Wednesday, May 24, 1995 - The Michigan Daily - 1i 'White Riot,''White Noise,' Kirk Miller return of Detroit's adapted favorite )aily Arts Writer metal band performing for their largest The most unusual and most deserved crowd yet in their favorite city. uccess story of 1995 has been the ascent "We were the house band at Harpo's >f White Zombie into the Billboard Top for awhile,"guitarist J. quipped during a en for five weeks straight, a fact lead phone interview earlier in the week. "The inger Rob Zombie let no one forget at show's (eventually) got bigger and big- ger. Detroit's really good for us, because everyone's insane ... It's like lead in the - :< water from the auto factories." No kidding. Even during the 40 White Zombie minute interlude before the band came State Fairground Coliseum on, leather clad kids and drunken biker gang rejects were already moshing to the May 21, 1995 tape loops of teenybopper '50s b-horror movies piped in over the P.A. system. By the time the band kicked into the opening he end of Sunday's concert. chords of "Electric Head Pt. 1" the front "We're ahead of all that stuff you of the stage had morphed into a massive ove to hate," he yelled to boisterous swarm of flailing metal T-shirts and big igreement from the crowd. "Come on, is poofy hair fighting for space. here anybody out there that actually Considering the complexity of their es Hootie and the Blowfish? What is new record, "Astro-Creep 2000," it was ong with the youth of America today? amazing that the band managed to bring [hey're becoming a bunch of pussies." most of it to stage and more. Sonically the However, this "bunch of pussies" band eventually overcame the samples 5,000 of us wacky felines) was clearly (created on record by Rob and the key- >n Rob's side, witnessing the triumphant board player from Nine Inch Nails) and White Zombie programmed beats to showcase their own skills; highlights like "I Zombie" were transformed into volumunous sheets of white noise, while older tracks such as "Welcome to the Planet Motherfuckers" showed off their impressive Kiss/Sabbath roots. As a four time Zombie attendee this was easily their best stage show and tight- est musical performance. "There's so much crap going on this time, it's impossible to get it together," J. explained about the extensive light and video show going on in the background. Working with a set that could only be de- scribed as "Ed Wood does 'Cats,"'various clips of'50s horror movies and syncopated strobe lights fought for attention next to the dense layer of sound. What the concert might have lacked in spontaneity was more than made up for with its whacked out pro- duction values. Lights! Explosions! Crotch thrusting by all the band members! Drawing exclusively from their last two records (except for an encore cover of Black Sabbath's "Children of the Grave") White Zombie proved that hard music in the '90s doesn't have to have angst or be stripped down to acceptable "punk" Jeff Buckley and his amazing 'Grace' come to St. Andrew's Hall efore singer / songwriter Jeff Buckley began rolling around in the MTV Buzz Bin with the likes of Elastica and Radiohead, he played 14-minute covers of "The Way Young Lovers Do" in coffeehouses and bars, including our own Espresso Royale. After the release of his Columbia debut album "Grace," however, critics fell over themselves praising his astonishing talent and range of usical influences. Buckley's cover choices on "Grace" include Nina Simone's sweet, heady "Lilac Wine,' Leonard Cohen's desperate "Hallelujah" and British composer Benjamin Britten's "Corpus Christi Carol." While a maddeningly self- indulgent performer, Buckley still manages to enthrall audiences with his voice, an instrument of astounding versatility and virtuosity retched to its full capabilities on race." His strong countertenor isn't afraid to tremble, swoon or scream when the music requires such dramatics, though occasionally he overdoes it. His performances are just as rangy as his voice - sometimes brilliant; sometimes even his band looks bored. His towering ewsletters Newsletters Newsletters Newsletters Big savings on newsletters for all clubs, businesses, and organizations. talent as a vocalist and songwriter Andrew's Hall with the angst-filled makes attending this show queen of girly pop, Juliana Hatfield. worthwhile. Buckley shares the Cold Water Flat rounds out the bill. spotlight at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Call 961-MELT for more information. great scor Kaplan helps you focus your test prep study where you need it most. We'll show you the proven skills and test- taking techniques that help you get a higher score. great Skiils... Kaplan has the most complete arsenal of test prep tools available. From videos to software to virtual reality practice tests with computerized analysis to great teachers who really care, nobody offers you more ways to practice. CALL: 1-800-KAP-TEST get a higher score KAPLAN