Hey hey, we're the Pottymouths ...
No, it's actually the Restroom Poets, one of the finest rock bands in
town. Their brand of heavy, insigthful modern rock has made them a
local favorite since their beginning. They play the Blind Pig tonight with
another Ann Arbor fave, Tyrone's Power wheel. Their funky brand of hard Page 10
musichas definitely put them on the map. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. For Priday,
more information, call 996-8585.St ri5,
September 151995
Bues and azz fest kck off .
By David Cook And those who haven't forgotten..
Daily Arts Writer ANN ARBOR BLUES songs of the '60s might be interested
:- the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz to hear of Fontella Bass' show clos-
festival is good enough for Col Aing out the festival Sunday evening.
ruce Hampton, then it's probably When: September 15, 16 and 17 One of her musical claims to fame is
gboo' enough for you too. Where:Michigari Theater and Gollu the Motown hit "Rescue Me" from
V ord has it that the legendary Park 1966. After taking some time off from
'and leader - who was last seen Tickets Gallup Park shows are $10 recording and performing, Bass is
jumping ship from the super-funky for students $14 in advance and back and has been moving more to-
Aquarium Rescue Unit to front the $16 at the gate for others; Miehgan wards gospel, as evidenced on her
Fjji Mariners, both members of this Theater shows are $35 and $20 in newest album, "No Ways Tired
sxnmner's H.O.R.D.E. tour - had to WEMU radio has recently described
ch ose between driving up from her as "one of the most convincing ,
Atlanta last year to see either night this weekend, and plenty of singers you will ever hear."
Woodstock '94 or Ann Arbor's own other great bands will be sharing Even though the "Blues" might
Blues and Jazz Festival, and he the stages in between. Start with come first on the bill, the "Jazz" part
chose the latter. If you're not sure tonight's show at the Michigan The- of the show will be strong as well.
what to do with your weekend yet, ater: Two-time Grammy winner Dr. Recent Blue Note signee Cassandra
the five minute amble down to the John will take part in the "Crescent Wilson will bring her excellent vocal
Michigan Theater or Gallup Park City Blues Meltdown" with guest and all-around musical skills to the
cpudjust be your best bet. Hey, it's John Mooney. Michigan Theater tomorrow night.
better than a 13-hour drive. Touring to support his latest al- Expect the unexpected in her show, as .
The lineup this year is once again bum "Television," Dr. John is eas- the backing instrumentation on her
stellar, if not blues-heavy. Major ily one of the most recognizable latest, "Blue Light 'til Dawn", ex-
label stars will be headlining each New Orleans-based funk/r&b art- plores a musical range from seven
ists around, if not one of the best percussionists and a clarinet on one
pianists. (He's even better than that track to a simple pedal-steel guitar a
Harry Coniick guy!) His recent few cuts later, and everything in be-
performance at the Rock and Roll tween.Sheisjustascomfortable sing-
Hall of Fane opening ceremonies ing the standards as she is doing origi- The Chisel Brothers, featuring Thornetta Davis, are one of the acts appearing at the Blues and Jazz Festival.
certainly speak to the respect that nals, or even covering artists as di-
he and his music receive nation- verse as Van Morrison and Joni This sax/flute prodigy, signed to Ann ate past serves as an indicator. Those port of University students.
t wide attention. Mitchell. Arbor's Schoolkids' Records, has re- associated with this weekend's fes- H.O.R.D.E. is winding down.
Speakingofthe Hall,inductees(and Sundaybringsusthe Caribbean Jazz ceivednational press from BET's Jazz tivities are bending over backwards Lollapalooza is long in the past. And
ceremony night house band) Booker Project, featuring Paquito D'Rivera Central, USA Today, National Public togetmore Michiganstudentstocome there's no MTV-sponsored
T and the MG's will close out a long on saxes, Dave Samuels with the vibes Radio and Downbeat magazine. out, and this includes a great discount Woodstock reunion this year. So what
afternoon of performances tomorrow and the outstanding Andy Narrell on The weekend won't be lacking in on ticket prices - $10 for a one day excuse do you have for not going to
at Gallup Park around 6:45. Blues steel drums. musical talent, orpublicity, or in com- pass or $15 for two days. The festival the 1995 Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz
fans also won't want to miss Chicago Those looking for one of munity support (the festival actually has been getting bigger and better Festival? From major headliners to
newcomers Howard and the White tomorrow's jazz stars will want to had an excess of unpaid volunteers each year since its revival in 1992, up-and-comers to those who just like
Boys or the Fat Possum Mississippi check out 19 year-old Shawn "Thun- this year), but it may again be lacking and organizers hope that the next step to have fun making music, this year's
Juke Joint Caravan on Sunday. der" Wallace tomorrow afternoon. in student attendance, if the immedi- will be getting the attention and sup- lineup will not disappoint.
Jun or Klmbrough Is another act.
'Cityon
Your Hit Parade -
The Comic Opera Guild presents a revue of songs from the 1950s and '60s. Music Box, The Gelcaps, The Halftones and
Strangelove appear with COG singers. it's September 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and seniors, $8 for
others. Tickets are one sale at the door and SKR Classical (539 E. Liberty). a
it s an evening of Slavic chants, drumming and singing with the Druids of Shining Lakes Grovel It's at the ICC
Education Center (1522 Hil St. ) and it's free. ....
Fall Festival of Arts and Crafts -
Arts and crafts for sale, a petting farm and hayrides all take place at Domino Farms (24 Frank LUoyd Wright Drive) ., O.
Children under 10 get in free; it's $2 for all others. Call 93O-5032 for more information.
As You Liked It - sce
U-___________
BURNT BY
y THE SUN
' aAWARD"
I ~IWINNERA
±1 Living In
* Oblivion
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Bring in this ad, and receive one
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with any popcorn purchase
expires : September 25, 1995 P PS 1
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City on Fire
Directed by Ringo Lam
with Chow Yun-Fat
and Danny Lee
At the Michigan Theater
OK, let's get one thing out of the
way: Yes, yes, Quentin Tarantino
did apparently rip off 1987's "City
On Fire," shoving huge chunks of it,
in a virtually unchanged form, into
his 1992 crime saga "Reservoir
Dogs." Good for him. It's a pity,
though, that it took Tarantino's clout
to get this fine action movie noticed,
let alone released in the United States.
This being a special case, I
shouldn't needto tell you ofthe film's
plot, you might as well just look up
"Reservoir Dogs" in a video guide.
Nevertheless ... An undercover cop
(Chow Yun-Fat, in the role later imi-
tated by "Dogs"' Tim Roth) earns
enough trust from a small-time crimi-
nal gang to get offered a share in a
big job - a jewelry store robbery.
He agrees, does some serious bond-
ing with one ofthe guys (Danny Lee,
in Harvey Keitel's "Dogs" role) and
reluctantly turns in the gang to the
cops. The whole thing ends with the
familiar four-way standoff that's be-
come a "Reservoir Dogs" logo of
sorts, a hieroglyph composed of four
frozen silhouettes with handguns
pointed at each other.
And yet, "City On Fire" and "Res-
'Fire' is the movie Quentin Tarantino allegedly patterned "Reservoir Dogs" after.
I
ervoir Dogs" are two, completely
different movies, thank God. Ringo
Lam's work, not unlike his contem-
porary, John Woo's, is 100%-free
of post-modernist sneering. This
probably explains its cult following
in the U.S.: Jaded celluloid junkies
will by now gladly welcome any
film where heroes behave as heroes
and people can make pronounce-
ments like: "I owe you. Kill me"
without making a Scooby-Doo ref-
erence along the way.
However, calling Ringo Lam a
John Woo clone wouldn't be right
either. He's much less interested in
the simple sight of bodies flying
hither and yon than in creating a
mood or establishing a character.
At the very least, he bothers to set
up the atmosphere of a scene before
flooding it with blood. And when
he finally does, you can practically
feel that it's done out of obligation
and reverence before the genre.
Believe it or not, some of the
movie's quieter moments are more
memorable than the flashier ones.
At times, Lam gets downright artsy:
in a scene where Chow is subjected
to a cold shower by some vicious
cops, every object in the room ap-
pears to be tinted icy blue.
One of the most interesting points
"City On Fire" emphasizes is some-
thing Martin Seorsese suggested in
his "Mean Streets": Gangsters are
guys forever stuck in adolescence,
who have chosen their profession in
order to room together, devour junk
food, ogle girls and occasionally
beat someone up. And both Chow
Yun-Fat and Danny Lee (later suc-
cessfully paired in Woo's "The
Killer"), follow in line with this
premise while inhabiting their char-
acters with great confidence and
humor.
Unfortunately, the subtitles in this
particular print-seem bent on destroy-
ing whatever effect Lam and Co. have
managed to create. And destroy it
they do. Apparently, the movie was
translated into English right in Hong
Kong, which, as we might expect,
guarantees malapropisms galore. It'
really breaks your heart to hear people
chuckle involuntarily during a com-
pletely serious scene in response to a
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