The Pendulum A & E Thursday, March 13, 2003 •P a g e 17 Album review Ani DiFranco’s new album blends folk, funk and jazz Erin Cunningham______Reporter They are taking by the thousands our lives Ani DiFranco has received from under us / it’s a crash course in religious rave reviews for years, been fundamentals / now let’s all go to war, get some offered record deals with major bang for our buck. —Ani DiFranco ^ ^ labels and filled small venues ------7 / Photo Submitted with her devoted legion of fans. Cast Iron Filter is bringing bluegrass and folk to the Triad and Triangle Her new album, “Evolve,” con­ fundamentals / now let’s all go to ken word. The album goes from this month. The band members from left are Dustin Edge, l\^ason firms what all the fuss is about. war, get some bang for our buck.” pop to funk without missing a Bissett, Mike Orlando and Tim Helfrich. DiFranco recorded the album beat. The words fly out with speed and with her new touring band, and “Evolve” is a record of con­ stamina, making DiFranco’s the change is evident. “Evolve” is nections between DiFranco and statement that this track was Cast Iron’s bluegrass an at times muddled blend of folk, her fans and between DiFranco recorded in one take, more funk, jazz and soul tunes. and her band, which includes key­ impressive. She has moved past her early boardist Julie Wolf, bassist Jason But “Evolve” is also a journey roots will infiltrate days of punk and scathingly hon­ Mercer, drummer Daren Hahn, of self-revelation, as indicated by est lyrics to reveal an introspec­ flutist Hans Teuber and the brass the title: “I walk in stride with tive side, which demands lighter section of Ravi Best, Todd Horton people much taller than me / and the Triad this month harmony. “Evolve” is an exciting and Shane Endsley, who support partly it’s the boots, but mostly Andi Petrini______album because DiFranco steps DiFranco on 10 of the 12 tracks it’s my chi / and I’m becoming A&E Editor Cast Iron away from her image as a brutally on “Evolve.” DiFranco also adds transfixed with nature and my With a name like Cast Iron honest, angry artist and shows her to the mix, never without her gui­ part in it / which I believe just sig­ Filter, the first expectation is Filter musically and artistically adven­ tar. nifies I’m finally waking up.” head-banging, loud rock music Where: Blind Tiger turous side. From the start, DiFranco’s fans After 13 years in the business, to go through the speakers. in Greensboro “Evolve” has more of a relaxed get what they came for, lyrical DiFranco has produced 15 full- Seconds after putting the CD in feel that her earlier work, such as assassination of institutions, cor­ length albums and pioneered her the player, bluegrass spills Whai: 10 p.m. tonij^t own record label. Righteous “Dilate,” which left the listener porate miscreants, the music through the speakers, with plen­ The show is open to Babes Records. exhausted from running the industry and politicians. And ty of jams and Americana lyrics. those 2 1 and older. gamut of DiFranco’s personal while “Evolve” offers fans some­ DiFranco’s most recent album Following in the footsteps of quests. thing different from DiFranco, it was the 2002 double live album, successful bluegrass musicians, “So Much Shouting, So Much The album does not display the is her best work to date. including the recent Grammy Band and Sister Hazel, but Laughter.” “Evolve” is fierce, determined lyrics that were In the title track, DiFranco winner Nickel Creek, the Nickel Creek’s influence is clear DiFranco’s studio follow-up to prominent in “To the Teeth” and takes aim at a country on the brink Charlotte-based group makes for in tracks such as “Hawkeye 2001’s “Revelling/Reckoning,” “Revellin / Reckoning.” DiFranco of war and the enemy the nation mellow listening. John.” which left fans disappointed. seems relaxed throughout has become. “Cuz they are lock­ The band’s most recent album Cast Iron Filter was formed in “Evolve,” and the performance ing our sons and our daughters in “Live from the Highway” was the late ’90s by three students at seems effortless for her, even cages / they are taking by the recorded in August at Rafter’s in Davidson College. Today the when tossing in horn lines, pas­ thousands our lives from under us Contact Erin Cunningham atpen- St. Simon, Ga. The live album band has four members, as sionate politics and spirals of spo- / it’s a crash course in religious [email protected] or 278-7247. features extended jams on the Edge’s songwriting combines group’s popular tunes. with the talents of Bissett on Country music fans may not bass, Helfrich on drums and ‘Chicago’ and ‘Everybody Loves find soul in the guitar riffs and Orlando on the mandolin and base lines, but folk and banjo. Raymond’ come up big at SAGs Americana fans will enjoy the The group is touring through way the music seems to be the South on the “Live from the The Screen Actor’s Guild pictures went to Renee home statues for best support­ effortlessly played by band Highway” tour. handed out awards for televi­ Zellweger for best actress, ing actor and actress. members Mason Bissett, Dustin Cast Iron Filter will make a Edge, Tim Helfrich and Mike sion and film Sunday night at Catherine Zeta-Jones for best William H. Macy and stop at Blind Tiger in Orlando. the Los Angeles Shrine supporting actress, Daniel Day Stockard Channing were Greensboro tonight, then move Most tracks on “Live from the Exposition Center. Lewis for best actor and awarded for best actor and onto to Georgia and Florida Highway” are more than five In the ninth year of the cere­ Christopher Walken for best actress in a television mini­ before returning to North minutes long. Fans who enjoy mony, considered an Oscar pre­ supporting actor. series. Carolina for shows at The Pour The SAGs are voted on by Phish-like extended jams will dictor, the SAG awarded the In television, the HBO scries House in Raleigh and Rubber the 98,000 actors in the guild, most likely appreciate Cast casts of the film “Chicago” and “The Sopranos” found success Soul in Winston-Salem. Iron’s live sets. television’s “Everybody Loves in best actor James Gandolfini so winners are voted by who they consider the toughest crit­ Tracks like “Running Free” Raymond” with the best ensem­ and actress Edie Falco. Jack ics in the business, their peers. and “Sgt. Blue Kitty” are light Contact Andi Petrini at pendu- ble awards. Hayes and Megan Mullally of combinations of the Pat McGee [email protected] or 278-7247. Acting awards for motion NBC’s “Will and Grace” took -Staff Report