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ATTEND ATHENS 9
TIBETAN FREEDOM CONCERT THIS WEEKEND*
TP: ^ as become linked in many people’s minds
•L I L/C L with concerts — the annual Beastie Boy-led
Tibetan Freedom Concert being the largest and hippest of
many others that take place around the country each year.
It was only a matter of time before Athens would host its
own Tibet related concert, and here it is — Sept "5 and
Sept. 26 at the 40 Watt.
Creekwater Sound
According to concert organizer Lawrence Ryefield, head
the UGA chapter of Students for a Free Tibet, the goal of the
event is just what you would expect — to raise awareness
and concern for the plight of the Tibetan people. The
money raised will be donated directly to Tibet support
efforts through Tibet Fund, a non-profit organization known
for tangible relief projects such as building schools and
monasteries.
Ryefield and a team of volunteers will be on hand with
printed information, petitions and answers to you*- questions
about this complex issue. Speakers interspersed between
the bands will cover the main points. “We want to make sure
that no one will leave the concerts without understanding
the basics of what is going on in Tibet," explains Ryefield.
Those basics, according to Students for a Free Tibet: the
Chinese government invaded Tibet in 1949 and set about
occupying it as their own. (The Maoist communists figured
the world would be better off if they took over the country
and shoved their “liberation” down Tibet’s throat. The non
violent Tibetans on their western border made for easy tar
gets.) In the ensuing years, an estimated 1.2 million Tibetans
have died and many more have been imprisoned, tortured,
raped, exiled, and denied personal and religious freedom as
a direct result of the Chinese occupation. The world has let
this go on simply because China has a lot of guns, a lot of
buying power and a lot of sweatshops that make cheap
goods like Beanie Babies.
The lineup for each night wasn’t worked out by press
time, but the bands confirmed to participate one night or the
other include Trinket, Urban Grind, Creekwater Sound,
Slackdaddy, Posh Toner, Wunderkind and Pinetop 7.
The must-see moments of each night’s shows will likely
be the opening ceremonies of the Tibetan monks from
Drepung Loseling monastery. If you’ve never heard the
chanting of Tibetan monks in person, you should definitely
plan to be at the 40 Watt early (around 7:30) to catch this
striking experience.
Misty Herrin
WHAT: Tibetan Freedom Concert
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 25 and Saturday, Sept. 26
WHERE: 40 Watt Club
HOW MUCH: In advance: $10 per night,
$18 for both nights. $12 at the door.
a difTcrcnt kind
of tension
A year ago, Athens locals The Lures suffered from a keen inability
to take themselves very seriously. Early live shows by the pure
power pop quartet could be politely described as charmingly sloppy.
The less polite description, courtesy of main songwriter (and
sometime Flagpole writer) Jason Slatton: "We were terrible. We've
put on some of the worst shows in town."
These days. The Lures are better rehearsed and tighter, though
listeners can still sense the defining contradictions that seem to
threaten to blow it all apart. If nothing else, it keeps things inter
esting.
Guitarist/singer Slatton, 28, is in this for the long haul.
Doubling as guitarist in Randall Bramblett's band, Slatton is hoping
a career in music will at least be successful enough to keep a roof
over his head. Full-time Fbgpole employees Larry Tenner (bass) and
Russ Hailauer (guitar) consider The Lures something between a
hobby and, in the best-case scenario, a Jack Logan-style part-time
endeavor.
"When you're 19 years old, you're just thinking about playing
guitar, and that's great," says Hailauer, former guitarist for Clemson-
based punk-pop band Sunbrain and CEO of local label Ghostmeat
Records. "At 28, after being dropped from a label, and having my
own label for five yeais, I don't have that naivete that protects an
artist."
The tension that's easier to discern is that between rock and
pop. The Lures often seem to want it all — to go for the pretty
hook while simultaneously playing at Stooge volumes. Though
Slatton is an unabashed pop fan, the rest of The Lures have roots in
punishing guitar music. Tenner, while possessing a pop sweet tooth,
is best known for his work in now-defunct lead-heavy Athens bands
Magneto and Waylaid. Hallauer's Sunbrain owed a lot to Dischord
bands like Lungfish. Drummer Clay Leverett moonlights in the fierce
Dino Jr.-style local band Drip. It makes for interesting practice ses
sions and songs that pit pretty three-part harmonies against the
nerve-damaging crunch of Marshall stacks.
'The Beach Boys issue is a huge issue," Hailauer says. "I hate
the Beach Boys and continually fight with Larry and Jason about it."
Slatton: "I really enjoy very hooky pop music. Russ tends to sub
vert that a lot when we write together."
The push-and-pull has paid off: despite scant local interest, New
York's Ten 23 Records has picked up the band and is set to release
their debut album in March 1999. If any
thing, the signing seems to have given
the self-deprecating Slatton a little room
to brag — emphasis on Tittle."
"We're a pop band," Slatton says. "I
don't wanna say we're great, but there are
some bands in this town who call them
selves pop who couldn't write a hook to
save their life. That's something we can
do once in a while."
Richard Fausset
MHO: Jackpot City / The Lures
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 23
WHERE: 40 Watt Club
HOW MUCH: Call
Photo by Pam Pecchio.
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SEPTEMBER 23, 1998 FLAGPOLE E