The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 18, 1998, Page Page 6, Image 6
Celtic r<
encore editor RUTH NETTLES
Yet another rock-fusion band will
be playing in the area this weekend.
But unlike the others, this one will have
four men in skirts holding instruments
with names you may not be able to pronounce.
Sovan Nafinnc liac nlavoH orrmnrl
the world for the last five years, ever
since Kirk McLeod of Sumter decided
he wanted to create a rock band, "only
ours would have bagpipes instead of
electric guitars."
The band plays old songs, new songs,
and original songs. They have done new
arrangements of traditional ScotchIrish
and Celtic tunes such as "Blackleg
Miner" and have also reproduced
well-known but more current hits, such
as the 80s "Under the Milky Way."
The group began playing at highland
games and Scottish festivals, but
have branched out and open for other
groups as well as perform their own
/vmoor+c TViov Tmvo ononorl fnr The .Tor.
becca Dosen, these are only a few of th<
that make USC's current production of
try's Good" quite good.
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ry Garcia Band, Three Dog Night, and
Alasdair Fraser.
McLeod is lead vocals for the group
and plays highland bagpipes. He also
writes music for the group. The group's
newest member, Jamie Holton, plays
SPECIAL TC
LIGHTS! CAMERA!
REACTION!
MEET JOE BLACK
' t (out of five stars)
"Meet Joe Black" is a romantic drama
about an otherworldly presence who
assumes human form to enter the life
of a powerful businessman
Starring Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins.
Directed by Martin Brest. Written
by Ron Osborn, Jeff Reno, Kevin
Wade and Bo Goldman.
USC proc
staff writer AU FREEMAN
A tilted platform immediately introdi
kilter responsibilities of a new world, anc
ropes and cloth become the scary, dark
ship or the romantic glow of a bay. The 1
to come from every place possible. Even tl
show the stark contrast between convi
bility, with bright red coats and ag
frocks.
Thanks to Scenic Designer David Cole
ing Designer Jim Hunter and Costume E
ock-fusit
a wide variety of instruments includ- w
ing the mandolin and both the high- in
land (Scottish) and uillean (Irish) bag- a
pipes. The third group member plays
a bass cmitar and is known onlv as Stru- a*
by. He and McLeod are the only two re- b<
maining of the original four. Ashton fa
Geoghagan is the group's drummer. ju
Seven Nations (known popularly as 0j
7N) has come a long way since their C?
first rehearsal in a Sumter barn in 1993. ^
They began as Clan Na Gael, but after
discovering 11 other bands use that
same name, they changed to Seven Nations,
representing the seven nations
of the Celtic world. They produced three ^
albums followed by two live compilation
albums. During the summer of 31
1997, they played at the Edinburgh Festival
in Scotland.
Newcomers to the Celtic rock-fusion i;
genre are sometimes intimidated by
"those guys up there wearing skirts." C
All of the band members are of a Scot- ai
tish, Irish, or Welsh heritage and dur- ty
in| performances wear kilts in their cc
family colors. th
McLeod told the Lancaster, Penn.
News, "It only takes wearing a kilt once to
for a man to realize there's no problem is
with it as to your masculinity. The hi
amount of attention you get from a
r
1 gamecock critic ft
JAMIE BOWMAN- <>1
combines the elements cc
of love, passion and ultimate
sacrifice in its
portrayal of strength P1
that only the human "
soul is cap&ble of possessing.
Sl
Anthony Hopkins'
sums up the entire film
> the gamecock when he says, "Love is
passion, obsession, something you can- P*
not live without."
With seemingly perfect perfor- 1X1
mances, the cast pulls you in and grabs
hnlH nf vnur heart "Meet .Tne Rlaelr"
IUVUV/11 Vil
"Our Country's Good," b;
baker, is based on true events,
aces the off- penal colony in Australia cor
1 platforms, the country's first play,
depths of a In the process of this ere;
ights seems sues of the meaning and the
le costumes are considered. So the audien
cts and no- alogue about what it means to
ed, beaten With double casting, Direc
further demands the audieno
man, Light- process, forcing them to be a
esigner Re- by using their imaginations.
J attributes But "Our Country's Good
"Our Coun- ater. When people are hung
must also consider human ri
IF He LIKES ME?)
O "e
mi\Jo Ci
up
P^Y Pe
T CP / ?hours 1
Lyh^f/ you up
Help children
\J receive produi
NAI
\ 215 Asse
mi ban*
oman when you wear a kilt, it's amazig.
It's better than having a puppy on
string."
I first heard Seven Nations play
; a highland games two years ago and
>came immediately fascinated The
ns who appear at performances aren't
[st kilt-clad 20-somethings. They are
' all ages from all walks of life who
in't help but get excited by the entusiasm
of the group and their music.
The group will be playing Nov. 20
id 21 at the Newberry Opera House,
tie concerts will be taped and produced
3 a South Carolina Educational
elevision (SC-ETV) special that will
i in March.
The band plans to play more perrmances
in South Carolina during
[arch when the SC-ETV special airs,
heir third annual Homecoming con(rt
is scheduled to be held in Febru"y
in Sumter. The concerts frequent
sell out. Tickets for the Newberry
incert are available for $25 by calling
te Newberry Opera House at 276-6264.
Sound clips from the band's CDs, a
ur schedule, and other information
available on the band's website at
?p://www.sevennations.com.
ill of endless dreams and out-of-reach
Dportunities. Sparks ignite between
lem, but tragedy soon approaches,
usan continues her high-paced life
ith little thought of the man in the
iffee shop, later known as Joe Black.
The betrayal story focuses on
William Parrish (Hopkins), a man of
Dwer, wno nas managea to remain
>mpassionate. Parrish's determinaon
to maintain his business' legacy
lrges as the story progresses.
The stories intertwine as Parrish,
icounters Joe Black who later reveals
is physical self and becomes Parrish's
srsonal associate, while his true identy,
the personification of death, retains
a mystery to all others.
Joe inevitably falls in love with Sunn
and through experiences that onr
love can provide, Joe begins to remsider
the original intentions of his
arpose in Parrish's life.
"Meet Joe Black" serves as a retinder
of the power of fate and the
ndying strength of love. This movie
aves the audience with a sense of hope
id enhancement. Besides, Anthony
bpkins is the main character, so you
qow it's going to be good.
ptures a
f Timberlake Werten- fortunately, <
Individuals in a British consideratioi
tie together to perform This prod
each perforn
ative coiiaDoranon, is- ine actors n
impact of the theater each of their i
ce listens to onstage di- and each acl
be an audience. Clever, to even the s
tor Robert Richmond At one p<
e's participation in this ter proclaim:
part of the production something i
find a better
" is not just about the- ater, human
for stealing bread, one haps yourse
ights and dignity. And
w donors
an earn
to $215
r month!
off your time could earn
i to $65 in one week!
, hemophiliacs and heart patients who
madia frnm ft ha nlacmi nf near dnanrc
The Quality Source
Bl BioMedical Center
mbly St., Columbia SC 29201
254-2280
>iv;' : . . >:- . ' v^-. '.: ' ' '
gamecock critic hub linudtt
All of the problems with "Meet?]
Black" come from its self-indulgent to1
affair with Brad Pitt. At least half
hour of the film consists of innocei
doe-eyed Pitt simply looking arour
What's he looking for? Beats me.
Anthony Hopkins plays Bill Parri
(the initials B.P. pop up throughout t
film), an aging communications mog
One day, he has a heart attack. Dea
and makes a deal with Bill: keep dea
entertained in exchange for more tii
on earth. What follows is the worst a
of over-indulgence I've ever seen on t
part of any filmmaker. Pitt is in evt
scene from his introduction to the e
of the movie. Pitt's character has 01
one uninteresting level.
Moreover, the love affair betwe
death and the maiden (Forlani) is dra1
out and phony. Perhaps its falseness
intentional?death cannot truly ex]
rience love?but it takes entirely 1
long to establish this.
There are two things that save tl
movie irom Deing one 01 tne worst
the year: Anthony Hopkins and Jeffi
Tambor. Hopkins manages to pull
udiencie
even the aborigines have stage time a
a.
uction stands out at USC as one in whi
tier is strong. There are no weak linl
ave a clear vocal and physical sense
roles. There is a strong sense of ensemfc
;or gives a brilliant performance, do>
i *vi rtll
tiiiaii, jrct muviiig uiuiuo.
)int in "Our Country's Good," a char;
s, "A play should make you understa
lew!" Indeed, this one does. You c
understanding of Australia, Britain, tJ
rights, convicts, despair, love, and p
If, but you must seek it by Nov. 22i
I
TO
Long-term smokers ha
wrinkles and other sig:
Smo
sinci
Men who are lifetime
nonsmokers.
Lon^
preir
as lil
Wai
Pick up a free QUIT KT
Health;
Gi
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?a
shame
? " /' "' ' ' : '
SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK
a solid performance. At times, however,
his flawless, machine-gun delivery
of extensive monologues seemed some
foe what unrealistic. But the true saviour
ve- of this film is Tambor, who plays Hopan
kins' right hand man and brings a sense
at, of realism and humanity to a cast of
id. otherwise dry, one-dimensional, stereotypical
characters,
ish A simple solution to the problems
he of this film presents itself upon reflecul.
tion and should have presented itself
ith to the director: cut some of Pitt's scenes,
ith isfied never to see Pitt lick peanut butne
ter off a spoon. It is obvious, however,
ise that this movie wasn't made for a meshe
sage, unless that message is to love
>rv Brad Pitt.
nd
iiy I
SOUND
^ www. ?w
tvn staff writer MARCUS AMAKER
5 is ALL-FOR-ME THEOLOGY Albert Hill
pe:oo
Anyone who listens to Albert Hill
knows that this Spartanburg band
ths can rock. Their first two full-length
of CDs, Fistunderfinger and Machine
rey Called Company, thrived, with eneroff
getic rock songs that were perfect for
all-night jams at the Elbow Room. Fan
favorites such as "Rotten" and "Knocks
Down" got better and better as the volume
got louder and louder.
On their new CD, The All-for-Me
Theology, Albert Hill has turned down
, the volume to produce a more personal
n and thought-provoking album. It still
. , rocks, but in a much different way
than their other CDs.
sj. The All-for-Me Theology is the
,? calm after the storm that was Machine
1 e' Called Company. The most recogniz
able song on this new LJJ that captures
the "classic" Albert Hill sound
ac, is ' I-tealigning," a rocker that moves
n to the pulse of Kenny Hogan's exan
pressive drumming. "Better
Times" relates the band's experience
er with a certain major record label.
"Two years ago in Nashville I was
really living then - strong ties to my
0 YOU WAN
LOOK OLD1
ive thinner, less elastic skin than nons
ns of aging.
kers are twice as likely to lose their
e smoking leads to periodontal dise
smokers are only half as likely to mak
'-term smokers are four times more
laturely than nonsmokers. And men
tely to be bald or balding.
nt to quit smoking
T and information about our smoking
and Wellness, basement of health cenl
reat American Smokeou
"hursday, Nov. 19,1998
"En Route to Hamlet: Paintings by
Tom Stanley," opens Nov. 22,
McKissick Museum.
"South Carolina Trees and Forests,"
until Dec. 5, South Carolina State
Museum. For more information call
(803) 898-4917.
"An Elegance Rediscovered: The
Paintings of Henry Salem Hubbell,"
Dec. 13, McKissick Museum. For more
information, call (803) 777-7251.
"Two Traditions in Transition: Folk
Potters of Eastern Germany and the
American Southeast," through Dec.
13, McKissick Museum.
"'I made this jar...' The Life and
Works of the Enslaved African American
Potter, Dave," through Dec. 19,
McKissick Museum.
Phish, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 18, Bi-Lo Center
(Greenville, SC). $23.50 adv., $26
day of show. For more information,
call 888-386-8497.
Shania Twain, 8 p.m., Nov. 21, Dean
Smith Center (Chapel Hill, NC).
$35 & $26 reserved.
"Lord of the Dance," 8 p.m., Nov. 25,
Bi-Lo Center (Greenville, SC). $45 &
$32.50 reserved.
Muse's Night Out: "The Shape of
Words," (poetry and pottery), 7-9 p.m.,
Nov. 19, McKissick Museum.
Vinliniot VsrUm flliirman Knu 1Q
V lUiUAAUV V UVU1A* Vixumiltuij 11V/T . XVj
Roger Center. For ticket information,
call (803) 251-2222.
"As Bees in Honey Drown," (an ofFBroadway
comedy), 8 p.m., through
Nov. 21, Trustus Theatre. For more
information, call (803) 254-9732.
Traditional Craft Workshop: "Kudzu
Paper Making," (featuring South Carolina
folk artist Nancy Basket), 1-3:30
p.m., Nov. 21. McKissick Museum.
"Our Country's Good," until Nov. 22,
Theatre USC. For ticket information,
call (803) 777-2552.
"Tellabration," an afternoon of storytelling,
3-5 p.m., Nov. 22, Heathwood
Park.
company and the hopes the world
might discover me there," sings guitarist
and lead vocalist Aaron Whisnant
on a song that's getting airplay
on radio stations in Greenville and
Spartanburg. On "Two Part Traveling,"
Whisnant sings about the impact
a musical career has on relationships.
The rest of the album tells about the
individual lives of the band members
by concentrating on a more melodic
snunH
One of the reasons The All-for-Me
Theology is such a good album is because
it shows how versatile Albert
Hill can be with their music and its
message. Much of the subject matter
on the CD is a lot deeper than anything
they've ever done before. "Family
Foreclosure" and "Microphone" are
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it's evident how much passion went
into each recording.
As with every Albert Hill album,
The All-for-Me Theology is poetry to
the listener's ears.
The All-for-Me Theology elevates
th$ Albert Hill sound to a new
level of maturity, while maintaining
the stellar instrumentals and lyrics
that have given them a strong following
throughout the southeast.
T ' I
?R?
mokers and thus more
teeth as nonsmokers,
ase.
:e it to age 73 as
likely to turn gray
who smoke are twice
>
cessation program.
is packed with opportunities to smile, J
laugh and undoubtedly cause the au- cc
dience to shed a fair amount of tears. P1
The movie begins with two stories
unfolding simultaneously. One is a bit
tersweet love story, the other a story of
betrayal and personal struggle to maintain
dignity in a dishonest world. ^
The love story begins in a coffee shop
with Susan Parrish (Forlani) meeting
a man trying to find his place in a city