The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 03, 2000, Page 5, Image 5
□BACK IN TIME
WUSC-FM gets ready to kick off ’80s weekend
WUSC-FM disc jockeys sing their rendition of “We Are the World” to cap off last
year's ‘80s Weekend.
by Kelly Hamilton
The Gamecock
‘“80s Weekend,” the annual fundraising effort
of WUSC-FM 90.5, will provide the opportunity
for students to request their favorite music, partici
pate in a variety of contest and win prizes.
According to WUSC’s public relations direc
tor Camille Watkins, this is the station’s longest run
ning and most popular fundraiser. Students can call
in and request their favorite ‘80s songs in exchange
for donations to WUSC.
The listener who puts the total over each $200
mark will receive a prize package, Watkins said. A
prize will also be given at the end of each DJ’s show
for the biggest donation during the show. Prizes will
include gift certificates to local restaurants and stores,
movie passes to three theaters, concert tickets, pass
es to area health clubs and a cell phone from Sprint
PCS.
“You’ll be able to hear all kinds of music,” Watkins
said. “We’ll be playing everything from popular stuff
like Madonna to more obscure songs.”
The events will begin with WUSC’s kick off par
ty on Greene Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rock
bands S-Tribe and Superbike will provide live mu
sic, and WUSC will give out prizes such as key chains
and ‘80s Weekend cups. There will also be free
pizza donated by Domino’s.
Students can display their vocal talent in an ‘80s
karaoke contest. The songs will be recorded and lat
er played on the air, when businesses can call in
and vote for their favorites.
The karaoke singer who recieves the most callOin
votes will win two tickets to the Mighty Mighty Bos
stones concert in Charlotte.
Saturday night will feature an ‘80s party and cos
tume contest at the Elbow Room. The party will
be held in conjunction with the CD release party
of Fling, a local rock band.
Watkins said the event will begin at 9 p.m.
with ‘80s music played by a DJ. Fling will take the
stage at 11 p.m. and perform songs from their new
CD. Admission is-$6.
“We’re encouraging everyone to dress up in their
favorite clothes from the ‘80s,” said Watkins. “You
can dress like an ‘80s rocker...leather, dangly ear
rings, and big hair...big, big hair.”
According to Watkins, the winner of the cos
tume contest will get two tickets to the Deftones
and Incubus contest in Charlotte. The runner-up will
win tickets to the String Cheese Incident in Char
lotte.
The spotlight desk can be reached at
gamecockspotlight@hotmail.com.
'We’ll be playing everything from
popular stuff like Madonna to more
obscure songs.’
Camille Watkins
WUSC Public Relations Director
PlayStation 2 hype
might be overrated
by Chris Wright
The Gamecock
Advertising can sometimes count
more than the product itself. Even very
well developed games and consoles can
fail if the advertising and hype doesn’t
succeed.
4^ For a good example of this, compare
the huge sales of the Sega Saturn in Japan
to their horrible turnout in America.
Sony’s newest addition to the mar
ket, the PlayStation 2, definitely doesn’t
face the problem of not having enough
hype.
Everyone, be they American, Euro
pean, Australian or Asian, lias been buzzing
about this new system.
Just a search for the system on e-Bay
or any other online market will reveal
the outrageous prices some people will
pay for the box.
The true question, however, is
whether the hype will hold up when more
devices become available.
Will Wright, a USC-Aiken student
used to write for dc-extreme.com,
^ga Dreamcast’s number one website,
attended the annual E3 convention in Los
Angeles, which showcases the hottest
exlusive games and systems being de
veloped.
Wight said chip technology and hard
ware design will be the two largest prob
lems facing the PlayStation 2.
Sony has faced many problems try
ing to manufacture the chips themselves,
and as a result they haven’t released many
systems recently.
“Sony should have let another
company handle the manufacturing of
this Emotion Engine and Graphics Syn
thesizer Chip, and they would not have
had to go through the launch fiasco,” said
Wright.
According to Wight, when software
companies develop games for a console,
typically libraries come with the system
development kits.
These libraries contain the basic files
for much of the standard development
required for creating a game. Without
these libraries, game developers must
“start from scratch” on every game.
PlayStation see page 6
Rock*A*Teens deliver
innovative rock style
by Marguerite Higgins
The Gamecock
OUT OF
ifr * ft &
In evident contrast to their opening
Auid, The Capitals, The Rock*A*Teens
pve a limited audience a good example
of innovative rock late Wednes
day evening at New Brookland
Tavern.
Using a wide selection of
string and wood instruments, the
band from Cabbagetown, Ga.,
entertained crowds with music
mainly from their fifth full-length
CD, “Sweet Bird Of Youth,”
, which they released in April.
Chris Lopez took the lead of the band
and singing with his higher pitched vo
cals that gave an appreciative offset to
the low bass guitars and percussion.
The band doesn’t delve into heavy rock,
nor does it scream alternative or indie
rock. Rather, the four members keep the
music upbeat and easy enough to follow,
^thout conforming to any one style.
In their first song, “If I Waited To Be
\
Famous (Fd Have Shot Someone),” Lopez
gives almost a hint of a British rock singer
in the inflection of his voice and the em
phasis with the electric guitars. Howev
er, the band steers away from being U2
groupies by adding in unexpected adorn
ments to the song, such as saying words
in the chorus and then singing. Drummer
Ballard Lesemann keeps
an entnusiasuc neat
throughout all the songs,
often contradicting the
lyrics with the dynamic
rhythm.
Instrument experi
mentation also seems to be
a passion for the band, with
tbe additional use ol a portable organ
played by guitarist and background singer
Justin Hughes, a piano played by Lopez,
an accordian and a harmonica along with
the electric and bass guitars and drums.
“We’ve had the chance to add extra
instruments to our shows, so we did it,”
Lopez said.
“If You Only Knew” shows darker
subtones with the high-stringed guitar
Teen seefwges
« Special to The Gamecock
Fling will release their new CD, View From the Valley, Saturday night at The Elbow Room. The
group consists of (left to right) Kenley Young, Ronnie Cleland, Justus Jagger and James Touzel.
Fling to play Elbow Room
in support of newest CD
by Kevin Langston
The Gamecock
Local artists Fling will be playing the Elbow Room
Saturday night in support of their newest EP, “The View
From the Valley.”
Formerly known as the Speakeasies, Fling will be
playing songs from the new CD, as well as several old
A—»L„« »1 r.. _„ — -
JllUlUUl UJ UUU 11 UVV U1V 11 TV/ J V/Ul V/lll V/V/l V/l VI.
Fling already has an album full of origi
nal material recorded under the name Junc
tion 51 to their credit, but some considerable
time has since passed, and Fling has matured ^
soundwise.
Their songs are more introspective and
insightful than most twentysoinethings could
boast, and what’s more amazing is that these
four guys are doing this in between college
courses.
“The View From the Valley” is a five-song intro
duction to a sound that deserves attention. From flashy
pop to blistering rock to lyrical ballads, this album will
be hard to foiget.
Lead singer Kenley Young’s choirboy voice is the per
fect compliment to lyrics of love-tom experience. It’s al
most sad to say such good music can be the spin off of
such bad experiences.
“Decade of Mornings” is the album’s opener, and it
does well to set the mood of the CD. With a subtle gui
tar dancing about, the song kicks in with a driving beat
provided by Ronnie Cleland.
“No More Than Enough” provides a catchy guitar riff
that rises to Young’s words: “I’m no survivor. I haven’t
stood up yet.” The song’s bridge is an outstanding two
minutes of music. It’s a wonderful collaboration of song
writing and production. From the most insignificant
guitar lick to the incredible harmonies, this song shows
how delicate Fling is with every element of their music.
*
“Venom In My System” is simply a beautiful song
that features a string arrangement written by bassist James
Touzel, adding a haunting and goigeous voice to the song.
The wonderful words and harmonies meshed with float
ing strings make the CD’s midpoint a tough act to follow.
Fling switches gears with “At Last.” Don’t let the be
ginning be deceitful. Tltis song is gutsy rock that features
great drumming work by Cleland and interesting har
monies from Touzel and Young while Jag
ger pleads, “let’s just get this over, fast.”
Jagger even adds in a biting guitar solo be
fore they’re done. The urgency of the words
is complimented by the song’s fast pace.
Fling leaves a lasting impression with
“Damsel In Her Dress.” Perhaps the most
beautiful song on the album, Young’s voice
is amazing as he pours through emotions of
lost love and missed opportunities. Young
asbeiu>, i nupe yuu uaveii i ieaeueu uie pictce, yci. yviicic
words won’t move you anymore.” His words are brilliant
and meaningful, and he grips you with his desperation.
You can tell Fling loves music and loves making mu
sic. “The View From the Valley” has a pop sensibility that
is rare for such a young act. Fling has managed to capture
five songs that adequately show their range and ability.
Fling will take to the stage around 11 p.m., and $6
provides for admission and a free copy of “The View From
the Valley.” In addition, WUSC will be celebrating their
annual ‘80s weekend event where participants can dress
in ‘80s apparel and dance to the music of the decade
that just won’t die.
All in all, the evening promises to be fun, with one
of Columbia’s up-and-comings celebrating the release of
an CD that is certain to tum heads.
The spotlight desk can be reached at
gamecockspotlight@hotmail.com.
What’s
Happening
FRIDAY, NOV. 3:
«
HUNTER-GATHERER, Science
Knows No Sin, 21+, show starts at
11:30 p.m., $2 cover.
JAMMEN JAVA, Roddy Dinsmore
and Rhth Gado, all ages, show starts at
8 p.m., $2 cover.
DELANEYS, Harry O Donoghue,
21+, show starts at 10 p.m., no cover.
DECISIONS BAR & GRILLE, No
Stage Fright Karaoke, 21+, starts at 9
p.m., no cover.
HEMINGWAYS, Edgewise, 21+,
show starts at 9:30 p.m., no cover.
MAC’S ON MAIN, Vanessa Taylor
Trio, 18+, show starts at 9 p.m., no
cover.
CROCODILE ROCKS, Dueling Pi
anos, 18+, $5 cover.
SUNDANCE GRILL, Weekend Excur
sion, 21+, Show starts at 9 p.m., no
cover.
BILLY G’S, Drifting Through, 21 +, -
show starts at 10 p.m., no cover.
ROAD RUNNERS, Muddy Quarters,
all ages, show starts at 10 p.m., $4 cov
er.
SATURDAY, NOV. 4:
FXJBAR, Pretty Vacant (A Sex Pistols
Tribute Show), 18+.
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE MUSE
UM, Featuring Ten Blues and Jazz per
formers including Skipp Pearson and
Fat Back & the Groove Band, all ages,
show starts at 8 p.m., $20 tickets
($ 17.50 for members) in advance, $25 ,
at the door.
JAMMIN JAVA, Danielle Howie, all
ages, show starts at 9 p.m., $4 cover.
DELANEYS, Hany O’Donoghue,
21+, show starts at 10 p.m., no cover.
GROUP THERAPY, Cravin Melon
and Ellijah- Project featured for the
14th Annual Chili Cookoff, from noon
to 7 p.m., no cover.
DECISIONS BAR & GRILLE, Rick
Stevens, 21+, show starts at 9 p.m., no
cover.
HEMINGWAYS, 3D Monday, 21+,
show starts at 9:30 p.m., no cover.
MACS ON MAIN, Page Two, 18+,
show starts at 9 p.m., no cover.
BILLY G’S, Nickel Slots, 21+, show
starts at 10 p.m., no cover.
CROCODILE ROCKS, Dueling Pi
anos, 18+, $5 cover.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5:
FTJBAR, Hot Water, All Ages, Show
Starts at 7pm, $5 Cover.
DECISIONS, Blues Jani with
Brainstorm.
ELBOW ROOM, Karl Densons Tiny
Universe, 18+, show starts at 10 p.m.,
$8 cover.
DELANEYS, Team Trivia, 21+.
WKMA MOVieS
Monday, Nov. 6 and Wednesday, Nov. 8:
2 pjn.: Don’t Be a Menace
5 p.m.: Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey
8 pjn.: Cmter Stage
11 pjn.: Shanghai Noon
2 ajn.: Don’t Be a Menace •>
Tuesday, Nov. 7 and Thursday, Nov. 9
2pm: Absolute Power
5pm: Analyze This
8pm: Keeping the Faith
11pm: The Patriot
2am: Absolute Power
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
9 ajn.: Mystery Men
12 pm.: Wayne’s World
3 pjn.: Romeo Must Die
6 pjn.: Rules of Engagement
9 pjn.: Pitch Black
12 ajn.: 28 Days
3 ajn.: Romeo Must Die
i