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Spur: Ma By Chuck Cromer Gamecock Staff Writer Probably every concert-goer has experienced a performance where a band was musically good but much too loud, thus making the presentation unbearable. Such was the case with the Mike Green Band in the Golden Spur last Wednesday and Thursday night. They couldn't distinguish quality from distortion. Today's groups relate loudness and "coming across musically" as being synonomous. Bands with inferior talent hope to gain popularity by blowing your mind with sound decibels the way the more successful bands do. Another reason for all these terrifying audio vibrations is that most rock performers are tone deaf. They keep strumming We've barnes Jut. arovet LEATEIEI Abeo dmssvoN. weE aa drndeler 20% OP ME) PAINTIN Al ZUNI T1 SILVEE The Latin V Lotn% ,a , - ------- ummering T louder and louder in order to hear those difficult notes. The louder they play the worse their hearing. as well as ours becomes. If there's one place in Columbia where a large PA system is not necessary, it's in the Golden Spur. The Spur is not equipped to handle 500 watts of booming audio power. The Mike Green Band did not seem to comprehend this as they hammered the Spur with sound vibrations from one corner to the other. Because of this, the size of the audience never reached over sixty at any one time while I was in there. The band consists of four members: a bass player, guitar picker, a drummer and an electric piano player. Mike Green, on keyboards and vocal, used to be a member of the Atlanta-based Hampton Grease ed -w bovetry i ren Mexis Is, vests, hoots, red reu lamps, gisgs, hes s, rmlOs, UICAN VELVET ID HANDMIYADE JEWELRY 2704 Devine Street 779-7995 New lours Mem.-u'rl. 10-4 sat.-1 -6 SUIM DAN DA3 o op 4PMTO@TI he Crowd Band before breaking away to form his own. He should have left well-enough alone. The Mike Green Band lacked enthusiasm throughout their gig in the Spur. They would play a number, make a wise remark about the size of the crowd, and begin another number. With very few exceptions did the band ever tell the audience the name of the songs they were playing. To keep our sanity, my group retreated into the Spur's lounge area. With a wall between us and the band, the music actually sounded good. In conclusion, the Spur will never be a bastion of musical enjoyment until the volume of the groups that perform there can be regulated to a bearable audio level. A decibel meter appears to be a sound investment for all of us. G by San June 25 - August 11 MYRTLE BEACH CC box office tele UNIVERSITY OF SOU' ATTENTION f Caps and Gowns ar Campus Bookstore Aug. Ring Day for ordering ch Also visit the Bookstoi progress.. Records - Bo Sweat Shirts - Sundries - S Mugs - Hose. 805 ST. AER TIME 'ECIAL IZ. MU RK OR LUTE HUT BEERa V MONDAY UN 3PM HAPPiY flOURS PM EY SAY * Student Loans Continued From Page 2 of processing because it must go to Washington for approval. There is so much "red tape," as Butner puts it, that it takes four hours to prepare an application. This is in contrast to ap proximately one hour to process a regular personal loan. "The demand has been much higher than ever before," Butner said. She attributed this partly to the overall economic problems the country is experiencing. In a bank staff meeting, a spokesman for the Federal Reserve Board told Butner that the prime in terest rate is expected to rise to 15 per cent, and that unem ployment will double before the end of the year. Butner said small businesses are going bankrupt because of ft)e r Wdson4 Tues. - Sun. 8:30 p.m. NVENTION CENTER ihone 448-3041 I CAROLINA THEATF E PADUATES1 I Invitations at The 5 thru Aug. 16. ss rings will be Aug. 7. a's Patio sale now in iks - Gifts - T-Shirts - )uvenirs - Glass ware - CHINA GARDEI1 At Boozer Shoppin1 PRIVATE PA We Serve Mandarin, Cantol We serve seer and Win. Now MAKING BAM UNMAKING 'l for confidentia on abortion re control, and ye CallH 777' banks cannot afford to lend them money. Their primary clients now, she said, were large cor porations that can afford to pay interest over 11 3-4 per cent. Loan companies are having similar problems. Larry Greer of TransSouth Finance said they had no money available for personal loans. "You can't borrow money for 11 3-4 per cent and lend it for six per cent and live long." Greer said they lend money for mobile homes, real estate, and automobiles. Greer said as far as he knew they made no loans for tuition or student expenses. "We aren't willing to risk a loan on a newcomer." He said most students do not have collateral for a personal loan and their interest rate would be 12 per cent. The Student Loan Corporation will begin processing ap plications October 1. Bob Kay, Director of the South Carolina Bankers Association (SCBA), said the program they offer is very similar to that of the commercial banks. But when they begin operation, the local banks will no longer offer the USAF loans. Kay said all USAF loans will be handled through the Student Loan Corporation. They are financed through municipal bonds purchased by banks as an investment, rather than a loan. The banks have contracted to invest $5 million. A student could borrow up to $7,500 at the same seven per cent interest. One major difference is that the student will have 15 years to repay the money. There will be no "need factor" con sidered, Kay said. But they will examine the individual's grades and credit background. Kay said there are other op portunities for loans and grants to be considered such as the Tuition Grants Committee. This is a state agency that grants money to students according to merit and need. Robert Jeter, who is in charge of USC's Student Aid Center,was unavailable for information. RESTAURANT Center 798-1708 RTYROM aese & American Foods WEEKDAYS WEEKEND 10OAM to 1SPM 11AM eU11PM ['HEM ISN'T I information ~ferral, birth rmereal disease otiine L256