PAGE 16 March 1, 1985

 

 

 

Oxfam benefit a success:

No Family Dogs Poisoned

...News Flash! News Flash!

The latest major event in Van-
couver’s burgeoning underground mu-
sic scene took place Saturday, Feb-

by DAVE WATSON
and JOEL HAGEN

 

bruary 23, at UBC’s SUB Ballroom.
Four of the best bands in town donated
their time and assorted musical notes
in a benefit concert for Oxfam. In the
words of promoter Laurie Mercer: ‘‘It
was a hot show!’’

The event began with NoMeansNo,
an untraditional band with a tradition-
al three piece lineup (and we don’t
mean kazoo, harp and asparagus).
Originally a two piece (bass and drum)
band, their music remains dominated
by those two instruments, despite the
addition of a guitarist. NoMeansNo
was the only one of the four bands that
we disagreed on.

Dave (whose eardrums have maso-
chistic tendencies) was located at the
front to take pictures. He reported the
crowd as fairly lively, responding well
to the gradually accelerating beat of
the band’s driving bass-drum combin-
ation: ‘‘savage guitar torture cuts

through the heavy punch to help each
song build to a cathartic cresendo. Self
Pity and Forget Your Life were
particularly good, and the inclusion of

 

Nick Lowe’s [What's So Funny ’Bout]
Peace, Love and Understanding? was
a pleasant surprise. | like this band for
the energy they create live and their
unique dementia.”’

Joel, who was unfortunateiy a bit too
near one of the larger-than-life speak-
ers, felt differently, and is progressing
well in his sign language course. ‘‘The
guitar work was a bit too chainsaw for

me, and although the bass player |

thumped out some great driving riffs,
they were repeated ad nauseum. Punk
grates on my nerves if it isn’t
tempered with good music and some
discernable lyrics; | felt No Means No
had neither. Furthermore, their cover
of Peace, Love and Understanding was
just a noisy waste of time that betrayed
the sincerity of the Elvis- Costello
version.’’

Other than NoMeansNo, there was
no dissension between our opinions.
The next three bands met with our
unanimous approval, beginning with
Art Bergmann’s Poisoned.

Dave, who has seen the band
several times, said it wasn’t their most
inspiring performance, but even neo-
phytes like Joel agreed that they are
still an impressive band.

it has been more that eight months
since Poisoned came out with their
demo cassette. Numerous live shows
and the trimming down of the band
(from 7 to 4 members) have resulted in

photo by Dave Watson

Family Plotters

raunchier and tighter renditions of the
original ten songs (especially Vultura
Freeway, which was perfect). The new
material played at the show (some to
be released soon on an EP) sounds
even better. Empty House is one of
the best of these, featuring a great
guitar intro.

Bergmann’s acerbic wit and scath-
ing lyrics take on added intensity in
concert and the band is clean and
mean. Dark and cynical, Poisoned’s
songs are compelling and charged by
stinging guitar work.

Family Plot was the next band up.
They feature two bass players (without
a lead guitarist) who interlock with the
drummer to produce a throbbing and
complex beat. The bass players are
energetic and creative, alternating
melodic runs, breaking into harmony,
and competing with each other on
stage.

The treble side of the music is
handled by a great keyboardist who
uses the synthesizer as an instrument,
not a soulless. piece of solid state
circuitry.

Family Plot is fronted by Madeline
Addington (nee Morris, formerly of
Moev). On top of the rest of the band’s
inventive sound Madeline superim-
poses another melodic layer, singing
with an eerie presence. She projects an
aura of style and subtle power,

reminding Joel of Chrissie Hynde and. -

Dave of Emma Peel. The whole band,
clad mostly in black, radiate a
presence which can only be described
as ‘‘light graveyard’: eerie, myster-
ious and hypnotic.

The best two songs of the Plot’s set
were Gravedigger and their encore,
Taxi Driver. Both numbers are featur-
ed on Undergrowth 84, along with 42
other songs from 27 more local bands.
As well, Family Plot will be recording
their first album this summer.

Shanghai Dog finished an evening
of excellent music with their dynamic
set. They even managed to incite the
crowd into a fairly impressive display
of slamdancing. The band features two
drummers and two guitarists, and

 

photo by Dave Watson

have a difficult to pinpoint sound that
rides the border between extreme
power pop and punk. The result is very
danceable (even if you don’t want to
bounce off other human_ beings).
Clanging Bell (from the EP of the same
name) and American Desert ( a new

‘song) were highlights of their set.

The poseur quotient at the concert
was low, which is always nice. Best of
all, the bands participating were
exposed to a crowd containing (along
with the regulars) quite a few students
who came to see what all the fuss was
about. Hopefully this ‘‘hot’’ show will
inspire them to come out to another
show or two. Many thanks to the
technicians, bands, equipment rental
companies and promoter for donating
their goods or services to present this
great show for a good cause.

2

douglas college

presents
Mielec MAC] My die e) as mem Oley L

Directed by Dorothy Jones
Sets and lighting by Drew Young

OUR TOWN depicts the lite ot a
New Hampshire village © with its humour
picturesqueness and pathos — set against

a background of centuries of time
social history, and religious ideas

Thursday thru Sunday
MARCH 21 - 24
MARCH 28 - 31

All performances 8:00 p.m

Ticket prices $6.00 adults

$5.00 «

Ticket

ors and st

reservations: 520 §