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. V * S' > - BRsMlv BM Ir* Mark Alexander?THE GAMECOCK Contemporary Sounds brings bands to USC By KAKKY liL.KNI\ SOriHg One Gamccock Staff Writer "We art semester,' Behind most concerts at USC is the Russell House Sounds Co: University Union Contemporary Sounds Committee. allocation, This semester it has presented Tom Chapin, the Wright semester.' Brothers Overland Stage Band and Roger McGuinn at the There is ? _ r a. 11 * r price 01 one or iwo collars. periormer Contempoary Sounds was formed three years ago when night shov the Russell House University Union was reorganized. Until The coir then it was two groups, the Concert and Night Club com- spent on 1 mittees. vertising. The Contemporary Sounds committee has about 15 active one specis members. "When we were booking acts at the first of the people cal semester, a lot of people came to the meetings and took performai part," said Jim Bryant, committee chairman. "But right usually cc now we are hard at work with other things, so not as many people come around." BOOKIT decide on THE COMMITTEE used a $26,963 allocation from tne their pricc Student Allocations Committee for the 1976-1977 year, a cut groups ar< of about $6,000 from last year's budget. Whatever money others car the committee makes on pay concerts goes toward spon- on tour. The Amida Amida, a soul band from North Charleston, will perform Dec. 7 and 8 in the Russell House Ballroom. The dance is free to USC students. Beer will be served, and the event is sponsored by the Russell House University Union Contemporary Sounds Committee. *1 Capitol Goal ioii JL M By MELANIE MASON Gamecock Staff Writer The Capitol Coal Co. is back in business. This time they aren't selling any coal, just reasonably priced drinks and some good times. O/xal ?n /\n Cf v^urti is lucaicu un uiccn oucci ncai Five Points. It opened in October as Columbia's newest addition to Columbia's bar scene. The three owners purchased the property this past summer with the idea of opening a bar where they would enjoy drinking. J tX 1*1 A. _ 1 1 _ < we oon i iiKe 10 nave people waiung ior drinks, and we try to keep the place clean. I think most people are sick of overcrowded bathrooms and dirty places," said Terry Wasson, one of the owners. "We have more than adequate parking, which most other bars don't have, and it's convenient." The bar caters to college students. Persons 18 or older are allowed in the bar, but no one younger than 21 may buy mixed drinks. The bar practices the "Carding" method of admittance, preferring it to the issuance of membership cards at the door. Patrons seem to prefer this method also. "Most of the people that come in expect to pay a cover charge or buy a membership," said Wasson, "and they're pleasantly surprised when they don't have to." The bar provides live entertainment every Wednesday night for which they charge $.50. Wednesday's are the only nights there is a cover charge. The entertainment varies each week and consists of jazz bands to country-rock I TheGan Cn4A klllVI H mm i or two free spring concerts. B in good shape as far as our spending this act* Tom Shandley, union adviser to Contemporary plar nmittee said. "We have spent about half of our Dec and so have about $12,000 left for the spring corr peri no limit on now mucn ine commiuee can pay a ball Golden Spur bands are paid about $550 for a two T of t mittee members decide how the money will be cerl allroom concerts, Golden Spur bands and ad- con 'We are very flexible with the budget. We paid Mc< 1 Spur act $650 for a one night show. Sometimes per up and ask for a thousand dollars for a one night Bel ce. We tell them our budget ceiling, and they me down to our price," Bryant said. 44 the G AN ACT can be difficult. Committee members betl the performers, and then call agents to find out s and when the band might be in this area. Some H available within a span of two or three days, but con only perform on a certain date because they are Fir DOS as bar scene ' crrniinc b* v~r? Another thing the bar provides is atmosphere. The bar is square, an idea Wasson said comes from some old saloons in Arizona. The areas around the bar are on different levels. The band and dancing areas are on the ^ lower level. Steps rise from that part of the building around the bar and up to two other levels on opposite sides of the building. mi 1 _ ! _ 1. 1 1 11 1_ ! rne leu siae nas several pmoaii macnines, and the right side has a sitting area where the owners plan to place backgammon tables. Doors on the right sides enter out into a beer garden. The enclosed patio provides a place for patrons to get some fresh air. Wasson wants the bar to maintain a certain image. A partial dress code barring T-shirts may be enacted. Wasson made it clear that the * code would be used as an "asset to the majority of the college students, not as a deterrent. "We're not a $.15 draft beer place. It's just fnn harH fn maintain fho fa^ilitioc anH Kpci'Hoc I/W IAMJL V? VV IltMAtl tUltl VIIV AUVliiVAVU) UIIVI WVtJIMVO most people don't like to be in a zoo." The bar also serves hamburgers and subs from 12 to 7 p.m. daily. They plan to add steak and salads to the menu. Happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. attracts mostly businessmen, but about 9 p.m. the college 0 siuuciiu) ume uvcr. It will be interesting to see if the Capitol Coal Co. continues to maintain its image and stay free of the public abuse that has caused some other area bars to lose their images. If it can be done, Capitol Coal may start an upward trend that other bars will have to follow. A iecock , nmenf J ryant said there is a lot of red tape involved in booking > and reserving places for them to play. "We originally ined to have Amida (a band performing here in early :ember) perform in the Golden Spur. But, another < imittee booked the Spur for two weeks during that time iod so we are having to move the performance to the room." he committee had attendance problems at the beginning his semester, but more persons are attending the conts. Attendance at the Tom Chapin and Wright Brothers certs was poor. The recent performance of Roger Guinn, however, was a success attracting more than 500 cnnc T ,n?t wpolr'c nopfArmonno r?f T"Wir?tr Cm oil f no *?vv?? u J/V* AV* 1IIUIIVV VTA 1VI lim UillUll U*IW 1JVV/ 1 in the Golden Spur also drew large crowds. I WAS new at the job at first and really didn't know what members wanted or needed," said Bryant. "Now we are ter organized and can work together effectively." Lobert Palmer is a possible performer for a free spring cert. Committee members are also checking into efall, Silver, Tom Waits and Jesse Colin Young as sible spring performers.