The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 12, 1997, Page 4, Image 4
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
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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
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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
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