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SITE OF THE DAY Skank Eartha Baxter br JOHN LYONS Features Editor Tomorrow night Kockalella's will play host to the upbeat, energetic sounds of Columbia's only ska band, Eartha Baxter. If you're not already on |? then chances are you're .. <> ^ probably not quite sure of what ska is. with the IP* Jjl music genre, I then you owe it to yourself ... A skip out on jSpA tomorrow's A ER and head down to Five Points so the six members Baxter can danii give you your Jim Bedford, the le tirst lesson Baxter, Columbia's < about the music genre. But just in case you're not quite ready to pay the price of admission, here's a quick look at ska music and at Eartha Baxter's take on the genre. About 30 years ago, ska originated in the Jamaican islands through a fusion of traditional Jamaican music Blues 1 JOHN LYONS Features Editor This weekend the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion brings it's all-out, raucous, in-your-face rock'n'roll to South Carolina. The three-man band is touring in support of its sixth release, Now I Got Worry, and they will be coming to Rockafella's on Saturday after playing a Friday night show at the Music Farm in Charleston. Now I got Worry has made a big stir on college radio since its release late last year, and if the new album is any sign, this weekend's shows should be as explosive as the band's noma imnlioa The Blues Explosion stripped its music to the most basic level on the new album and eliminated the disco strings used on Orange. The more polished sounds of recent efforts are replaced with Judah Bauer's jagged, noisy guitar work, and the album is a return to the simplicity and primitivism of the band's debut, Crypt Style. Russell Simins brings elements of funk on the drums, and Spencer controls the flow on bass. The music is more alive now than ever. *1 L e ETC. 1 J in' in 1 ings the sweet sou and popular American influences like New Orleans R&B and jazz. The music is characterized by an off-beat rhythm and the use of horns. In Jamaica, ska developed into rock steady and reggae, but American and English bands started playing ska. Different *jn| ! sub-genres, like tradgk IBk ^ m ?f| i t i o n a 1, III skacore and .jU third wave 1H formed, and a certain 1 degreeof L. wmmk subculture K l&pBt identification w * ^ h t^ie music has #i occurred, Er most notably mk in the Rude H| i Boy image of Wmji the late 70s I and early 80s. T i m :l chesivey The Gamecock Bedford, ad singer of Eartha singer and only ska band. guitarist for Eartha Baxter, said ska can sound like fast reggae to those that are unfamiliar with it but that the music is defined by its rhythm. "There are certain rhythmic aspects associated with ska," Bedford said. "The word ska originated out Explosi "It's definitely more loose, and some of the sound is more rough and < jagged," Spencer said. "Maybe it's fVio annrra Tf'a mnro lilra cnmo nf nnr , U1AV UUlIgUi XV0 1UU1V XUXv UW111V UA VUi older records, more raucous, maybe. "But it wasn't an intention at the < outset to make this kind of record, ! it just sorta happened this way." Regardless of intention, Now I 1 Got Worry is much more raw than i the band's recent efforts, and the emphasis of the music has returned i to the primal rock'n'roll attitude of j their early recordings and live shows. From the start of the album, when ; "Skunk" begins with a grating scream, 1 it merges simple, three-chord i rock'n'roll with sonic mess before a 1 backdrop of blues. With Now I Got Worry, the Blues Explosion returns to the jagged, harsh, intense rock'n'roll that made them college radio stars. The intensity and simplicity are reminiscent of the blues rode created by bands like the Rolling Stones and AC/DC. By this point, fans of the band are familiar with Spencer's haughty vocals, his trademark Elvis-like snear and the band's no frills rock'n'roll mentality, but the band's message walks a fine line between the L'/a T h. \ ON FRIDAY: Hobex brings sol 7"T LI ?ive Pc nds of ska to Coh of a traditional Caribbean rhythm. The word itself implies a rhythm. Ska combines traditional Jamaican music with 50s jazz, rhythm & blues, swing, and Caribbean island influences." The recent success of skainfluenced bands like Goldfinger, No Doubt and Rancid has made ska a buzz word in popular music, where predictions have been circulating about its possible status as the next Dig rning. But the potential of ska music doesn't have the members of Eartha Baxter holding their breath waiting for success. "Whether ska can break through depends on what you mean by ska," said drummer Whitney Keen. "It needs to be more accessible than it has been And ft has to break through its subculture image." Bassist Scott Padgett said he thinks it is unlikely traditional ska will ever break through, and Bedford added that he feels the commercial success of ska music is not as important as the development of a loyal audience. "People are so quick to jump from one thing to the next," Bedford said. "Ska may come in style and last for as long as grunge did If s kinda sad, and I almost hope it doesn't get too big for that reason. "So many people listen to what's in when it's in, and that's it. It's a fad. And then, if something gets too big, there's a certain audience that can't deal with it anymore." The members of Eartha Baxter f mmr*. [ o n humorous and the fl|!p agM offensive. vf .J| The attitude and edginess on Now I Got ^4 ''***& Worry reach their height ^^^^4 on "Can't Stop" when Spencer proclaims: "This is the part of the record where I want everyone to stand up, throw their hands in the air, and kiss my ass 'cause your I girlfriend still loves me." But the basic, straightforward rock'n'roll that mixes punk and blues is endearing enough to L iSH forgive such insults. The band's renewed vigor and the new album's strength may come, in part, from side projects they have pursued since Orange. The whole band played on bluesman RL. Burnside's most recent album, A Ass Pocket of Whiskey, and each member has pursued other projects. hi the last year, Spencer continued to play with his wife in Boss Hog, while Bauer started a juke-punk band with his brother called 20 Miles. Simins, an the other hand, worked ^'J"^ I< "*~, * ' . I t il blues and R&B to Columbia TV 1 rnkm J lints said they hope ska } * music will continue its jjr gradual increase in jP J popularity without too j much of a popular explosion. They point f t&f*. 4 to the N.Y. ska band ImPI the Toasters as an example of a band that 1^^ has developed a following gradually. , 1 And, according to V Padgett, the music is ?; what really matters ii'JB anvwav. "It's the bomb," he said. "Ska music is the best music ever invented. Ska music is Eartha Bw my favorite type of Schulze, M music. It's incredible." al daring t While not quite so adamant as Padgett, Keen agreed there is something especially endearing about ska music. "It's joyous music," Keen said. "What I like about our band is it's fun, and if s evident in the live show. Thafs what ska is about. If s like an inescapable force. And it has a very broad generational appeal." Eartha Baxter's particular take on the ska sound is somewhere between the different categories that have developed in the genre, and it can be best described as third wave ska. The band's sound is rounded out by Dan Schulze on saxophone, Matt Smith on trombone and Jon Wilkins on guitar. The six members perform cover songs but have enough original L*SSr IJHVJ SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK with experimental, hip hop-oriented artists like Cibo Matto and Butter 08, which may accoimt for some of the new album's flare. But fortunately, these side projects have been set to the side again, and this weekend South Carolina gets a chance to hear the raw, gritty sounds of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. The band takes the stage in Charleston on Friday at the Music Farm and then Saturday at Rockafella's here in Columbia. hi freshens ttw premium yogurt the Russell House Basement %*ar 3 T ! icter's band members, Tim Bedford, W alt Smith and Jon Wilklns, play both c heir sets. They will play at Rockefella'i material for an hour and a half set, % and they are currently working on c putting out a four-song EP cn compact c disc. p Eartha Baxter combines the t /\f rt 1 olr r? *v\limn V uappmgs ui tiauiuunai 9Aa muoit l with a solid rock backdrop and a f variety of influences that flow from jazz to funk. 1: The music is not as fast-paced as i the skacore of a band like Goldfinger, I but it has a buoyant, upbeat quality that is highlighted by the talented g horn section of Schulze and Smith, s This energetic quality of Eartha i Baxter's music is characteristic of most ska music. c If s not always happy music, but t ska is incredibly energetic and the s Greek Leagui by Bet?^ Clii^boo: i i : f:*i ** : g The Greek Intramurals League \ continues its strong showing this s semester with a number of athletic teams and activities. Competition i among chapters for intramural f standing continues to be fierce, but s fun. t In addition to enthusiasm, sportsmanship and teamwork, s participants are able to display I athletic and leadership skills that fi are beneficial on and off the playing * field. Sophomore Katharine McPhail, [ the Intramurals Chairperson for the ? Delta Delta Delta sorority, plays t intramural flag football, basketball, s soccer, softball, racquetball and I bowling. I "Flag football is my favorite ? I I enjoy competing with the other sororities," Katharine said. In s addition, she has enjoyed meeting e other students through the i intramurals system. \ T? 1 1171. * ?. TT 1 r rresnman wnii nuason, a c member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity, I iHTANE for >2 ^ *No additior *No other coupons accepted MM MM W?V WW MM VMi VWW VMM MM ?MM; % i Student ? ; : $it, ( Anytime f f Includes Green Fee ? WW WW WW WW WW WW WW ?W WW WW WW 794-8(1 7 miles from 1-26 on 321S Take a rigfi (#(# Tils is the part of the record where I want everyone to stand op, throw their hands in the air, and kiss my ass. juu apruccr the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion 11 ihmhhw^ DANIEL CHESNEY The Gamecock hitney Keen, Scott Padgett, Dan sover songs and original materii Thursday. jenre is characterized by a positive, pen-minded mentality. The members if Eartha Baxter said they enjoy >laying such upbeat music and that he main problem in forming a ska >and was finding the horn section or a band. Tve wanted for years to get a ska >and together," Bedford said. "But i t's so hard to do it and do it right, fs so hard to find good horn players. "It's hard to find people who are [ood enough and want to do it. It's ilways seemed like such a big indertaking." If you'd like to see what the big leal about ska is, then head down o Rockafella's tomorrow night to ee Eartha Baxter. e Competes s also actively involved in ntramurals. Whit played football, >asketball and baseball at Myrtle ieach High School and enjoys playing | hese sports at USC. "Playing ntramurals keeps your competitive pirit going, and helps with interaction vith the other fraternities," Whit laid. Since the system involves so nany different sports, standings requentiy change and current sorority landings were not available at the ime of print. | As of now, the top five fraternity landings are as follows: #1?Sigma >hi Epsilon, #2?Alpha Tau Omega, ?Sigma Chi, #4?Sigma Nu and ^5?Tau Kappa Epsilon. "This semester's] race will be very intense, ind whoever can win the big sports? >asketball, soccer and softball? ihould be a favorite for the ntramural Championship," said Crnie Badillo, Fraternity Council ntramurals Chairperson. Fraternities and sororities may ign up for the following upcoming ivents during the listed dates: swim neet Feb. 10 through Feb. 13, volleyball March 3 through March 5 and team golf March 3 through darch 6. ACV on|y3 HO 1 miles from ' !21 V. campus n*h IV. 9.95 \%S, ial fees I Expires 2/17/97 Ti rffl 11 Him * >peciai I .00 ! lon-Fri \ s, Cart and Tax) , ww ww vw wn ww ww ?w wi 187 it on Woodtrail then follow signs i Xm V