Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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entertal Concer BY CHUCK CROMER Entertainment Editor The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, one of the all time great country-rock and bluegrass groups on the music circuit today, and the hard rock band, Masters of the Airwaves, will combine their differing musical styles in the Carolina Coliseum for a free concert on March 11. The concert is sponsored by the University Union Contemporary Sounds Committee and is free to all USC students with an ID. Each student, though, may bring one guest to the concert. No public tickets will be sold. Trying to describe the Masters of the Airwaves' music is like getting the Gamecocks to win a basketball game on the road; it's un predictable and nearly impossible. With a new album on Epic Records and one less band member, this trio irom northern California is trying to build a reputation on its unique "mega" steel guitar sound. As presently assembled, the guitars, their symphonic-like wall of sound produced by 32 resonating guitar strings, are channeled through a variety of sound ac cessories (phase shifter, Echoplex, fuzztone, Bosstone, Fuzz-face, wah-wah, small transistor amps for distortion) and driven by a stack of Marshall amps. Masters of the Airwaves will also appear in the Golden Spur on March 10, the night before they back up the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in the Coliseum. The NGDB has been around a Movies: Academy BY CHUCK CROMER Entertainment Editor CAMPUS FILMS SERPICO--AI Pacino, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance, stars as a cop who would rather fight than switch, preferring to be a lonely but honest lawman instead of a fuzz on the fix. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday $1.00 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN--Originally a made-for-TV movie that won an Emmy for its star, Cicely Tyson, and received rave reviews from the critics. The story follows the fictional life of Jane Pittman with flashbacks into her past and her participation in a civil rights protest in 1962; at the age of 110. The movie is being shown as a part of Black Week. A finer work couldn't have been chosen. Sunday THE BLUE ANGELr-Marlene Dietrich and German film great Emil Jannings star in this story of a proud and prominent professor who forfeits his dignity and lifestyle after he falls in love with a nment t to feati long time with its roots extending back before 1966. They made a couple of albums for Liberty Records eons ago and broke up in 1968. In 1969, they reformed (but without Jackson Browne, an original member) and even played on the Russell House Patio for $500 before releasing their classic album "Uncle Charlie and HiS Dog Teddy." From that album, three highly successful singles emerged: "Some of Shelly's Blues," "Mr. Bojangles," and "House on Pooh Corner." Following on the coattails of that successful album, their next record "All the Good Times" was released in 1971. Even though not a major commercial success, it did follow the tradition of their last effort, being a highly energized, fooling around, footstomping, handclapping, bluegrass-country rock-oriented piece of music. Dropping into obscurity somewhat, Nitty Gritty inaugurated plans in late 1971 for what sounded like a highly im plausible project, trying to unite the most legendary figures of country and bluegrass music, accompanied by the Dirt Band, for a three record set. Aided by Roy Acuff, Earl Scruggs, Mother Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Jimmy Martin and Vassar Clements, the landmark album, "Will the Circle be Unbroken," was released in late 1972. Being a highly successful record both commercially and critically, the Dirt Band regained their position as one of America's most prominent bluegreass-rock Award n( Honesty and disgul when you're a cop, Serpico, says. nightclub slut. This stunning story will have you crying as Jannings gives one of his finest per formances. ire Nitt bands. Highly entertaining concerts with large percentages of audience participation have always been the Dirt Band's forte. Their latest album, "Stars and Stripes Forever," tries to capture that enthusiasm on a two-record live set. Stars and Stripes Forever offers no additional new material by the NGDB for the listener to enjoy. What's worse, the majority of the ominee Pa e are the best policies as Al Pacino, star of THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER Tom Courtenay stars as a teenager sent to a reformatory for robbinga y.Gritty 1/. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band live cuts are poorly done, making shambles of the originals. It's hard to imagine the Dirt Band playing 50's music and acting like greasers. Obviously, they're trying to pick up some extra fans by catering to the whims of the nostalgia generation. Un fortunatly, most die-hard Dirt fans won't be able to accept the tran sition in their routine and will probably relegate Stars ann cino doesiu store. In prison he develops into a track star who accepts favors from his headkeeper for his par ticipation in numerous track meets. An inner conflict forms within Courtenay where he must decide whether to break with his headmaster and keep his pride or totally submit to his will. Michael Redgrave and Avis Bunnage costar. Tuesday M--The film schedule this week could be subtitled the "German film classics of the 30's". Directed by Fritz Lang, the movie stars Peter Lorre as a child molester who ends up being hunted by just about everyone on both sides of the law. Wednesday. SLEEPER--What would happen if Woody Allen and Mel Brooks teamed up to make a movie? SLEEPER is not Allen's best, but it's still funny. March 6, 7. D)OWNTOWN YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN Snubbed by both the Academy Awards and Pat Berman, this Mel Brooks' masterpiece begins it's third week' in Columbia. The picture is a delightful spoof of old horror films starring Gne. Wilder band Stripes Forever to the garbage can. Even though flawed by poor production and stupid interviews, it does offer the listener a good sample of what their performances consist of. However, the best way to enjoy the Dirt Band's music is to per sonally attend one of their con certs. When they perform here March 11, you'll hate yourself if you don't attend. I't cop out Marty Feldman, Gene Hackman, and Cloris Leachman. Miracle PG LENNY--The true story of Lenny Bruce, small time social satirist of the early 60's, who after being hounded by an oppressive society that couldn't appreciate his profane humor, regresses into the life of a downtrodden beaten man. Dustin Hoffman and Valerie Perrine star. Fox R FRAMED--For all the Southern grits who wish to see an unrealistic goober fight injustice, corruption, and the American Way, catch this one. Following in the footsteps of Billy Jack, Walking Tall, and Trial of Billy Jack, this movie will make you want to stand up in the theatre and puke your guts out. Joe Donr Baker and Conny Van Dyke wil 1 make you laugh. Plaza III R MURDER ON THE ORIENTr EXPRESS--A "classy British" mystery with an all star cast asking the question, "whodunit?" Special discount tickets for the movie can be purchased at the Travel Center on the second floor of the Russell House. Richland Mall I PG GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS Will the Towering Inferno ever leave with this trash about big city thievery taking its place or will the Palmetto Theatre burn up first? Only time and the Academy Awards will tell Palmett PG