v v w w w -1 10B - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 7, 2004 7B - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 7, 2004 point counterpoint Soulive accentuates activism at Blind Pig POINT: GAY MARRIAGE IS GREAT! COUNTERPOINT: GAY MARRIAGE IS GREAT! Soulive, one of Music for America's headliners, fuse jazz, funk and soul to produce an utterly unique sound. By Michelle Kijek Daily Arts Writer When concertgoers strolled up to the Blind Pig on September 22, it was obvious an event of momentous proportions was about to ensue. It might have been the group of Music For America volunteers pac- ing up and down the line of people awaiting the show that triggered the excited eyes, but most likely it was the giant 40-foot recreational vehicle parked on the curb in front of the entrance to the venue that inspired such enthusiasm. And enthusiastic they should have been, as that night, Ann Arborites were privy to a performance by Soulive, a trio of musicians that melds jazz, funk, and soul together into a genre of music that needs no name. The electricity buzzed from one speaker to the next as fans clam- bered past the admittance counter and the merchandise tables, where eyes casually glanced at the table at the end of the line. The table itself was short a leg on one side and closed into tight quarters with the sound booth, but neverthe- less was an active force during the opener's set. It was the MFA booth, and were just as excited about get- ting people involved in government issues as they were in enjoying a night of auditory delight. In a move to create progressive political change by way of the arts, the MFA organization invited Soulive to play at the show to get the message out about the upcom- ing vote. But when the lights turned low and Eric Krasno on the lead gui- tar, Alan Evans on the drums and brother Neal on the organ, hopped onto the stage, nothing but their funkified beat was the focus of the evening. At every turn, Krasno showcased his talent with impro- vised guitar solos that had the entire audience drooling from the corners of their mouths. It was Neal Evans on the organs, though, that inevitably took control of the gold bond cleaners QUALITY DRY CLEANING & SHIRT SERVICE 332 Maynard (Across from Nickels Arcade) 668-6335 show. His skills on the organs sus- tained the momentum and punched out the climax of a majority of the songs. With a trumpet and saxophone to fill out the 1950s jazz club sound that Soulive revisits with each live performance, the band indulged the audience with a few oldies from more recent times, James Brown "Sex Machine" and Jimi Hendrix's "Cross-town Traffic." Both songs sizzled with new energy. "Wednesday's Soulive show was a blast," University student Zach Warlick commented. Warlick's fellow concertgoer, Kirk Whitelaw, added, "Based on what I've heard of their material, I was expecting a mellow set, but they rocked pretty hard and the crowd seemed to be feeling it. My favorite part of the set was when they played James Brown's, 'Sex Machine.' I also thought the addi- tion of the sax and trumpet was really cool. Those guys could real- ly wail." But in addition to a beautiful night of groovin', that little wood- en table squished behind the sound tables, where MFA sat diligently by, can't make their voice heard. In fact, more than 70 people signed up on the organization's e-mail list, of which the majority wrote that they would like to be volunteers. Tyler Price of Ypsilanti even got the materials needed to register to vote. "It's the perfect place to get people involved," he said. "These are the kind of people that might be not so sure if they're going to vote. Kathryn Russel, a Wayne State student, expressed her opinion as to whether the show was a success, "Definitely, people put their names down, they're gonna either be called or get e-mails and whatnot, they're gonna at least be informed of the organization and that's half of what you work for." She added, "I think it's a good target audience. If you're trying to look for a progressive vote, why not find it at fun shows such as Soulive." Il!' '" By Predator For the Daily The boil- ing political and social implica- tions surrounding Courtesy of FOX the inflammatory issue of gay marriage are what com- mand my attention - and hence, this column - this week. Dear citizens of a Free America: Let us preach against this injustice with the fierce tenor of radical change! No longer should two loving people - nor extra-terrestrials - be denied the basic right to celebrate that communion publicly, to have their joy validated by the small yet necessary tax breaks enjoyed by those linked in "traditional" matrimony. We mustn't let the cogs in the con- servative machine dictate the right to happily and legally join in marriage, especially when one of those cogs once covered his rippled chest in oily mud and engaged in a primal, exhilarating battle with yours truly (Arnold - you know how to reach me). Listen, I respect the conservative factions of this country as much as the next semi-machinated interstellar mass-murderer, but I simply must condemn this heinous usurping of civil liberty. I long for the day when I can walk down the street in my netted stockings and not be mocked openly by Michael Keaton (as if!). Cat Stevens gets bet- ter treatment on an econo-class trans- Atlantic flight than I get in your basic sports bar. Don't get me wrong: It's not like I'm ... gay, or something. Just because I keep my razor-tipped boomerangs clean and my stockings are completely trans- parent and so tight they cut off circula- tion to my feet doesn't mean I need to be ridiculed in public. I'm just standing up for the rights of "alternative" lifestyle space-travelers (and humans!) every- where. Someone's got to stick up for us ... them. If that person happens to have a few dozen Congo guerillas X-ed out on a tattooed, muscular forearm, then so be it. Courtesy of FOX extremely gay marriage. That's what life's about after all, right - being happy? I believe every man should seek out gayness in all facets in his life: his job, his car, his house and, of course, his wife. It's like George Washington wrote in the Constitution, "Every man should pur- sue life, liberty and the pursuit of happi- ness." I'm sure old George and Martha had a very gay marriage. I ran into my friend Scott Baio the other day at Starbucks, and we got to talk- ing about the election that's coming up By Alien For the Daily Of course I sup- port gay marriage! Who in his right mind wouldn't? My wife Joan Van Ark and I have an in a couple of months. I couldn't belie what he told me: Apparently our presid George Bush doesn't support gay m riage! I'll always vote Republican, but t is one issue I can't agree with George c If only there were more gay marriag in our country, then maybe our child would be better behaved. I think my k Chip and Debbie are turning out so w( because of the loving, supportive atn sphere created by the gay marriage Jc and I have. I don't want to bragbut I thi we represent the American dream: fall love, have a gay marriage and have tv beautiful, well-behaved children. You know who I think is behind th plot to ban gay marriage? Obi-Wan Lac and the rest of those Iranian terroris They hate our freedom, our liberty a our gayness. Having a gay marriage is ju one more way to defy those terrorists a tell them loud and clear: These colors not run. I i NOISE REDUCTION bcxily Arts Mix Tape NOS RE~UCTION 1. "Sound of Stereo" - Model 500 2."Nude Photo" -Rhyt Is Rhythim 3. "Clear" - Cybotron 4. "No UFOs" - Model 5. "Jupiter Jazz" -U derground Resistance- 6. "Move Me" - Eddie ° Fowkes 7a 7. "Substance Abuse" - Richie Hawtin 8. "Televised Green Smoke" - Carl Craig him 4500 In- 1. "Pump the Move" - E- Dancer 2. "Strings of Life" - Derrick May 3. "Future Shock" - DJ Godfather 4. "Juke" - Stacey Pullen 5. E.S.P. - Kenny Larkin 6. "Hyped ip Plus Tax" - Dabrye 7. "Nite Life" - Adult. 8. "bog bays" - Matthew Dear Total Time: 85:35 Techno, one of Detroit's most important musical exports, doesn't really get as much respect here as it doe in Europe. Daily Arts Writer Punit Mattoo presents a basic introduction to Detroit techno, starting with th( old school Belleville Three (Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May) who, under various aliases, created the dark, widely imitated Detroit techno sound. Also included is a visit to the second and third waves of artists wh have branched out from the original sound but haven't forgotten their musical roots. protoculture.com' heck-y eah a re