Tuesday April 24, 1990 the Other Press Page 11 The Cramps The Commodore Ballroom _ April 12, 1990 by Nick Waldron j I went to see The Cramps last _ weekend. It was cool and loud. The evening started off with a band from some state in the states. I couldn’t hear which one because the singer’s mike was turned up _ real loud. They were kind of rock- -abillyish. You could tell they were the type of band that would back up The Cramps. I can’t really say much more about this band because everything was real loud and at this _by Tim Crumley 1988 was one of those weird years in music. Strange things were getting on the radio. Stuff you’d never expect to hear. Like good music. For instance, female folk singers were major money makers | that year. Suzanne Vega had a top 10 single. So did Tracy Chapman. And that same year, a certain Texas travelling anarchist by the name of Michelle Shocked released her second record, Short Sharp Shocked. And on that record was "Anchorage", a song that spelt in- tant fame (and cash) for her. She started out as a regular on e folk circuit (for those of you ho recall, she was at the Van- couver Folk Fest in 1988). She was at a festival in her own state when omeone very impressed with her playing asked her if he could record by Matt Martin -Punchlines is the latest and only comedy club in New Westminster. The club opened ear- lier on this year and so far is a success. The club is located in a prime location, right beside Columbia Street Skytrain station | on 4th street, so it is easy to get to (if the Skytrain runs properly!). Seriqusly though, they did delay the’ show for those trapped by skytrain. It is also an excellent al- ternative to drinking and driving, so please take note. | The M.C. for the evening was Glen Lamont. His opening act was a pretty good warm-up, and there were one or two very funny remarks mixed in with some sexist, homophobic and racist language, but this is what the menu usually is at a comedy club despite every- thing. However to the manage- ments credit, they do screen out the more extreme cases. The second act was Billy Bishop. This short fellow with the silly name for and adult, as he him- self puts it, was also very good and knew how handle the odd drunk heckler sitting at the next table who wouldn’t shut her mouth. I sure did feel sorry her date. The last act was an American by the name of Art Krug from Oregon. Of the three he was the best, probably explaining his being the last act. He too knew how to point .I was concentrating on pounding down paralyzers. I didn’t even know that The Cramps were going to have a back up, but so what. Then The Cramps came on. It was around 11:30. It was interest- ing to watch Lux periodically lose articles of clothing through the per- formance. Speaking of clothes, let me tell you about the crowd. It was quite a freak show. But that was cool. Everyone seemed to be really happy and there weren’t any fights to my knowledge. There were a couple of women that stood out her on his Walkman. She agreed, and the tape got almost instantly around to the indie circuit, where it went to number one on British in- dependent radio. Cooking Vinyl, a small folk label, picked her up, and the Texas Campfire Tapes were born. It wasn’t long after that when PolyGram came knocking at her door. They offered her a bunch of money; she said she didn’t need that much, took $10,000 and recorded Short Sharp Shocked (which features Shocked being ar- rested at a demonstration in San Francisco). It made a lot of money. In 1989, Captain Swing came out. It didn’t make as much money. But hell - who cares? The woman has style. Michelle Shocked plays the Commodore Ballroom Tuesday, May 22. Tickets on sale at Ticket- master VTC/CBO. Punchlines a Crack House handle the drunk heckler and did make her look pretty stupid. Of course everyone knows that you don’t sit up front at a comedy club if you don’t want to be picked on. I of course being the intrepid reporter that I am, chose to sit near the back to observe the audience (besides all the seats near the front were taken). It was a busy night. This could be a problem if it be- comes really busy, because the tables are very close together. If anything, you do get to meet new people... The overall atmosphere was generally smoky, but I’m sure the management are working on that one? The drinks were average price, but they either over poured the drinks or I hadn’t had a drink in a long time (I think they over poured, but I’m not complaining!). This of course should not become public knowledge in case the management cracks down, so keep it to yourselves. This weekend, Evan Carter, a headliner from Toronto will be the lead act at the club. It would appear that he has had several standing ovations so the show should be a good one. Show times are at 8:30pm and 11:00 pm Wednesday through Saturday until May 1, then the times are 9:00pm and 11:00pm. Door prices are $8.00 Friday and Saturday, and $5.50 Wednesday and Thursday. though. I take it they were trying to stand out because one woman was wearing a pastel lime green bra and peach garter belts. That was it. There was another woman that was wearing either plastic or that real shiny leather stuff. She had ona red jacket and painted on black pants. I guess about half way through the show she decided to jump Lux while he was lying down on the stage and screaming. He was in the middle of a song and making sex noises. The woman jumped on top of him and he started to yell louder. As you can guess he did this until he decided to fake an orgasm. Then Shocking Anarchist Shocked arrested by police in San Francisco she got up, blew him a kiss and jumped off the stage. It took Lux a little while to get up. They played for about an hour and a half. They did a whole load of classic hits and a couple of songs off their new album. I have never seen a microphone do more groinal exploration in my life. Lux’s mike was down his pants. as much as it was in his mouth. Oh, but don’t forget smashing it into the Stage to get that high pitched hellish sound that makes everyone in the audience lose their fillings. I don’t think Nick Knox moved anything but his arms and his foot for the entire show. Poison Ivy and Candy Del Marr, the new bassist, didn’t do much either. I guess they leave the demented stuff for Lux. The second encore was inter- esting because Lux was only wear- ing a Scarlet G-string. He stood atop his monitor and turned the place upside down with a brutal version of,"Tear it Up." The eve- ning was a success for me except that some woman grabbed my smokes out of my back pocket and took a couple as I was leaving. At least she gave the pack back. Junkies OK Cowboy Junkies The Caution Horses RCA Records by Tim Crumley How do you follow an album like The Trinity Sessions? Very low budget, very moody, very non- commercial, very successful. When you’re not expecting to sell a million records and you do, it’s hard to rediscover the formula again. The original version of The Caution Horses was sent back by the company. Too much like the first one or something like that. So, they started again, and what did they get? Pretty much the same thing as last time. It’s different in that it sounds a bit more chipper. The Trinity Ses- sions sounded so depressing, though, that it doesn’t say much. The songs do go a bit faster than the last one, and they get a bit more bluesy, and use more instruments than last time. The themes are still depressing. Lost loves, lost hopes, etc. So instead of music to slit your wrists by, it turns into music to cry your eyes out by. If you really liked Trinity Ses- sions, pick this one up. E v 525-2557 PICASSO GALLERY oF Complete Canadian Cuisine with exclusive Chinese Dim Sum, Wanton Soup and Noodle Soup Gallery Features Excellent Local & Int’! Art Enjoy the Fine Food and the Fine Art 56 - 6th Street, New Westminster RLS TAVRAVTE FiINZ ART IN THE ELKS CLUB BUILDING Skindulgence~~~ forserious skincare Let us make your graduation day perfect - ‘Skindulge’ yourself or someone else! ° Manicure ° Make-up application ° Relaxing facial ® Manicure © Make-up application $54% Reg $69 $28" Reg $34 We also have a unique assortment of hair ornaments, costume jewellry, er hats. akages availiable - please call for details Tazeem Sunderji Licensed Esthetician/Make-up Artiste 469-2628 #2-2929 St. John’s St. Port Moody V3H 2C2