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Entertaini Co/tu '; '' ':^ ^ ^ ' : ' / ' :'"' > '' ' ' ' ^ S N - , . * * ' '' ' ' . . ; : v>:'. S0L : >,V ^ :>.: : : " - . jFTw &.% : -raSs**?^>^S?swx: .>; : : ; : :< : . " " s - > v ^ ilMfl" Worid-reknowned mime artist Marrpl Mai Cultural Series at the Township Auditoriur Hynde Holds On New Prefi By Chris Handal SUff Writer The Pretenders do not have impressive names for their albums. It is their music mai is impressive. Their new release, Pretenders II, while not musically eclipsing their self-titled debut album, is a worthy successor. And much of that success has to be credited to lead singer Chrissie Hynde, whose vocals set the mood and tone for each song in a way that is not duplicated in rock music today. She is perhaps the best female vocalist today for she has that unique combination of o ftna ??/! r% * * a ill IV- vuivc auu an auuuy IU IIlUKe me listener believe that her personality is coming through on each song. When Linda Ronstadt sings 'How Do I Make You' it is hard to believe she ever has trouble making somebody dream > bout her. The same is true for Pat Benatar. Her song 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot* is much too glossy to ever be convincing. THE PRETENDERS have no such problem. Their music has a raw urgency in it to match the intensity of Ms. Hynde's irA^ A li? vuvaio. This is clear from the first song on the album, 'The Adultress.' From the driving guitar chords, the unyielding drumming of Martin Chambers to the almost savage way Chrissie Hynde sings, "There's nothing to understand, It's understood, I'm the Adultress," the Pretenders give notice that they have lost none of energy which made their I960 debut so successful. The pace of the album does not slacken as the sadistically entitled song, "Bad Boys i mentanHs ral Serii r wmm- rceau will be featured as part of the 1981-82 n. Nothina Back aiders Album Get Spanked,' follows. The cut is highlighted by the sound of a whip cracking in the background each time Hynde sings, 'Bad boys get spanked.' If a surprise is to be found on this album it. is on side one with 'Message of Love,' and 'Talk of The Town.' The two songs were on an EP released this spring and were not expected to appear on the album. Whether or not this is a good surprise depends largely on whether or not one owns the EP. Another highlight is a Hay Da vies contribution, 'I Go To Sleep,' which he wrote in the early 1960s. Side two opens with 'Pack It Up.' The song endii with a tirade only Hynde could deliver. "I may be a skunk, but you're piece of junk, and futhermore I don't like your trousers, your appalling taste in women, And what about your mind, your insipid record collection, Your adult home video center, The usual pornography ...You're the pits of the world." 'WASTE NOT Want Not,' features the almost sinister bass guitar playing of Pete Farndon and the strongest lyrics of the album. "Take take take, taking what you don't need, You'll get ahead taking what you don't need, Stand back take a look and take heed, Ail the children in God's kingdom bleed." The album ends with 'I iUiip I ^nip' n anno that could have come from the fifties except Ms. Hynde is definitely a product of 1980s. With the release of Pretenders II, the Pretenders have reaffirmed their position as one of the most innovative groups on the rock scene. esFli By Harvey Merret Staff Writer If you haven't become a member of the 1981-82 Cultural Series, now is the time to join. Using the slogan "Is your seat reserved?", the Cultural Series plans to have its biggest season ever with several show-stopping performances, including pantomimist Marcel Marceau and the Tony Award winning "Annie." The Cultural Series. however, hasn't always been the exuberant, robust organization that it is today. Its purpose is still the same ? to provide a variety of cultural experiences for the students, staff, and faculty of USC ? but the quality has improved. The Committee for the Cultural Series originally produced its programs in the Russell House Ballroom. The programs were free with smaller shows and lighter technical requirements because of the portable stage. Only 750 seats were available. TWO YEARS ago the committee, with the advent of Rich Singer, who is now the program coordinator, decided to move to the Township, which houses 3,000 seats, and go into bigger productions. Of course bigger ( productions required a bigger budget. So along with its funds from the Student Government, the Southern Arts Federation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the South Carolina Arts Commission, the Committee sold tickets to its programs. The first year was fairly successful as the Committee sold 1100 tickets to season members. The second year showed a decrease to 900 but this year the Cultural Series has fllrpnrfv sr?lH QftA Holrafo - -1?w Mvavi aw viVUVVO I in its first three weeks of | sales. Large sales are . evidence that the public is pleased with this year's ' Series. But how does the Committee acquire such big events? Actually, the process for lining up acts begins in December. First, the AAAM/IimaI/VM 4 ?L. - vuui uiuaiui tcicpnoiies several agencies to find out who will be available for the next year. After acquiring ideas from the committee, the coordinator and the Cultural Series Committee Chairperson travel to New York for a convention sponsored by the Association of College University and the Community Arts Administration. Their visit to New York enable them to see some of the performances and judge for themselves wrisl how good they are. UPON THEIR return, the Committee is presented with a list containing different categories such as Theatre and Dance, Music, Jazz/Blues, etc., and they usually pick the top three on each list. Of course there are several things to consider when selecting, such as the month when the performer will be available, and because the Committee must work within a budget, the cost of the act is noteworthy. Another consideration is that the success of a show really depends on what the ticket buyer likes. The audience responds to names more nffnn * U * - ? u* veil mail iu ^lUUp organizations. Finally, agents are contacted and contracts are signed. Even shows that are too expensive may find their way to the Township. For the first time, the Committee has added a special attraction to its Series. This season's attraction is "Annie." "Annie" was so expensive that it could not be a part of the regular season. Therefore, by charging an extra price the Committee could afford the play. After the season sales, the Committee starts promoting each individual show for the month by using newsletters and posters. y--::.. n^V | * >> Now in its fifth smash year on special added attraction to thi I hes Having a successful season does present some problems. The Series is selling so well that there may be more season members than good seats available. Three possible solutions to this problem: do every show two nights in a row so that everyone mav get a good seat; do a straight season of say, only broadway shows, along with the regular Series and play the same show on both Series; or go back to the ballroom for certain acts such as a String Quartet or a solo artist because the sound is better in the smaller room. ANOTHER PROBLEM that the Committee has solved is the location of the Township on the corner of Taylor and Henderson St. Because of its limited parking and the distance it is from the campus, the Cultural Series runs a free shuttle bus to and from the Tftumshin fnr puorv chnw Solving its problems, pleasing its members, and bringing bigger quality productions to the university is one of the goals of the Cultural Series. The Series is so dedicated that all profits go back into the budget for the next season. And as it begins its third season in its new phase, both the Cultural Series and its members have a big year to look forward to. t ri jm-' > | JHi^HHBBHr : ? i Broadway, 'Annie' will b? a is year's series.