Newspaper Page Text
April 1, 1992
Flagpole Magazine
Page 7
What Jeff Heard, Whaf
Jeff Saw...
(This is dedicated to the memory of
Stephen King.)
Marlee MacLeod on songwriting: “It’s
different every time. I don't sit around and
light candles or anything like that."
Russ Robinsori however, says: “Incense.
Incense is the key.’
Hi. Here again with more short shots,
inside tracks, outside alcohol, vicious ru
mors, heartfelt apologies, cheap last-ditch
come-on lines, unsubstantiated invitations,
fine how-do-you-dos, leftover sandwiches,
tips, directions, instructions, ingredients,
secrets, warnings, hints, behind-the-scenes
glimpses, nostalgic
looks back, sneak
previews, updates,
and predictions that
I found in the couch
while doing my
spring cleaning —
along with a grungy
fork, a couple of
great bands, a small Mexican family, and no
particular plans for next Sunday afternoon if
you're not busy...
As for the bands, one is a local group
that hasn't played out yet — I sat in on a few
of their practice sessions recently to give
you an advance impression of the sound —
and the other is an Atlanta outfit that had a
gig here in town not too long ago.
The first, Kachina, is a trio with a hybrid
style that can pernaps best be described as
melodic with bite. The second, going by the
moniker of Rooke, is asix-member ensemble
which stands as a good example of what
you might've had if strong pop-rock groups
had existed during the Middle Ages.
The Kachina roster is comprised Joy,
Bnan, and Dottie. The band invited me to a
rehearsal which was held on one Saturday
afternoon of late; and besides listening to
some early material on tape along with that
day’s live playing in development of new
stuff, I had a chance to talk leisurely to the
three partners between run-throughs —
when they weren't jamming for fun even
then...! And it was a good opportunity, as
with Russ Robinson's band Timberland (see
last issue’s column) to witness the evolution
of a collaborative process firsthand. Be
cause the songs Kachina was practicing that
day showed a marked change in direction
from the rough-hewned work on the self-
produced demo tape which they had finished
recording a mere three weeks earlier...
Rooke, on the other hand, had opened
for perrenial favorites Magister Ludi at the
Downstairs one night a while back; I was
very impressed by this bright, energetic
group which not only has found its collective
musical voice, but also captured it on two
tapes, with a third to follow any minute now
(you can catch these guys along with their
following at The Hommage Coffeehouse in
Atlanta on April i2 or May 22, among other
upcoming shows).
Kachina has become more aggressive
with their sound since the composition of
the initial tunes, leaning toward more disso
nance as Dottie runs her bass licks through
distortion for a rawer, edgier effect; Brian
concentrating on lead and rhythym, while in
turn Joy doubles on vocals and drums. The
Indian name of this
group should give
you a feel for the type
of darkly melodic
harmonies you can
expect from the dy
namic chemistry
which results when
deceptively simple,
naturalistic progressions of arrangements
are charged with the tension of hard and
heavy — if not to say grungy — delivery. It's
a fascinating, frequently compelling mix
which is quickly becoming sharper and
richer at the same time; whether Dottie is
doubling on backing vocals, or Joy takes a
break from thrashing the skins to focus on
her beautiful singing (thev do a really sweet
acapella duet, by the way) — as Kachina
promises to challenge other Athenian musi
cians in exploring some exciting new terri
tory.
And once again, Rooke, for their part,
seems as if they are rediscovering some
lost area of the musical milieu. Aligning
themselves with the 'new troubadours’ move
ment touted by Jay Cocks in the August 12,
1991 issue of Time magazine, this (...let's
see — what wouid you call six if four a
quartet, five is a quintet, seven is s-
since September was originally the sr .nth
month, augustette — Juliet?) half-dozen
could just as easily call the wandering min
strels their own if the jugglers and jesters in
tow had guitars strapped to their backs.
Much of their material is brash and upbeat,
albeit accenting a more rococco brand of
pop craftsmanship... and although I was
amazed by this lovable group’s funny and
very physical cover of the Interjection Song
from Schoolhouse Rock: It was the deli
ciously slow, sad ballad called "Natalie’
that made the three of us exchange expres
sions of wonder and delight, agreeing that
“THAT..was a great song!’
Jeff Payne
...Kachina promises to
challenge other Athenian
musicians in exploring
some exciting new
territory.
Calling All Cars...
The Sex Police from that musi
cal mecca of Chapel Hill, North
Carolina, will be gracing Athens
at the 40 Wan on Friday, April 3.
Dillon Fence, another one of those
Carolina acts, and Athens'
McDowell Sisters, will share the
evening with the Police. The Sex
Police won the Snickers Unsigned
Band Contest a while bacx beat
ing out one of rr.y hometown
bands, Naiomi's Hair, for the title.
They mix a variety of styles to
gether with a funk base and are currently associated with the Baited Breath folks. Catch
their show before they're hauled off in the paddy wagon for creating havok in the club.
Come Join Us
t he Origfc
Right off Prince Ave at
995 Hawthorne Avenue
Next to Bell's
The Original La Fiesta
— on Hawthorne Ave. —
ks Margarita Pitchers
— Frozen and On the Rocks —
$7.95 (rcg. SHOO)
Mon. thru Wed. after 5:00
Mon.-Fri. • 11-2:30 Lunch
5-10 Dinner (Friday serving until 10:30)
Sat. • 5-10:30 Dinner
995 Hawthorne Ave. • 548-4261
§n?ED
(J Behind Fred di Toronto's
Wednesday. April 1
Horse Doctor:
Northern Lights
, • •
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Thursday. April 2
Blue Flower
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Something Blue
Ji
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< Friday. April 3
The Imortal Chorus
Roosevelt
y
Snturdnv Anril A
Saturday. April 4
UGA
Comedy Club
■;;,VVVVVVVV\-V.VVV,V^V,VV1
Monday. April 6
Fuzzy Sprouts
Audiact
j Tuesday. April 7
1 The
Earthworms
yy* «* • ■ «* • • 7; 7; «* • 7; «* • «* • -* • • S; «" ■
549-2905
1051 Baxter Street
Globe
corner of clayton and lumpkin
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