Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE GAMECOCK ♦ Friday, March 8, 2002 5 * CONTACT US THEY SAID IT Story ideas? Questions? Comments? DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER: “Oh, that E-mail us at gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com lovely title, ex-president.” ----—. 1 From new wave roots, Neil Finn keeps evolving BY TUG BAKER the gamecock In the music business, where artists come and go as easily as passing cars, artists have to have a flexible approach to then music if they want to stay in the limelight. Just look at Aerosmith, which has managed to change its style more than once to fit the times; it’s earned them nearly three decades of ime and fortune. Never minding the mainstream, there are also scores of underground artists, such as Tom Waits, who have done the same to keep themselves in the minds 6f loyal fans and critics alike. One singer/songwriter who has such evolutionary prowess is Neil Finn. From his humble beginnings in the late 1970s new wave group Split Enz, to his timeless contributions through Crowded House, Finn was a powerful influence on many artists who rose to fame in the ’90s. Now, 23 years after he joined Split Enz, Finn has come out with solo material that’s been drawing attention from old fans, critics and, more importantly, new listeners. New wave for New Zealand. This seemed to be the idea behind Split Enz. Formed by Neil’s brother Tim in 1972, Split Enz was the first pop group from New Zealand to gain international attention. While it didn’t achieve mainstream success, it did manage to create some brilliant pop albums such as “Mental Notes,” “Dizrythmia” and “Time and Tide.” Neil didn’t join Split Enz until 1977, but he led the band after his brother quit in 1983. He remembers his days with Split ■npwded House: ‘Woodface” ^Crowded House:“Recuiji Enz fondly; he said the hand’s “look” consisted of bizarrely shaved hair and make-up. “We were paving the way for an extrovert, eccentric New Zealander,” Neil said. Dropping the make-up and the new-wave sound for a more stripped-down acoustic style, Finn gathered drummer Paul Hester and bassist Nick Seymour in July 1985 to form the group that would give the world a taste of the genius that is Finn’s songwriting. Under the direction of soon-to-be star producer Richard Bloom, Crowded House recorded a self titled debut album that gained it, widespread success all over Europe and the United States, not to mention its native New Zealand. The album produced two Top 40 hits, “Don’t Dream It’s Over” and “Something So Strong.” While its popularity with American audiences faltered after the release of its second album, “Temple of Low Men,” and Americans labeled them “one-hit wonders,” Crowded .House was embraced in Europen with a fervor like it had never seen, especially in the United Kingdom. The band toured like mad, and in 1991, Tim Finn joined the band to produce “Woodface,” which would prove to be the band’s best (and, unfortunately, last) album. By collaborating with his brother once again, Neil saw his already adequate songwriting skills rise to the loftiest heights. This happy partnership was realized again in 1995 with a Finn Brothers album. The good times couldn’t last forever, though, and in 1996, Crowded House officially disbanded. As a farewell, the group performed at the Sydney * Opera House to an audience of 100,000 people. A satisfying ending for a rock star, right? Not for Finn. In 1999, his first solo album, “Try Whistling This,” got massive critical attention. He even reached a younger generation through MTV2, which chose the first single, “Sinner,” as one of its “hand-picked” videos. The album itself was a surprisingly strong departure from Crowded House and dabbled in a more experimental approach that included elements of trip-hop and harder rock. ♦ FINN, SEE PAGE 6 CONCERT PREVIEW Peerless Baleen knows its stuff * « BY JUSTIN BAJAN THE GAMECOCK Used to sift tiny organisms such as krill and plankton that a whale feeds on, the baleen is a useful appendage that replaces the convention of teeth. Just as unique as the baleen of a whale is the music of Baleen, a talented group of musicians hailing from Charlotte. Baleen features Derrick Hines on keyboards and vocals, Steve McMillan on bass, Tony McCullough on vocals ana wina instruments, Phil Disher on drums and vocals and Mike Vagianos on guitars, piano and vocals. The five unite to galvanize a complex array of sounds - varying from electronica based tracks to post-modern classical compositions. ' The band’s incomparable musical abilities give credence to its roots in instrumental rock. Vagianos and Disher, along with former member Brian Wingate, formed the Chapel Hill-based, 1999 version of Baleen, a trio that released “Personality Plus,” a college radio favorite. The trio relocated to Charlotte, and, once there, merged with an equally blessed group, the X-periment, ♦ BALEEN, SEE PAGE 6 E# - PHOTO BY SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK Old No. 8 will play with Johnny Rotten Cash. Friday March 8 DA FUNK OF BROTHERHOOD, THE LIMIT: New Brookland Tavern. 122 State St. ISSING RAZORS, DECEMBER, SCAR CULTURE, VLAD, NECROCIDE, MIRAGE AND MAGGOT CHRIST: Uncle Doctor’s, 1034 Mobile Ave. SUGARDADDY SUPERSTAR WITH SOUL MITES: Senate Park, 931B Senate St. $5. DANIELLE HOWLE AND THE TANTRUMS WITH HOT lava MONSTER: The Cock Pit. 805 Harden St. HICK'RY HAWKINS: Group Therapy. 2107 Greene St. “ANTIGONE”: 8 p.m. Longstreet Theatre. $12 general public; $io USC faculty and staff, senior citizens and military; $8 students. “COPPELIA”: Columbia City Ballet. 7:30 p.m. Koger Center for the Arts “LANTANA”: Set in Sydney, Australia, "Lantana" j is about several people in the midst of midlife burnout. The film’s psychological penetration, the succinctness and rightness of its dialogue and its skillful weaving of disparate stories mark -y as one of the past year’s best pictures. It stars ^rithony Lapaglia, Barbara Hershey and •Geoffrey Rush. Rated R. 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre, 937 Main St. Saturday March 9 MOURNING AFTER, INNERSOUL, LUSTRE: Uncle Doctor’s. Free. SEVEN NATIONS WITH CONNER BROTHERS: Senate Park. $8. CAPTAIN SOULAR CAT: Sundance. 902 Gervais St. “ANTIGONE”: 8 p.m. Longstreet Theatre. $12 general public; $10 USC faculty and staff, senior citizens and military; $8 students. “COPPELIA": 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Koger Center for the Arts. i St. Patty’s Five Points’ St. Patrick’s Day celebration kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 16. Saturday March 16 ST. PATRICK’S CHARITY CELEBRATION IN 5 POINTS 10 a.m. Festival gates open and parade begins 11 a.m. Waiter’s race in Yesterday’s parking lot 6:30 p.m. Festival ends COORS LIGHT STAGE AT HARDEN AND GREENE 3:15-4:15 p.m. Danielle Howie and The Tantrums 4:30-5:30 p.m. Captain Easy 5:45-6:30 p.m. National Recording Artist Toya STAGE AT HARDEN AND BLOSSOM 3:15-4:15 p.m. Maywater 4:30-5:30 p.m. Jonasay. 5:45-6:45 p.m. Drivin’ n’ Cryin’ MAJOC 93.1 STAGE AT SANTEE AND YESTERDAY'S PARKING LOT 3-4 p.m. The Epics 4:15-5:15 p.m. Eliot & The Untouchables 5:30-6:30 p.m. Men of Distinction “LANTANA”: 3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre. Sunday March 10 “ELLIS ISLAND: GATEWAY TO A DREAM:” 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Roger Center for the Arts. $10 adults, $5 children. “LANTANA”: 3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre. Monday March 11 WESLEY WILLIS, GRAND BUFFET, TYKES WITH GUNS: Uncle Doctor’s. MUSICIAN MONDAY: Everything Jam session with drum set provided. $2. New Brookland Tavern. “LANTANA”: 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre, Tuesday March 12 LIQUID LAB SHOWCASE: Baleen with First Night on Earth and the Interstellars. New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St. “LANTANA”: 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre. NON-STOP HIP-HOP LIVE: Sacred Methods featuring Lyrikal Buddah and Al-1 from 7 Moonz, Tokyo Joe, Wings and Ale. New Brookland Tavern “LANTANA”: 7 p.m. and 9:i5 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre. Thursday March 14 OLD NO. 8 WITH JOHNNY ROTTEN CASH, THE WHITE TRASH ALL-STARS: New Brookland Tavern. “RACHEL'S DAUGHTERS”: This powerful documentary presents eight women - all living with breast cancer - who interview 22 scientists about possible links between cancer and the environment. Made by the makers of the Oscar winning "In The Shadow Of The Stars," Allie Light and Irving Saraf. Not rated. 7:30 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre. Free. Friday March 15 BLUE EYED CACTUS WITH MESCALINE MEN AND CRYPHILL RAMBLERS: New Brookland Tavern. JUPITER COYOTE: Senate Park. $8 in advance, $10 at the door. “MONSTER’S BALL”: A series of jaw-dropping calamities brings together Hank Grotowski and Leticia Musgrove in the unpredictable, compelling and exquisitely acted "Monster’s Ball." It stars Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Heath Ledger and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs." Rated R. 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre. Saturday March 16 PERFECT SLEEPER WITH DAMN THE SUN AND HI FI DRIVE-BY: New Brookland Tavern. LOVE APPLE, SUPER*BIKE, WINGED DNA, POP 39: Uncle Doctor’s. ST. PAT'S DAY AFTER PARTY: Senate Park. “MONSTER’S BALL”: 3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre. Sunday March 17 MONSTER’S BALL 3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Nickelodeon Theater. PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK Scar Culture will play Uncle Doctor’s tonight.