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Big Chief Comes Home
Saturday at St. Andrews Hall. It's for folks
18 and older. It's a steal at $8.50 a ticket
in advance, and doors open at 9 p.m. Call
961-MELT for more information.
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ARts
Wednesday
June 14,1995
Wilco rises from Tupelo's ashes.r
By Jennifer Buckley
Daily Arts Writer
One of last year's bigger music indus-
try surprises was the demise of Uncle Tu-
lo. After four albums of thoughtful, rag-
edly gorgeous country-rock, Jay Farrar,
one half of Tupelo's singing/songwriting
team, decided to leave the band at the peak
of their 12-year career, mystifying his
bandmates and disappointing Uncle
Tupelo's rapidly growing fan base.
"It was definitely the weirdest thing I'd
ever dealt with in a band," said former Tu-
pelo bassist John Stirrat. "It was really
amazing to me that they (Farrar and
songwriting partner Jeff Tweedy) would
op at that point. But I guess Jay had de-
WILCO
When: Thursday, June 15
Where:7th House, Pontiac
Tickets: Call 810-355-810 for info.
cided that he had had enough."
Farrar completed the tour supporting
"Anodyne," the band's highly acclaimed
ajor-label debut, and that was the end of
UncleTupelo. Fora few weeks, at least.
Realizing that the band had plenty of
creative mileage left to cover, Stirrat,
drummer Ken Coomer and stringman Max
Johnston went"deeply into debt" traveling
from their respective hometowns to re-
hearse some 30 songs Tweedy had written
but never recorded. After a few practices,
Stirrat realized, "There was just no ques-
tion that we would be playing together."
The remaining members of Uncle Tu-
pelo soon began recording Tweedy's songs
as Wilco ("will comply" in radio jargon)
and released their debut LP "A.M."on Re-
prise earlier this spring.
A typically Tupelo blend of country,
rock, and folk influences surface on
"A.M.," from the pop-perfect lilt of"I Must
Be High" and "Box Full of Letters" to the
Stones-style romp "Casino Queen" to the
yee-haw bluegrass of "That's Not the Is-
sue." Tweedy's boyish, sincere, creaking
tenor lends emotional weight to the
record's somber second side on the affect-
ing, acoustic "Dash 7" and "Blue Eyed
Soul," accented by the graceful pedal steel
of guest Lloyd Maines.
Stirrat contributes one song, the shuf-
fling acoustic ballad "It's Just That
Simple," to "A.M.," a trend he said may
continue on future Wilco efforts. "Next
time around it (the songwriting) shouldbe
a lot more collaborative."
Stirrat noticed a definite shift in the
band's attitude during the recording of
"A.M." and Wilco's current tour. "I don't
want to use the word 'lighthearted,' but it's
definitely not as serious of a band as Uncle
Tupelo," he revealed.
"With Tupelo, there were problems just
talking onstage. Jay never was much ofa com-
municator. There was sort of aheavy vibe that
I think Jayrepresented more than Jeff. Itwas
really morose touring towards the end."
Wilco's tour, though, is rolling along
just fine as "A.M." gathers speed critically
and commercially. Wilco complies, of
course, with audience requests for Uncle
Tupelo songs, usually rearranged but still
recognizable. "People really want to hear
it," Stirrat explained, "and at first it was the
only material we had to support us when
'A.M.' wasn't out. But the whole tone of
the band is a little more lighthearted."
So lighthearted, in fact, that in a mo-
ment of peace, love and understanding,
.
wilco will comply to your every wisn anout a country-rock Dana.
Wilco agreed to play at H.O.R.D.E., Makers joining Blues Traveler and head-
everyone's favorite hippie-rock summer liners The Black Crowes on the tour.
festival. "Yeah, we just found out not too Stirrat considers the roster "pretty ac-
long ago," said Stirrat a bit sheepishly. ceptable ... I'm proud to be playing with
"When I first heard H.O.R.D.E, I thought some of those bands."
no way." Still, Stirrat jokes, "I think the band
But this year's lineup drastically de- will grow beards for it."
parts from traditional H.O.R.D.E fare, And why not? After all, if there's
with Morphine, Dionne Farris, Sheryl anything Wilco has learned in the past
Crow and Ziggy Marley & the Melody year, it's how to comply.
Coen's comedy comes to Ann Arbor
By Kirk Miller
Daily Arts Writer
Considering the humor coming out of
Washington today, it's no surprise that come-
dian Jack Coen was featured on "Nightline"
for his views on the Clinton gays-in-the-mili-
tary debacle. "They ("Nightline") were drs-
cally looking for comics doing jokes on it,"
JACK COEN
When: June 15-17
Where: Mainstreet Comedy
Showcase
Tickets: $12; Call 996-9080 for Info
Coen explained over the phone.'"And I was,
so they came and filmedme andusedsome of
e jokes as the film piece before they
unched into discussion ... which I think
pretty ironic considering I barely got out of
high school and now I'm in on debate on
policy ofthe United States govemment."
So mark Coen, a popular vet ofthe com-
edy on theroadcircuit anda'TonightShow"
favorite,as part ofthe breedofcomedians that
weave their topical opinions intohumorlike
BillMaheror Dennis Miller.
Sometimes this includes finding hu-
mor in touchy subjects, like Bosnia. "I
ink it's more challenging to find what's
unny and ironic about them," he com-
mented. "At the computer today I wrote a
joke about the guy who was rescued. The{
two things I thought ofright away arehow z
insulated we are from what a war torn
country like Bosnia must be. This guy gets"
shot and survives five days in hostile ter- h 4
rain. I couldn't even imagine what that was
like ... well, once I got lost in the Mal of
America, and that was kind of scary.
But don't assume Coen is limited to
headlines. Although his political humor
helped him land a writing job for the mono-
logues onlHBO's excellent "Larry Sanders
Show," Coen also comments on relation- :
ships and his family (father of two). But his
appearance on Father's Day at Mainstreet -
Comedy Showcase won't bring any spe-:
cial material. "It just enhances the jokes I Mary J. Bilge - fried and dyed - got
have about my family." a lot of love from her fans at the Fox
Coen also scores points for his lack of a Theater last weekend.
gimmick.He takes ano-fiills approach to his
craft. "I'm more of a guy who comments N
about the condition, as opposed to being
the funny looking guy in the position," he De
said, later adding, "I don't do impressions
and I don't use props. I show up, turn the
mic on, turnon the spotlight, hopefully fac-
ing toward the audience, and there we go." Japanese Course 250 Division 401 Se
Not convinced yet?Ileave with asnappy Undergraduate Seminar in Japanese
one-liner,writtenthe day ofthe interview.
"I understand Budweiser paid for 3 credits,
Mickey Mantle's liver transplant," Coen MTWTh 3:00-4:30 pm
started. "They said, 'For all you do, this 2212 MLB
liver's foryou"' Instructor, Lili Selden
Mary J. obliges her loving audience
By Eugene Bowen
Daily Arts Writer
After a disappointing cancellation of
her April dates to appear at the Fox The- Mary J.Blige
ater, Mary J. Blige has made good on herF T
promise to appear in Detroit. Her two-day Fox Theatre
appearance was, in every way, shape and June 2, 1995
form, a great success.
Opening for Mary J. Blige was the a little more "hip" in the hip-hop, techno
four-member singing group, sounds.
BLACKstreet. This brainchild of former Mary J. Blige hadsome big shoes to fil
Guy member Teddy Riley performed a va- upon coming on stage, and fill them sht
riety of songs found on the group's epony- did. The stage was flooded in a thick
mous debut. Dressed in sparkling white stream of rich royal blue light and the
from head to toe,this quartet sung a variety sound of Blige's voicehumming servedas
of love songs and ballads such as preparation for her spectacular entrance
"Tonight's the Night" and "Before I Let She rose to the top of a makeshift staircas
You Go." The group ended singing the old- in a throne wearing sunglasses (which she
school Guy jam,"It's Just a Fantasy," with SEE BLIGE, PAGE 1
Q
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EW SUMMER TERM COURSES
partment of Asian Languages and Cultures
3070 Frieze Building 764-8286
ction and Film Yoga: Philosophy and Practice
ction 001 South and Southeast Asian Course 240, Division 483
Culture Section 201 Topic, Asian Culture
4:
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M,W 6:00-9:00 pm
2436 SEB
Instructor, Mahesh Mehta
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since 1975
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a It's Worth the Trip!
Get to know Japanese culture and
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