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With a name lik< JOHN LYONS Staff Writer When asked how they would define their music, members of Columbia band Ghetto Blaster said they play Southern indie rock and then quickly changed their minds. At Pavlov's in Five Points, the band shared a pitcher of beer while chatting with The Gamecock. Singer and guitarist Kipp Shives said he thought the indie rock classification complicated things. "I think, more or less, we're just making rock music," he said. Bassist, guitarist and singer Milton Hall agreed. He said the band played "basic rock." Milton said, "We have almost a roots rock background. We ignore what rock has been for the last 10 years or so." Ghetto Blaster started out as a twoman band with Shives handling guitar, and Brian "Chicken" Kennedy on drums and vocals. The two-man setup lasted for about three months before Hall and guitarist and bassist Scott Taylor were added to the lineup. The four have been a complete unit for about one year. In that time, they have written more than 40 songs. Shives has written the The PO| SOUND m?!Ci STEPHANIE SOWNENFEU) Features Ed. POGUE MAHONE The Pogues **** (out of four stars) Besides Guiness and lovely lilting accents, Ireland has some damn fine music. Artists such as Van Morrison, U2 and the Cranberries are certainly apt examples of just how successful and influential modern Irish music can be. Yet, it would be an awful mistake to fail to include The Pogues in this category. ? L p J The CI A Visual Display B The Clothesline Pi survivors and victim _ i ? neaimg have lost a loved Furthermore, The < violence against wo and provides an avt If you missed the di you can see it on: March 20, Picker March 27, Russei 10:30 am-3:00 f (rain site: Russeii Hous i Ghetto Bias U majority, but Hall also writes s< helps with lead vocals. While they aren't playing to sold-out shows just yet, I Shives' second-place finish I as best local male vocalist in the 1995 Free Times readers poll indicates their potential. Ghetto Blaster will bring their rock music, whether it's indie rock or not, to Rockafellas' tonight accompanied by Plexsus and popular Charleston band Cletus. They said they like to headline shows because they aren't as constricted by time limits. Kennedy said they change their songs each time they perform them live. H "We loosen op a lot when H headlining a show," he said. H "We feel our way around 1 songs while we play them." [I In the past two months, ? the band opened for the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Gl and Man or Astroman?. 4 ?ues k Though not entirely over on the American music scene, D are just as worthwhile and prai as any Irish group, and their late "Pogue Mahone," showcases tl talents. The first and foremost entici of The Pogues is their instrum Spider Stacy is responsible for tl while Jem Finer plays the naj< gurdy and the guitar. Danyl Hi bass; Andres Ranken is on drur Clarke plays guitars; and James plays the accordion, piano whistles. Rounding out the 1 David Coulter on the mandolii and percussion. LOTHEf is Street Bridge V House Patio im e lobby) *** j R O J I EXPERIEI otheslh tearing Witness to roject honors an 15 of intimate vioiei ?ty for those who one or know so, Clothesline Proje men, celebra i snue for her to... .. .BREAK THE Sll isplay on March 13 ter, you might b \AK\UG mgs and They said they hope the ex] those shows will help draw a yyC? Hr . JHrflH .. A lotto Blaster is Kipp Shives, Briar eep Iris exposed With such a variety g| )e Pogues of traditional Irish || seworthy musical instruments, || 5t release, The Pogues keep a major 1 le band's part of their music very |? close to the Irish folk || rig aspect style. entation. This aspect, I tie vocals, combined with their rode I is, hurdy influence, allows The I untplays Pogues to create a I as; Jamie modem answer to a truly 1 McNally nationalistic form of and the music. ineup is On "Pogue Mahone," 1, violins sampling of both The Pc influences and their native n ??-jr ? >LINE S l C T VC? ie Projec Violence Against Woi d pays tribute to w> nee. in addition, itprt i are survivors of vioi meone who has sufi ct educates society, woman's strength to si IENCE. 1th, le expecting r HOCK posure from diverse crowd for 1 11 even more While the lab< m ,lf J i "Chicken" Kennedy, Scott 1 h mus swinging Irish tin; there is a Other songs o igues' rock Irish folk music: lusic styling. "Anniversary an En :t wen omen )vides fence/ fered. about uvive, ap. Think again. Ghetto Blai : music xinight's show. rock may not be completely accurate, co si of Southern indie the band clearly has its indie rock sto influences. The music is tight and features fu the distorted, occasionally jangly m guitar work characteristic of the ro indie scene. They said they've been ai compared most frequently to nc Pavemept. lo Shives said, "There is a sarcastic tone in our songs, and lil we get compared to Pavement, Si who any band that plays a weird, sarcastic rock gets compared be to." D; Taylor agreed "If any sarcasm is involved, ifs an instant tie to cl< Pavement." is He classified the band's sound as fun rock. - wl "We're not serious," he said, fo "but we're not a novelty band." be Ghetto Blaster will be included ar on an upcoming compilation * being produced by Carolina th Productions and plans to release M a 7-inch record. he Photo special to The Gamecock Currently, they have a very th aylor and Milton Hall. well-produced demo tape, "Eras of Rock" The 16 songs brilliantly al ic alive and ] "How Come," "Love which FinePs father translated from the M You Till-the End" and poem written by Apollinaire. "When The tc z/ms r. l ,1 ni T ? an *1 i T _V i J ^ i ne sun ana tne snip monies in, crigni Liignis ana u Moon" are the more "Tosspoint" are excellent examples of jrock-influenced songs, the band's musical talents and bawdy c There is no denying style. these songs contain a This CD is one of seven albums The ^ certain pop-like quality Pogues have produced since their debut, a common to many roth "Red Roses For Me." "Rum, Sodomy & , songs from Elvis The Lash" (1985), "If I Should Fall From Costello to The Grace With God" (1988) and "Peace & fj Jayhawks, but they Love" (1989) were three releases that also contain a established the group on the international w ?e to them. music scene, giving them opportunities 31 n the CD similar to to play with acts such as U2 and Bob are ballads such as Dylan. ke id "Pont Mirabeau," In 1991, original tead vocalist Shane lit RHIiHilWIk'TgSl nd Drive Extrav I'lfiliHIItBilililHi Tune in to find out what's hapi on campus and around ton Ed Columbia Mass Choir sponsored by OMSA Location: Greene Street Time: Noes IM Basketball Playoffs tBcatefl: Gym 305 Hu?: fcHMfjwi !$$& -ill Listen to WUSC to find out what you can win, jfour pledge. Show your support of diverse prt and unique specialty shows. Call 777-4165 and make a pledge. A $10 pledge to WlftC ge /pjN WUSCtaHM Giveaways can be picked up In Rasseil Reese Room 331 M-F from 10 a.m. > N iter is just... mbine indie and punk rock with a rong 70s roots rock background. On "Eras of Rock," the band never lly commits itself to any one style of sic and can only be described as raw ck'n'roll. The music is energetic and engaging, id while Ghetto Blaster is definitely it a light rock band, they never get so url as fr> hp inarrpssihlp Shives said, "We try to be heavy. I ie to think we have a little Black ibbath going on." The demo is a delightful find and can s picked up at Manifest, New Clear ays or Papa Jazz. Comparisons to Pavement have a 3ar foundation in truth, but the band definitely not an imitation. Kennedy said, "I don't really hear it ben comparisons are made. It's hard r me to hear what other people hear (cause I'm not coming from the same igle." Tonight's show is very important for e band since ifs a step up from playing onday or Tuesday nights. They are >ping a lot of people show up to support em. As Hall put it, "We're hoping to bring 1 the ladies out." kicking [acGowan left the group, allowing Stacy ?move in as permanent lead vocalist, ther members to leave the group include ames Fearnley, Terry Woods and Phil hevron. Despite internal changes, The Pogues loved forward and were able to assemble group of musicians capable of retaining le integrity of the group,as well as their iclaimed music stylings. "Pogue tahone" is just a fitting CD to show how _n nm_ _ n 1 j.1 J en me rogues nave weauiereu uiange ad the perils of modernizing tradition. Perhaps this is one reason they can lep Irish eyes a smiling for at least a tie while longer. aganza -\ 1 veiling m. I~ * 1. -V! ' ' -. . . O ^ S ^ Fj p ' - f ? | . i' : IS Jf' J|f' |11111|||1||,>.. by making igramming /< \ &v::. #'v ; \ ^1$ ts you a free CD*. 8OTand2yjB.-430p.nt. ^