The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 28, 1983, Page 12, Image 12
Oak Ridge Bo
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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.
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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
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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.
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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