Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Entent lacks By Tanya Savory Six years ago Joni Mitchell released an album with exactly the same format as "Shadows and Light," her most recent effort. "Miles Of Aisles," recorded in 1974, was Mitchell's first live and first double album. Some may refer to it as her "greatest hits," though it would hardly be in the style of Joni Mitchell to title one of her albums as such. After all, she is not one of your basic tnn dH "phirlf cincTAnc" with a vvr ,v M " -v" m drawer full of gold singles. "Shadows and Light" picks up where "Miles of Aisles" left off, with her, to put it in more fitting terms, best musical acheivements from her latest four albums. Yes, this album is also recorded live and consists of two records; and no, the price is not as pleasant as it was six years ago. Unfortunately, neither is Ms. Mitchell's music. IT IS NOT only mildly depressing, but also a shock to find an album by a songwriter as skillful and prolific as Joni Mitchell without a note of new music. Although side four begins with a song she has never before recorded, "Why do Fools Fall in Love," it is not Club's i By Ward Borden Assistant Entertainment Editor Almost every club and bai near the USC campus aim; more or less at attracting th< college crowd. Offering i variety of specials am selling beer and drink cheaply, these clubs make profit selling in volume. One notable exception t this is the Quarter Moon c 900 S. Main St. The Quartc Moon is the first and onl club in Columbia specificall designed to showcase liv entertainment in an intimal coffeehouse atmosphere. The Lonnie Brooks Blue * \ i ;ainmer iell's 1 # ongir an original, and, even more unusual, it is a repetitive rock 'n' roll effort which is totally out of character for Mitchell. To top it off, even the album's title is simply borrowed from the song "Shadows and Light" from 1975 s "The Hissing of Summer Lawns." Although it is obvious that this title was chosen to relate to the interesting photography on the album cover, it is no new musical thrill. Fans of "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter," in which an entire side is devoted to Mitchell and the piano, will be dismayed to find not one song on "Shadows and Light" with Joni at the keyboard. Fans may oe leu wonaenng whatever happened to her acoustic guitar. Throughout the 17 songs and four sides, Mitchell plays nothing but electric guitar. She plays well, and most of the songs, such as "Coyote," "Black Crow " and "In France They Kiss on Main Street," are best suited to an electric. II seems unlikely, however that anyone would have slung rotten tomatoes if i RAorfin Ar Qf Airinrair KqH Kaai lviai tin v/i ULV/iimaj nau uvvi brought on stage. Unlike "Miles or Aisles,' emphas The emphasis at th< Quarter Moon is on music r not beer blasts or wet T-shir s contests. The entire club e from the placement of th? a stage to the materials used d is designed with goo< s listening in mind. a The sound comes fron Altec speakers aimed in fou o directions and housed ii it custom-designed woodei ;r boxes suspended above th y stage. The aiming of th y speakers guarantees goo 'e sound to any seat in th te house and the boxes enhanc the appearance of the room ' ^ ~-:V-Vv ' '' - V .Jg| ||gpg||a wy^||p5H|HB^ <JBb^ s Band will be appearing ai CUtSSL iality there is not the sensation that Mitchell is having fun with her audience and her music. In "Shadows and Light," one would barely be able to tell the album was live if it weren't for all that noise at the end of each song. There is an amazing lack of difference between the live versions on this album and the previously recorded studio versions except for the final song, "Woodstock," also the only vintage Mitchell, which is executed in a jazz style. MITCHELL, strangely enough, sounds tired and bored. Perhaps this attitude is created because there is nothing new on the album, or maybe there is nothing new on the album because of this attitude. It is impossible to criticize the songs individually in "Shadows and Light." Alfhniicrh fhov aro nnt nlavoH x?u.vu&.> MIX. ..v.^ I?ujvu enthusiastically, nor are any new, the songs are the products of an excellent musician, songwriter and legend in popular music. Mitchell's audience does not have to deal with what seems to be tne popular phrase recently, inane lyrics. Clearly, it is those who are familiar with Joni Mitchell's past albums that will be most disappointed is on mi All performances are mixed through a Tangent mixing board by Skippy Beach, designer of the system. The entertainment supplied by the Quarter Moon is unsurpassed in Columbia. Richie Havens, Mike Cross, Tim Bays, Doc Watson, Leon Redbone and numerous other artists have appeared at the club. Most of the performers booked are either established recording artists or journeymar professionals whose skills are well established. The entertainment consists predominantly of solo ac coustic artists? light-rocl oria7.7. hands The sizft of thi stage and listening are; places limitations on the siz< and type of band booked. i ! The atmosphere in th ; Quarter Moon is com I fortable, and the building i nicely decorated. Tables ar ; arranged on the floor in fror of the stage and covere jBBH . r# Jmn - the Quarter Moon Oct. 15 nniHV ^ HF ^aHBHBsagB^H^n^^^^^^ML ^ fl 'Shadows and Light,' Jot music. with "Shadows and Light." Although it is not representative of her musical talents, the album does consist of her most recent and best, and certainly can be enjoyed by anyone desiring to be exposed to her style. The fact that Joni Mitchell has been recording tremendously successful albums for well over a decade, and has obtained quite a following of faithful listeners, will probably I insure at least a modest success for her new album. But unless Joni can add life . and originality to her next release, her listeners mav cease to be quite so faithful. usic l booths form an L-shape on ; two walls of the room, partially surrounding the stage. A second level balcony, also in an L-shape, faces the stage which provides an exceneni view 01 whatever band or artist is i performing. The Quarter i Moon can hold roughly 200 I people. The Quarter Moon opens at 11:30 a.m. for lunch, and 1 offers a variety of sandwiches and salads. Pizza is served in the evening. Prices for beer and drinks are slightly higher at the c Quarter Moon than at most 5 other clubs around USC. i Because the management p> nlarfts great if?mnhasis nn thp " * O 1 quality of the listening room and the entertainment e provided, they try to discourage unnecessary s noise and rowdiness during e performances. The ^ management is in the d precarious position of selling alcoholic beverages and trying to control crowd behavior at the same time. Their higher prices consequently serve to discourage persons from drinking too much. The Quarter Moon is not a singles club or a place to go hear a screaming rock n' roll l_ _i ml. _ _ _ a Dana, me management discourages uncontrolled behavior and they do not hesitate to ask someone to quiet down. Those looking for all-you-can-drink price specials are better off bypassing the Quarter Moon. For those, however, who seek a quiet place to listen to some excellent music in an atmosphere conducive to i. listening, the Quarter Moon is a must. li Mitchell's new live album, includes no original Spotlight Nickelodeon films Akira Kurosawa's highly acclaimed "Dersu Uzala," winner of the 1975 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, has its Columbia debut at the Nickelodeon this week. The film, which plays today and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., is the story of an expedition crew charting the Siberian wilderness. Their guide, Dersu Uzala, has an uncanny communication with nature which more than once saves the party from destruction. Alfred Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" plays Oct. 12, with shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Cary Grant stars as an unsuspecting American businessman who becomes involved in a sinister plot, and includes a climatic climb across the face of Mt. Rushmore. "Dona Flor and Her Her Two Husbands," showing Oct. 13 and 14, is about a young widow who finds, upon remarrying, that her first husband satisfied her needs, and her second husband, who is well-to-do, only satisfies her wants. USC's Dr. Charles Turpin will introduce the 7 p.m. show Oct. 14, with a brief discussion following. Country musical Country music and square dancing are featured in the USC production "The Robber Bridegroom" beginning Oct. 13 and running through Oct. 19 in Drayton Hall. The country-western musical is adapted f :om Southern writer Eudora Welty's novella about the advc nture of a backwoods Mississippi town long ago. For tickets, call 777-2551 weekdays between noon and 5p.m. Dance auditions The Columbia Dance Theater will hold auditions for its production of "Rhythms of America" on Oct. 11,1:30 p.m., at Bailey Studio on 7004 Brookfield Rd. Dancers must be experienced in ballet, tap or jazz. The production is scheduled for Jan. 16 and 17 at Cottingham Theatre, Columbia College. j Classical music The Columbia Music Festival Association opens its 198081 Artist Concert Season with the "Viennese Gala" on Oct. 15,8 p.m ., at The Township. The featured Tonkuenstler Orchestra is a popular European group which plays light classical music. The program will include the music of Schubert, Mozart, Hayden, and the waltzes of Strauss. Tickets are on sale now for $8, $9 and $10 at the Colum bia Music Festival office at 1527 Senate St. Reservations may made by calling 771-6303. Play on Horseshoe USC theater students will present scenes from the play "Waiting for Godot" at noon, Oct. 16, in front of McKissick Museum on the Horseshoe. It is part of a series of monthly cultural presentations offered by the museums. For information on the series call 777-6577 or 777-7251.