The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 14, 1996, Page 5, Image 5
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.
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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...
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isplay on March 13
ter, you might b
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mgs and They said they hope the ex]
those shows will help draw a
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.. 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
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>LINE
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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
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Call 777-4165 and make a pledge. A $10 pledge to WlftC ge
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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
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