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THE GAMECOCK ♦ Friday, September 6, 2002 5 TT-n ’ll /rT"\7" THEY SAID IT PONTAPT TT^ I-1 Ih % /I I JACK HANDEY: “During the Middle Ages. \j\Jiy l.Wj 1 UO ■ ■ | < J \l I I /\ probably one of the biggest mistakes was Story ideas? Questions? Comments? I I I J W I I / % ' not putting on your armor because you E-mail us at gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com -M ■ ■—^ " -■ ■—* were ‘just going down to the comer.’ ” I I of Columbia’s LOCAL BAND OPENS FOR NATIONAL ACT BY WILLIAM MILLS THE {iAMECOCjH As small-time local bands claw and scratch at the footsteps of a headlining gig for a major act, Columbia’s Love Apple has found its footing. The band landed a spot opening up for Knoxville, Tenn., rock powerhouse Superdrag * tonight at the New Brookland Tavern. Local punkers Donbravado will also play* adding to a night of blaring with a mixture of pop punk and alternative rock. Although Love Apple has already opened for such big-name acts as Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks and Jimmie's Chicken Shack, this show is sure to be important to this band of Ozma-loving rockers. "Superdrag has a big influence on us musically,” said lead singer and gui tarist Jason Sposa, a fourth-year media arts student at USC. Sposa and his bandmates, guitarist George Cooper, bassist Jebb Graff and drummer Scott Cooke, are optimistic about Friday and the possibilities the concert could bring. Sposa contacted Superdrag bassist Sam Powers about the maybe schedul ing a concert with Superdrag during its current tour. When a summer date didn't work out, the two discussed a date close to the beginning of the fall semester. Powers then called the New Brookland Tavern and set up the show. In the two years Love Apple has been together, it has already released an im pressive amount of music. Aside from its ultracatchy debut self-titled album, the band had a 10-song demo and songs released on two compilations, one of which was a Weezer tribute album called “Making Noise” that made its way as far East as Japan. A common theme in the music of Love Apple is ‘80s pop culture. The band alludes to “Back to The Future" in the song “88 mph.” Its 10-song demo wds titled “As You Wish,” a catch phrase from “The Priftcess Bride.” And the band even wrote an entire song, “Winnie,” devoted to the un folding love story on “The Wonder Years.” Superdrag is on the road to push its recently released fourth full-length LP, “Last Call for Vitriol." The album is a little more varied than many of the band’s other releases. Some songs are firmly rooted in the twangy country camp, while others claim a stance alongside the music of the Beach Boys. This eclectic rock group, which is jostling somewhere around hard rock, alternative country and Beatles-esque sounds, has now regained its indie rock status. It fed the corporate cow for two albums by releasing the MTV Buzz Bin single “Sucked Out” in 19%, but now retains more artistic control over its music on an independent la bel. \ The band has polished its sound to such an extent that it could sail on its fan base alone and even help to ad vance a teethingrecord label. Members of Superdrag have been in bands ranging from the Used, a heavy punk band, to the V-Roys, a well-respected alternative country band. Also, it often tours with such well-known acts as Guided by Voices, Phantom Planet and the Donnas. Superdrag’s wide-ranging rock style and longevity in the rock scene provide enough evidence to suggest that Friday night will bring in a vari ety of listeners. Love Apple and Donbravado, products of Columbia’s blossoming music scene, will bring in their own crowd of local rock fans. ' “It’s picked up a lot in the past year and a half.” Sposa said of the Columbia music scene. The show will begin at 10 p.m. Admission will be $10. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk0iotmail.com RHOTOS SPECIAL to the gamecock Superdrag, left, will play New Brookland Tavern tongitht to promote Its newest album, “Last Call for Vitriol.” Top, local favorites Love Apple will open. CD REVIE.W Sparta makes solid debut “WIRETAP SCARS” Sparta ★★★ out of BY QUINN STEINBRECHER THE (JAMECOCK With At the Drive-In, one of the most promis ing and energetic bands of the late ‘90s, now j broken up, the former members have quickly moved on to other projects. Vocalist Cedric Bixler and guitarist Omar Rodriguez have formed the Mars Volta. Guitarist Jim Ward, bassist Paul Hinojos and drummer Tony Hajjar, however, combined to form Sparta. Sparta has just released a full-length debut al bum, “Wiretap Scars,” on Dreamworks Records. Hinojos has moved from playing bass to playing guitar, and Ward has taken on the vocal and key board duties. Matt Miller, a longtime friend and business partner, rounds out the group on bass. With three-fourths of Sparta coming from At the Drive-In, comparisons between the two are unavoidable. Upon listening to the album, it ig obvious that Ward, Hinojos and Hajjar have moved in a new direction, but not an opposite one. ward s guttural vuice is uie aspect oi apana most reminiscent of At the Drive-In. But gone are the frenzied and abrasive guitars that cause a sudden adrenaline rush while you clench your fists and try to restrain yourself from smash ing any object within reach. Gone are the fran tic drumbeats and bass lines that brought a rise in heart rate and an excited pulse. They have been replaced by a toned-down and more melodic sound that seems geared more toward mainstream radio. The opening track, “Cut Your Ribbon,” is a straightforward guitar-driven song and could have easily been on ATDI’s first release, “Relationship of Command.” But it is in the quiet moments that Sparta distinguishes itself. Songs such as “Collapse” and “Cataract” are standouts; their beautiful guitar lines lull you into a relaxed daze. “Assemble the Empire” is another highlight that begins with a dizzying delay effect and ends with a full-on assault of chugging guitars and throaty screams. Overall, “Wiretap Scars” is a solid debut that shows off the band’s excellent musicianship — something lacking from most mainstream mu sic today. Honest and impassioned lyrics also aid in lifting Sparta head and shoulders above the fray. At the Drive-In was famous for its out-of-con trol, jaw-dropping live show. This is of partic ular interest because Sparta will be perform ing at the Fallout festival Sept. 20. While many people might go to see labelmates Jimmy Eat World and others to see Our Lady Peace, all should make time on their schedule to see Sparta, who will likely be the high point of the day. This band alone is worth the meager $10 ticket price. _ V, Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com ANATOMY OF AN AMERICAN IDOL ' Watch as we observe “American Idol” runner-up Justin Guarini in his natural habitat: the limelight. His keen prowess and uncanny ability to attract women is thought to have been due to a mind reading device located somewhere under his “hairius puffus,” or “hairstyle” in layman’s terms. i K 4 My true feelings for my culture DAYII) STAGG GAMECOCKMIXEDITOR@HOTMAIL.COM It’s true that the youth of our nation have been brought up on a rapid-image and idealized so ciety, where girls dream of the day they will look like Britney Spears, boys dream of the day they will be surrounded by Britney Spearses, and adults dream of the day the United States will avert all their power against Iraq and the Middle East and attack this “Britney Spears” army that has invaded our land and culture. But as we all grow and ma ture, we all come to one conclu sion: Everything “pop culture” is somehow related to Britney Spears. Yes, it’s true. Just last week, I was on the phone with my mother, as a good college son usually is, and the only thing we could talk about was this “pop culture”: MAMA STAGG: So how are you doing son? BABY STAGG: I’m doing well, except that I have realized I am addicted to “American Idol.” MAMA STAGG: Oh! I know that show! It’s got Britney Spears on it! BABY STAGG: No, Mother, Paula Abdul is a judge, but she’s about as close as they come. MAMA STAGG: Oh, well how was the show? BABY STAGG: Well, I must admit, when she started singing “A Moment Like This,” I beT came misty-eyed. MAMA STAGG: I heard it was incredible. I couldn’t watch it because I was at work late, but i suii cauea in ana voieu iur mat cutie Justin. BABY STAGG: Me, too! He has gorgeous features. MAMA STAGG: Heaven only knows. I’ve already got tickets to the top 10’s concert. Afterward, she tried to con vince me to do up my hair like his, and, taking her advice, I did, but it came out only looking like Sideshow Bob. I also realize that no earth ly person could ever begin to conquer this unstoppable force that is “American Idol.” I real ize more people voted overall throughout the series than ex ist in New York, Houston, Los Angeles, Albequerque, Madagascar, Uruguay, all McDonald’s food chains and the New York Yankees com bined. And the more I realize the brute power and force of “American Idol,” I also realize that Donald Rumsfeld is all wrong in his plans to invade Iraq. If we slapped that outift Britney Spears wore at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000 on her and combined her “womanly charm” with the producers of “American Idol” and all its participants, Iraq would be helpless against our powers. Alas, my dreams shall never be realized. As we all watched with teary eyes the apex of Kelly Clarkson’s life that will only pro pel her to a life of scandal, shady clothing and shameless compar isons to other pop idols, I know Rumsfeld would never succumb to Britney Spears’ revealing out fits. So we must all sit back and admire the handiwork of Fox ex ecutives who have given us an other summer of entertainment. And if you need me, you can find me in the front row of the “American Idol” tour. Stagg is a second-year art studio and media arts major.