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ae SS

 

 

 

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The Other Press

Bonsai tres bon

Its not supposed to happen this
way. In fact it’s almost unfair. Re-
viewers are not to fall in love with the
first band they cover. It’s an

by John McDonald

 

unwritten rule. Woe betide the unfort-
nate band that just happens to be a
first time reviewer’s target. The band
could consist of the surviving mem-
bers of the Beatles, Rolling Stones
and The Who and it would still
recieve a critical broadside from the
virginal reviewer anxious to establish
his reputation as; A. shrewd critical
observer B. possessor of a large
repetoire of musical knowledge. | am
neither.

Upon hearing the name Uncle
Bonsai | had thought hmm...esoteric
name, must be a punk band or at least
heavy wave types, so | dutifully gelled
my hair, put on my dance boots and
trotted down to the Savoy. | was in for
a shock, albiet a pleasant one.

| sure did like this band, a trio out

of Seattle, who do more with 3 voices
and a guitar than most bands with a
score of instruments. They accomplish
this with complicated 3-part counter-
-tenor-soprano harmonies (is that
what they call it?).
Uncle Bonsai consists of Andrew:
Ratashin, Ashley Eichrodt and Arni
Adler, three Bennington College
Grads (they claim never to have met
there) whose socially biting lyrics and
assured stage presence shows off
their higher education.

Their first volley was aimed at the
lounge lizard/‘‘check the bulge,
baby’’ types in a song titled ‘Stud out
of Place’ and | started to laugh at
about the 3rd line (I didn’t stop
chuckling till the first set break).

Launching immediately — into
“Suzy’’ a song about the female
version of the aforementioned (to be
fair, | guess) who ‘‘knows how much
he’s worth/before she knows his
name.’’ That set the tone for a
hilariously satirical series of songs
where nothing was sacred.

Where do | start? Penis Envy
perhaps. A reverse on the Freudian
theme has Arni and Ashley angelic-
ally singing ‘‘If | had a penis/I’d still
be a girl/but I’d make much more
money/and conquer the world.’
There was ‘‘I’m the master race [and
you're not]’’, ‘‘Cheerleaders on
Drugs’, and ‘’Kill the Competition’’
(a love song) whose names are self-

explanatory. It continues with
‘Visible. Pantyline’’ (need | say
more), ‘‘Fat Boys’’ (another love

song) plus the reggae spoof (I told you
nothing was sacred) ‘‘Day Old
Whale” a song about a pair of young
lovers who find a dead whale on the
beach. This incidently is the only song

 

ATTENTION ALL PEAKIES
Yes we have done it again.
The Other Press would like to
apologize for forgetting to
credit the story about apart-
heid that we stole from your
paper without due credit.

 

 

 

where Ratashin on guitar is ac-
companied by Adler drumming on old
coffee cans and Eichrodt shaking a jar
of sesame seeds. Hilarious!

The group claims to cover most
musical genres. Along with the last
mentioned, they do classical, doo-
wop, skat and even a_ techno-pop
song.

Unfortunatly Uncle Bonsai has left
for a tour of the east coast (lucky east
coast) but they. will -be back and |
would reccommend driving the hun-
dred miles to Seattle (make a day out
of it) just for a taste of something
different. Or you could buy their
album ‘‘A Lonely Grain of Corn’
which they assured me is definitely
available in Vancouver, but | will add
that this is a group that should be
seen live before you buy the album, if
at all possible. Why? Go see them and
find out!

 
 

taste in an all

new aluminum can. _

 

September 26, 1985 PAGE 11

Photo Dave Watson