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Oak Ridge Bo SB JHr \:M v^^:;pU>R;':lAk^^^^H| Bt^,' j Eggggfota JH^^MHMWKjf * ,Jmjp4PI \ ^ ""vK^l^lJj''_^- S^~ S-l: ;;^{?^:"BUfeI ' j/^UfSB^^' t ?iv MBMHMwHW^WIWm^^BwB ^ Country Jamboree! Tonight at the Carolina Coliseum, the Oak fudge Boys and I country nearts out. Local rock band ji by Doug Keith Although the Vectors have been together for only a year they've rockcted to fame in the Columbia area, headlining a clubs such as Greenstreet's. Their success stems from a combination of luck, talent an< hard work. But the hard work doesn't end when practice i over, for there is school work to be done. "School's the priority; it's a big deal," said Ted Ballou, th Vectors' 28-year-old vocalist / guitarist / keyboardist and a electrical engineering senior at USC. "\\ K'VF. GONE a long way with as little as we have put ir ? to it," he said. Practices are held Sunday afternoons in a stylish Victoria house a few blocks from campus. Practice once a week migl not seem like enough for a band as successful as the Vector; but it is, Ballon said. "Lots of bands spend a great deal of time practicing. Aft( a point, however, the quantity of practice time outweighs th quality. When we practice, we work ? quality practice time, he said. Time is precious when combining the rigors of classes wit the pressure of being a band member. Vocalist/bassist Pel Ballon, 21, is a government and international studies maior i South Carolina College, USC's honors college, and said li has to work to juggle music and education. "I want to go full tilt into music. It's an obsession," sai the younger Ballou brother. This past summer, he spent month in England to get a feel for the trends of British musi that are affecting pop music. THE OTHER band members are no less busy than th Ballou brothers. Guitarist Rip Westmoreland and drumrne Mark Stover are both enrolled in USC's Law School; Jo< Hughen, musician/technical director/soundman, teaches i the media arts department: anrl dnuer I.^i>.? -- | F ' v/? i i I 1-I11VIOV/II pit motes the band. The Vectors' working attitude is paying off. They hav played to packed audiences at Greenstreet's as well as th "Bop 'til You Drop" dance at the Township last month. On original song, "Knock Me Down," has landed on WZL.D' "Rock to Riches" album, and another "Timeline," receives lot of airplay on WUSC. Although the band has gained popularity by playing popular songs, the Vectors are building a list of qua lit; original tunes. % I i i 1 . i I I I us fn nrnnn cnmp By Johnny Boggs ^ One of the best country music groups will BB at Carolina Coliseum tonight. One of the 1% gglBi worst will be there, too. jjj& pWll MMb Unfortunately, one group represents both S categories. Hi& ill' Wr/MBS! I hc Oak Ridge Boys are a prime example jjBiay of a superb musical quartet gone sour. ft SINCE THEIR 1980 smash hit "Elvira," iBIipftiisfck 'eac* s'n8er Duane Allen, baritone William : Golden, tenor Joe Bonsall and bass Richard : _ Sterban have succeeded in turning out several V popular, yet poorly constructed, hits. ,fl| The majority of the songs have been thinly m;j disguised "Elvira" ripoffs, including "BobjlMMiM iff bie Sue," 4'Love Song" and "American ? The lyrics to these somewhat inane pieces ^ are generally meaningless; the music, bland. The group could be accused of submitting to the commercialism of the music business. "/There is no denying the quartet, based in S Henderson, Tenn., remains one of country and nnn music'*; hipppst aftrnrtinn*: runHno l-lh wjth Alabama, the Statler Brothers and Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers Band in popularity. AND THERE is no denying Allen, Golden, Bonsall and Sterban can harmonize with the best singers in the business. That also contributes to their popularity. Songs like "Sail Away," "Thank God For Kids" and the current release "Ozark Mountain Jubilee" illustrate the foursome can sing with feeling, leaving listeners moved. No group can put together a better gospel tune ? including the Statlers. "Would They Love Him in Shreveport?," "I Would Crawl All the Way (To the River)" and "The Baptism of Jesse Taylor" are some of the greatest modern religious songs ever recorded But the Oaks have never been able to capfl[ ture the flavor of their first pure-country album, "Y'all Come Back Saloon," in 1976. WHEN THE Oaks played at Carolina Col^ " ^V-7 :'- iseum in February 1982, warm-up act T.G. , Sheppard overshadowed the former gospel group. ouise Mandrell will sing their Warming up for the Oak Ridge Boys Friday will be Barbara Mandrell's sister, iggles music with acadj :^:j^^'aMMBnwgaBBMMnnHBniBHH' ;:f9MHHHHHMBSH t ~_ J>.-,' '^2-0^^^: -l~i^i%r5 ?r_' 1~y1 "vff^::f. '1 r^V""- 'J^Ir ^"y'^'' :^~>~ 1 ^lifetL **. fjfc t k ^k JSP? fK l?k W 9. v:^\. 1 | ' \J|g" O JMW 1 JM I I iWWlilbMII II1 i^ff^H IF(lf8 1 ? Vectors Play at various Columbia nightclubs and will be rockin' and rollin' at Greenestreet's to Stover, Joel Hughen, John Emerson, Ted Ballou, Peter Ballou. (Rip Westomoreland not "We want to develop a sound with a direction towards each member originals, so we pick our covers (hits by other bands) very The emphas carefully. It's much more satisfying, though, to perform an coming record original than a cover," the older Ballou said. song record) a will also serve MUCH OF this fall has been spent writing songs. The Above all, t Ballou brothers have worked on several songs together, but time. nniintrv Louise, and country group Atlanta ?an imitation of Alabama, but very good performers. As a recording artist, Mandrell is pursuing a solo career with RCA. She comes from the veritable muscial empire of the Mandrell family with her older sister superstar Barbara and model ..and comedic actress Irlene the youngest. On stage Mandrell is quite a performer playing fiddle, banjo, piano, drums and bass. She should wow the fans with her visual show. The concert begins at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $10 and $12. Carolina Coliseum will be the site of annthpr rniintrv-mticir rnnrprt Siiindav when two Southern rock bands perform. THE CHARLIE Daniels and Marshall Tucker bands will display their skills in a concert that will start at 8 p.m. Daniels, famous for his violin playing and dry humor, has recorded such hits as 4'The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and "The South's Gonna Do it Again." But he hasn't cut a decent LP since *4Full Moon," and his most recent songs, including "Still in Saigon" and "Ragrn' Cajun," are some of the poorest, most unprofessional tunes to jam the airwaves. Spartanburg's Marshall Tucker, on the other hand, still has what it takes to olease country/rock audiences. SONGS LIKE "Heard it in a Love Song" and "Fire on the Mountain" were two of the more popular songs during the 1970s. Tragedy, however, struck the group when band member Tommy Caldwell was killed in an automobile accident. Marshall Tucker bounced back, though. and still churns out some pleasing country/rock songs. Tickets are $11.50 and $12.50. For information, call 777-7640. ?mics of> ;?&? ^H^""^1-: ^r?-^-"^^" "~'V"J;,J^'^v'~"^~ vylVJl---'^-^':-~T ap> >>' x J-as^p.. f ' -. Wm'm- K^^^ShSE VlT~L^-"^- jj j j might, tomorrow and Monday night. (I. to r.) Mark pictured.] submits original material. is on writing new material is to prepare for uping time. Hughen will be producing an EP (five nd a video in the next few months. The project as thesis work for Hughen. lie Vectors are in the business of having a good