrics also speak of the passion, the love and the sheer joy of life fulfilled. With such universal g g g g Courtesy of UMS Lose yourself in the music, the moment! sustained by an overflowing source of energy and passion. She is an extremely uplifting and inspiring individual and her performances con- vey this dynamic personality. Satur- day night will be a "truly irresistible experience" regardless of one's musi- cal tastes, and an escape into a color- ful and vibrant world. An artist interview and reception honoring Mercury will be held at the School of Social Work Building today at 4 p.m. The event is free and open to public. SCOREKEEPERS.,i tip. Gvc75 CALL U E IL A M 0 DINKS TANQUERAY JACK FRIDAY , ~1 -i putnStorage " All Units Indoors * Temperature Controlled " Close to Campus " Safe and Clean Call for a Reservation Now! 1251 Rosewood, Ann Arbor 663-0690 jg0 Jobs!!! Spring/Summer Term Apply noy at the Law Library *non-law Students *Law Students "S.I. Students t* Gamma Sigma Alpha National Greek Academic Honor Socie t Alpha Omicron Chapter - University of Michigan Congratulations to all Fall 2002 New Members new and current members! Tracy Bell Justin Hansen Jeff Nelson Heather Rudy Lauren Bok Joanna Jacobus i Ashley Olauson Melanie Schlesinger Christy Dietrich Matthew Jubelirer Brianne Page Stephanie Thomas Lindsay Granet Melissa McGinnis Dan Phillips Erika Waddell Julie Goutman Lauren Mendelson Matthew Raeburn Winter 2003 New Members Sarah Bederman Rachel Sacks Lynne Josefowicz Dannielle Sita Rebecca Paroby Lisa Zakaria Logan Rich I I