page B4 September 29,2006 MANITOU MESSENGER Fall concert preview A closer look at Motion City Soundtrack By Ian Anderson as "Band of the Executive Editor Month" in June. To be entirely honest, Rolling It's really hard to write a great pop song. I'm Stone isn't far off, but talking MTV-TRL-VHl-Behind-the-Music good. their review doesn't Motion City Soundtrack (MCS) has captured this take into account the ability as well as the attention of every major stark honesty and media export in the country, but their record authenticity of the Commit This To Memory (Epitaph) is still considered band. Believe it or not, a "Sleeper Hit" by most. Their songs are infectious, they're writing great poppy and undeniably accessible for, well, every­ music that is extraor­ one. Not only are they a great band, but get this, dinarily popular and they're from Minneapolis - a great choice for Fall happens to be com­ Concert. pletely from the heart. Motion City Soundtrack is Joshua Cain (guitar), But in lieu of their Tony Thaxton (drums), Justin Pierre (vocals and vast accomplishments, guitar), Jesse Johnson (moog) and Mathew Taylor Pierre still keeps (bass); five stylish young men from the things in perspective. Minneapolis area who are as cute as buttons and "[IPs amazing] that I just as well-rounded. Formed in 1999 when Cain can afford to pay rent casually asked Pierre (both High School students at and buy toys because I the time) if he would be interested in working play guitar and sing is together, they rapidly realized that they had some­ the most mind-blow­ thing special - and so did Epitaph Records who ing thing that ever put out MCS's first record I Am The Movie in 2003. was," Pierre said. After the release, MCS toured obsessively (so "Live television is too much that they no longer seemed like a local band) unnerving to appreci­ and even toured with Blink-182 in Europe and ate while it's happen­ Japan. While en route, they bewitched a certain ing and I wish I were Mark Hoppus (bass player from Blink-182) who more clever when asked to produce their follow-up album. The pair­ doing interviews but ing was just what the band needed. Commit This To the things you men­ Memory was pristinely polished, precise and metic­ tioned are sweet as ulous in its attention to detail. MCS clearly took well." their time making the album and it paid off. Commit This To The album was a complete success selling over Memory is one pop- 200,000 copies and garnered many awards and punk hit after pop- kudos from media world-wide. Songs off the punk hit. It drips both GRAPHIC: JULIE BOEHMER/MANITOU MESSENGER record have been featured in the "Sound of precision and a big Superman CD" and the "John Tucker Must Die" budget squeaky clean soundtrack, not to mention that they played on the with enthusiasm and positive energy. Granted, rotation. The songs are catchy, smart and can carry write the rest of the next record in October and Late Show with Conan O'Brien and the Late Late Show these traits are often perceived as inherent in the even the lamest of dorm-room parties. Plus, Pierre November," Pierre said. "I plan to relax as much as with Jimmy Kimmel last fall. Rolling Stone Magazine cookie-cutter world of the pop-punk industry, but spits a non-stop flow of refreshingly clever lyrics possible when not writing and finally move into that, although push the limits, never quite go over- the new place I've had since March." "Hopefully it will be an extravaganza that will top even David the-top. For those of you who are debating simply skip­ MCS just got back from touring Europe with OK ping Fall Concert because you haven't heard of Go and are looking forward to being home for a MCS, don't. It will be a great show, hands down. Copperfield's greatest efforts. That's usually how we gauge while before heading out again with All-American You haven't heard of them yet because they have Rejects in November and December. But Pierre been working from the ground up (like real bands things." - Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack even keeps his tour antics to a minimum. should). "Most of my exciting tour moments revolve "Hopefully it will be an extravaganza that will the record carries itself with a bit more dignity and around a new movie trailer posted on Apple.com top even David Copperfield's greatest efforts," described their sound as "Pogo-inspiring emo gui­ depth than a passerby would expect. Commit This or a book I'm reading," Pierre said. "I still don't get Pierre said. "That's usually how we gauge things." tar meets Moog synth, giving the songs an Eighties To Memory stands up over time and over heavy out much or join in any reindeer games." teen-movie vibe" and Spin Magazine featured them And in terms of another album, "We plan to I\iesday is, in fact, the new black Japanese film prepares By Joel Stjernholm Contributing Writer for Hiroshima survivors I have to admit that I was somewhat skeptical of this year's "Tuesday is the By Anne Torkelson Attempting to resume everyday new black" concert series in the Pause Arts Editor customs and traditions, Shigematsu (disclosure: as a tech in the Pause, I and Shigeko preoccupy themselves wasn't thrilled by the prospect of a two- Students gathered in Dittmann with finding a husband for Yasuko, or three-band show starting at 10 Tuesday evening for the who is well into marrying p.m. on a Tuesday). However, if the show showing of Japanese director Shohei age. She has many suitors but her that rocked the Pause last Tuesday is any Imamura's 1988 film, "Black Rain." certificate of health is unconvincing, indication of the new concert series, Based on Ibuse Masuiji's 1965 novel, and proposals fall through we all just got something to besides "Black Rain" tells the story of three as an unknown villager spreads go to FCA. hibakusha, survivors of the atomic rumors about her health. The bands, A Night in the Box and bomb attack on Hiroshima. The film Shigeko begins to experience the The God Damn Doo-Wop was part of the Asian Studies Film symptoms that Shigematsu has Band, gave uncannily honest Series, shown in preparation for the shown for years, but both performances that put new and recent visit from Hiroshima continue to insist that Yasuko was interesting twists on older styles. survivors. unharmed by the bomb. Yasuko, The bands hailed from the Twin Cities, The movie begins in Hiroshima however, acknowledges that the like most acts that the Pause features, on Aug. 6, 1945 with images of black" rain was poisonous; it is and are signees of senior Ian everyday life: a young woman perhaps only after she starts to lose Anderson's ever-growing label. traveling, a running dog, her hair in clumps that Shigematsu Afternoon Records. people boarding a train. The girl is and Shigeko accept the truth. A Night in the Box was the first to take Yasuko, making her way out of The family cannot escape death, the stage. The trio was comprised of Alex Hiroshima, and her uncle, and as they watch the effects of the Dalton on drums, Clayton Hagen on Shigematsu, is on the train when the bomb catch up with neighbors and COURTESY/WWW. MYSPACE.COM atomic bomb hits. Except for fire, guitars and vocals, and Carissa Coudrey alternately belts out song lyrics and croons doobie-doos. The friends, we watch funeral rubble and corpses, the blast leaves Travis Hetman on guitars, vocals, band's next local show will take place Oct. 6 at 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis. processions and funerals pyre banjo and harmonica. As they walked to behind a city that, as characters multiply. their instruments, the front men looked strained falsetto were signs of a lack of of The Ramones' "Kill that Girl." Besides repeat throughout the movie, has all The bomb brought not only death, like old bluesmen fresh from musicianship, it reminded me of being a lot of fun, the cover helped to but disappeared, but prejudices and guilt. Villagers the Delta. Within seconds it was the honest singing found throughout my clarify that "something different." Yasuko suffers no injuries but is accuse the sick of being lazy and apparent that they had the sounds to old blues catalogue. The performance Were they a doo-wop band? Sure. But hit by the black rain, the fallout from spread rumors about Yasuko's heath match. might not have been music major-perfect, they were a doo-wop band that The the mushroom cloud containing to prevent her 'from marrying. However, as the song progressed, but it was soul-perfect. Ramones would've formed if they dust, soot and radioactive materials. Shigematsu blames himself for numerous other musical styles After a short break and stage change, would've had the nerves to do it. She finds Shigematsu and her aunt, bringing Yasuko into Hiroshima and revealed themselves. Bluegrass the God Damn Doo-Wop Band walked to In terms of musicality the Shigeko, and the three, weak and being unable to find her a harmonies arched over Delta-blues chord their microphones, slung on their guitars group was solid: The mix horrified, must find their way across husband. Shigeko attributes her progressions, which themselves and delivered. They featured Dave wasn't cluttered, the rhythm section the city to safety. illness to jealousy, while Yasuko were anchored on rock and hip-hop Brockschmidt on drums, Ross Fellrath on provided that rock-solid Motown The scenes of Hiroshima are short believes her illness makes her rhythms. Each band member guitar, Johnny Ruder on alto sax, Dillon feel and, in spite of a cold or two, but gruesome; a woman grieves in a unworthy of her suitors. contributed to a fierce groove that Ritchie on bass and Kat Naden, Carissa the vocalists alternately belted corner, clutching her dead child; a The film ends with Yasuko's inspired no small amount of Coudray and Saumer Jackson on vocals. it out or sweetly harmonized with boy, skin dripping from his death and Shigematsu's vain plea foot-stompin' and hip-shakin' in There seems to be something one another. The only complaint bones, pleads with his brother to for a rainbow - a poignant the surprisingly large audience. inherently gustsy about being a could be that the set was cut short by the recognize him; bodies burned in prayer in a black and white color They ended their set with a doo-wop band. Despite hearing them late start time of the concert itself. strange positions float down the palate. "Black Rain" is far from a reviewer-friendly juxtaposition. at their sound check before the show, While the concert wasn't the river like lanterns lighting the way diatribe against America - The second-to-last song featured molten it took a couple of seconds to process inaugural Tuesday night show, it was my to the afterlife. surprisingly, there are only one slide lines over a Rage Against the it; this band was actually playing first and was intensely enjoyable. The film's focus is not on that day or two references to the U.S. Machine-style groove; the doo-wop, from the subtle drum part to Hopefully we'll be seeing these in Hiroshima, however, but on the in the movie - but looks at the closer was a soulful a cappella the reverb-laden guitar, to the bands and their earnest performances bomb's after-effects, both physical long-term effects of the atomic bomb number that brought drummer Dalton shoo-bops and doobie-doos. One again soon. In the meantime, you and psychological. The story jumps and the Japanese response, up front to help with the harmonizing. couldn't help but smile. Sure, there can check out their My Space ahead five years to a village successfully telling the story of one When they finished, they had left it all on seemed to be something different accounts: myspace.com/nightinthebox outside the city where Yasuko, hibakusha family's struggle in a the stage, which is about all an to the sound, but by and large, visions of, and myspace.com/thegoddamn- Shigematsu and Shigeko try to carry way that is moving without audience can ask for. poodle skirts and milkshakes doowopband. The former's on normal lives despite their fear of being melodramatic or While some might have thought that filled my head. new album drops in November, and the radiation sickness which overly-sentimental. the sometimes-uneven vibrato and And then they started their cover the letter's is already out. threatens to strike at any time.