12- The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, July 5, 1995 Outrageous Cherry M : sweeten the local scene By Heather Phares Daily Arts Editor Let's face it, accidents happen. But sometimes accidents can be a powerful cre- ative force, especially when itcomes to the ever-changing music world. Matthew Smith, the leader of Detroit's finest pop band, Outrageous Cherry,knows all about the positive effects of accidents. The band was even formed that way: "The people involved (in the band) came together by jamming together in basements. I was asked to put together a tape of my songs by the Replacements' manager, and he wanted to hear my songs with a band. So I put the band together for a four song tape. Ididn't want to be the frontman for a band, but the minute I got together with Chad (Gilchrist, the group's bassist) and Larry (Ray, the lead guitarist) and our original drummer Suzanne, we just knew we were a band. Of course, when we sent the tape in to the guy, he hated it! But at least I was happy with it," Smith laughed. Outrageous Cherry also fell into their unusual name, and like everything con- nected with the band, it has astory attached to it. "Actually, a friend of mine made up thename," Smith explained laconically. "It was from a project we were working onto- gether that sort of fell by the wayside. Her idea was an all-girl band that sounded like Petula Clark, but that fell apart. What we were doing seemed to be a continuation of that project; even though we have this re- ally raw approach, we want our songs to be as catchy as Petula Clark's." By any standards, Smith's songs are catchy. The fuzzy pop exhibited on Outra- geous Cherry's eponymous debut albumis both '60s retro and'90s clever,not to men- tion just plain fun to listen to. But Smith doesn't stick to playing just one kind of music; he's played with local acts as di- verse as the country-rock group the Volebeats and the noisy dream-pop of His Name Is Alive's offshoot the Dirt Eaters. How does he balance this much musical diversity?"I've developed an acute person- ality disorder," Smith joked. He added Outrageous Cherry help keep the local music scene vital. Beale Street Blues this five-piece blues band appears at Chris' Lounge and Grill (220 Oakwood, Detroit, between Fort and Shaefer) on this Saturday, July 8. Since 1993, Beale Street has been playing a variety of blues styles like gshicago blues, jump blues and Texas blues. The band cites influences from the old (B.B. King) to the new and obscure (Lou AnneBarton). Their straight-ahead style and insistent groove make them an enduring and enjoyable live band. Call 8494099 for more information. Cool off with a COLLI DER! Choose any of our 22 Fruit, Cereal, and Candy Toppings to Create your own Colombo Non-Fat Frozen Yogurt Shake! Also Featuring: Charbroiled Sandwiches and Fresh Salads Daily House Specials! 812 South State Street 769-5650 more seriously, "I never have felt com- pelled to be a musician in just one band. I get bored really easily. I've always felt driven to play as many different types of music as Ican." He also likes to record as much as pos- sible. Though his band has been touring increasingly (including a recent gig with Wilco) Smith said,"I like recording. Play- ing shows is fun butI really miss working in the studio. Given the choice between touring and meeting all kinds of interesting people and being in acold, dark basement with a tape machine, Ithink I'd rather be it the basement!"he laughed. Keeping up with the local musicscen( is another one of Smith's vocations an avocations: "I think it's the most vital mu sic scene in the world outside of Nev Zealand," he said. "The creative people i Detroit have found an outlet for their wo4 instead of sitting in their bedrooms an( having nervous breakdowns. The band just go out and make music because the} are possessed by it." Much like Smith him self, and that's no accident. Jerry and the rest of the Dead take a long, strange trip to the P By Jon Altshul The boys were clearly in top-form and mic celebration before Vince tapped out fluke, the Dead broke For the Daily even a brief foray into the annals of Jerry the unmistakable "Foolish Heart" piano "Loser," in which Jerry del Somewhere God was smiling kindly, balladeria (A la "Ramble on Rose") lick, driving the audience into an un- est performance of the eve knowing that he'd scheduled the two ugli- couldn't sink the aural armada the Dead abashed frenzy. Even Jerry's complete In all, however, the nig est days of summer to coincide perfectly were sailing. slaughtering of the first verse couldn't de- Bobby, who lead the gro with the only indoor shows of the Grateful The Dead finished out the set with an rail the Dead. However, he more than ex- monstrous "Black Throatc Dead'ssummertour. undanceable "Queen Jane Approxi- oneratedhimself with aheavenly solothat then a perfectly focused And while the cold rain extinguished mately,"a fresh "Lazy River Road"and an seemed to tread somewhere between Jupi- Never Stopped" to closer every gas grill and hack circle in the park- upbeat "Etemity," before closing with the ter andIowa. not before Phil Lesh coul ing lot- and even raised false hopes of a ever-popular "Don't Ease MeIn." And while "Foolish Heart" may have way through Dylan's "T "Looks Like Rain"-Dead faithful were beentheshow'shighlight,Vince's"It'sAll Blues" and Jerry could unfazed. After all, the boys were in town tEVi E. Too Much," which followed, glowed steamrolling "Big Railroat for a two night gig, and a real, American j equally bright, despite the crowd'sgeneral Granted, Jerry got onei clambake was about to happen. Grateful Dead non-reaction. What came next ("Corrina," every four that he got wror The first show kicked off smoothly The l "The Last Time") however, was merely dampening any musical co with a rollicking "Greatest Story Ever J a2819 average. Even "Standing On the Moon," first two verses might hav Told," followed by an equally energetic June 27 and 28,1995 one of the better recent Dead numbers, as every god-fearing Deas "Bertha," which, despite a few lyrical mis- failed to transcend the obvious. the worse they sing, the be cues by Jerry Garcia, established a carefree Sadly, the end of the set lacked the When it seemed that the band had ex- And play they did, disc karma between musician and audience. vigor and playfulness of the beginning, but hausted its juju, though, Bobby tookcenter Cat" into an amorphous j Bobby kept spirits soaring with an assertive the boys seemed to be having a great time, stage with a refreshing "Sugar Magnolia" nally catalyzed a sort of r "Minglewood Blues," which climaxed and as the ominous sound of thunder vi- into "Sunshine Daydream"toclose the set. war, pitting Bobby and] with two ticklish solos from Vince brated outside during set break, that Thesong blossomedintoakaleidoscopeof rhythmic interplay agai Welnick and Bobby Weir. seemed to be all that mattered. unmitigated fun with Bobby dancing Vince's melodic bravado A.tIrlygrtn"-ctimortlf_-senme" a1tounotne ..ageii_..e-st .,..-y..1..r-oiOA, pisying . ou, n~."t alace out a kille ivered his fin sing. ht belongedt up through ed Wind" an "The Music ut the set, bu id screech hi om Thumb' pound out d Blues." word right fo rg, ultimat alescence t e offered. Bu ihead knows tter they play. arding "Chin am, which fi usical tug-of- Phil's subtle nst Jerry an . As Bobby' T r 1, ' i ST IR A arygaing "Victim or the Crime" opened the second set, before releasing into a wicked, limb-shaking jam. The jam moved from smooth blues into a cataclys- Students: "If your hair isn't becoming to you, you should be coming-10 us." around the stage like a f5-year-old, playing out some wholesome adolescent fantasy of being a power trio rock star. His perfor- mance was laughably terrific, and the audi- ence responded appropriately. "Liberty" encored the show, but by this time the crowd's attention had clearly drifted. The next evening opened with an ad- venturous "Mississippi Half Step Uptown Toodeloo," that once again established an up tempo for the first set. After an aggres- sive, feelgood "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" which confirmed yesterday's nimi io firc ctnnvthinc b~ n "6 Stylists *No Waiting op s y Liberty off State 668-9329 -Think You're Pregnant?___ Free Pregnancy Test " Information about pregnancy K-mart and options WASHYSNAW* e ' COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL o * Colleg Pregnancy Counseling Center lg lPACKARD Women Helping Women [pilanti (313) 434-3088 (24 hours) High__ chool 2950 Packard, Ypsilanti, MI (1 Block East of Golfside) Absolom rebelled against Jerry, sJDa Jerry seemed to tire, allowing the pro gal son to retuin to his father in return for rock and roll's ultimate tribute to the ar- chetypal lost traveler finding shelter, "I Know You Rider." As the opus played out and the six maestros exchanged ten der, sweat-soaked smiles between them selves, the temporal man was allowed one sweet, long stare into the celestial paradise that the band had concocted. This heaven-on-earth motif realized it- self again in "Estimated Prophet," wl builtitselfup perfectly soas to emphasize the relentless anticipation of attaining sal- vation. Yet, the set offered more than philo- sophical andspiritualbaggage, particularly when the group moved into a feel-good "Uncle John's Band," which no one seemed to remember the words to. Still. when Bobby belted out "how does this song go?" he flashed a quick grin at Jerry who allowedhimselfaknowingchuckle. As the show ended and the audie@ waspermiuedonelastglimpseoftheboys wewerereminded-perhaps, formanyol usforthe lasttime-oftheunmistakabk beauty of six old geezers, warts, wrinkles and all, who, gosh damit,just love to play UEATHIIT5, AND UIUTTUN flATO. 304 S. State Street . 4 doors South of Liberty 998-3480 Open Monday Through Friday 9 AM-7 PM, Sat 10-7, Sun 10-6