|^October^0^1989j The Manitou Messenger/page 9] PERSPECTIVE

VELCOMETO: MAGNUM CUM LOUDER Peppers continue rock's integration FUN w When the Peppers took the stage by Michael Sorvari TJ5 for their first set, they wasted no time punching into high gear, causing the Since the beginning of rock and somewhat young crowd to go into a roll history there has been a defini­ thrash dance frenzy on the floor. An­ tive color line separating black and thony Kiedis danced and taunted the white popular music. After nearly 30 crowd with his rap pantomimes as years, however, today's music is in the unpredictable Flea plucked and the overdue process of attempting to popped his bass jive. Chad Smith's integrate itself. Over the majority of wicked backbcat and Frusciante's the past two decades, whites have psychedelic, quasi-Hendrix guitar ruled the hard-rock aiiwaves while rifife added to the funk-jive beat of black musicians have dominated the the Chili's performance. dance/funk charts. This format ap­ The Peppers' played a few old fa­ pears to have taken a formidable vorites off their self-titled debut and turn since the mid-80's. Freaky Stvlev. before performing In the past few years, this musical tunes off the new album. segregation has been disintegrating The first,"Stone Cold Bush" (a with numerous groups (Fishbone humorous look at the life of a prosti­ and the Beastie Boys to name a few) tute), threw the crowd into further Hoodoo Gurus crossing over the color line that was pandemonium as Frusciante played so prominent just a few years ago. through a mix of crazed guitar solos, Perhaps the most successful of these sentimental wah-wah and rhythmic Magnum Cum Louder crossovers occurred last year when chunking, which was similar to the black rockers Living Colour late Slovak's guitar style, yet still by Tail Johnson launched into the national limelight maintained a personality all its own. with their debut album, Vivid, quite Previous Peppers tours were no­ possibly the most riveting hard-rock torious for the band's disorderly an­ In 1987 the Australian band Hoodoo Gurus released one of the release of 1988. tics on stage (during one tour the best albums of the year, Bloto Your Cool. Topping this album was a With Living Colour making the band frequently came out onstage monumental task. After replacing bassist Clyde Bramley with Rick crossover for blacks into heavy wearing nothing but a tube sock Grossman, the Gurus released Magnum Cum Louder this summer metal, The Red Hot Chili Peppers over their private parts). The Pep­ and scored some video play with "Come Anytime." The album on the appear to be going the opposite di­ pers' growth in popularity apparently The Red Hot Chili Peppers recently brought their bare chests to First whole came veiy close to topping Its predecessor, forging the Gurus' rection, becoming the first legitimate has not changed the band's live per­ Avenue. foothold in alternative music even deeper. white funk band. After several criti­ spective, (Flea was clad in a pair of "Come Anytime," the first single from Magnum Cum Louder, cally acclaimed albums, the Peppers underwear with diapers over them, The band was at its best, how­ Raging Slab's music proved to be gives the listener hints of the 60's influence on the Gurus' music. have finally hit the mainstream mar­ and Kiedis jokingly claimed that the ever, when they performed their ode entertaining, yet the band definitely The song begins with Dave Faulkner's (the bands leader and primary ket with their fourth release, band had a sexual encounter with to their late friend and guitarist Hil- needs some help before they can be songwriter) acoustic guitar (similar to "I Want You Back", Stoneage Mother's Milk. Although the Peppers' the Replacements backstage before lel Slovak. "Knock Me Down," the a serious force on today's music Romeos) and Faulkner's flowing vocals breaking the silence clear as style may be categorized as funk, this the show.), and their unique brand Peppers' anti-drug anthem, estab­ scene. The band could use a new a choir boy. band sprinkles a variety of musical of rock n' raunch proved to be the lished itself as the high point of ihe lead vocalist and polish up their Then the song switches gears with a snare spurt Brad concepts into their melting pot. The force behind the show. evening. As the crowd danced vigor­ stage image rather than looking like Shepherd's deep, forboding guitar mixing in with the Hammond Peppers can be correctly placed any­ Even though the Peppers like to ously to the funk rhythm, Kiedis the rest of today's pop-metal icons. organ. The Hoodoo Gurus' show their potential on songs like where between hardcore punk to ham it up during their gigs, these sang, "If you see me getting mighty / Although the Peppers' hard funk "Come Anytime," "I Was the One," Bittersweet," and What's My funk and from rap to metal, or all guys are not your typical punk hacks If you see me getting high / Knock is sometimes mistaken as an imita­ Scene" that burst out but are not so loud that they become these styles at once. who arc out to make a buck by utiliz­ me down / I'm not bigger than life." tion of "black" music for a while au­ overbearing like most metal. All of these Guru classics identify with Although this Los Angeles based ing their bad attitude and not their Raging Slab, a band with the dience, they actually melt together ri their own sound showing that they can play any kind of music and quartet sounds great on record, their instruments. Flea and Frusciante dis­ thrash metal chops of Metallica diverse form of rock, punk and go oil make it work. true talent is in their maniacal live played their superior musicianship spliced with the American blues ol' R&B with a reassurance to CCs I wish that more bands would use the classic instruments like show, which arrived at Minneapolis' during the show by playing the mel­ roots of such bands as the Allman fonnat of humoristic style and inde­ the Gurus. Nothing sounds better than an acoustic guitar and a First Avenue earlier this month. Al­ low instrumental "Pretty Little Ditty." Brothers and Aerosmith, opened the pendence. Along with other bands Flammond organ. "Shadow Me" utilizes both of these in a flawless, though the band has gone through During the song, Flea upheld his show. Raging Slab, despite looking who are taking a chance with the consummate ballad. Faulkner's voice is almost blurry in it sound some changes in the last year, pri­ claim as one of rock's premiere ridiculous at times, played a mean set black and white crossover, the Red almost like you arc listening to the song in your sleep. marily because of the heroin related bassists (along with bass-god Billy of metal blues which blended to­ Hot Chili Peppers are expanding tlie Hut Magnum Cum Louder is not going to put you to sleep, with death of guitarist Hillcl Slovak, the Sheehan and Metallica's late Cliff gether admirably. The songs were a limits of modem music by fusing to­ songs like the maniacally twisting "Glamourpuss" containing a band has retained a devastating line­ Burton) by playing an impressive fin­ mixture of power chords and slide gether different musical styles', white knockdown solo by Shepherd. Other sleep impeders are up that sizzles in concert. ger-plucking bass melody. guitar with the addition of a bone- still concentrating on rock basics. If "Axegrinder" and "I Don't Know Anything." "Axegrinder" cuts The core of the Peppers includes The Peppers continued through crushing lead. you're looking for an alternative to through to the harsh, revelous side of the Gurus that spawned the two remaining founders of the their show with irresistible versions The band acknowledged their the growing population of tiresome earlier songs like "Hell for Leather" and "Party Machine." The band, vocalist/rapmaster Anthony of "Good Time Boys," "Nobody Weird roots at the end of their set with a techno-pop dance records (i. e. New axegrinder explained in the lyrics of the song is seen as a human Kiedis and super bassist Flea Balzary Like Me" and an encore of Hendrix's country number and then abruptly Order, Erasure, etc.), The Red Hot who like the song takes no crap from anyone (my skin is bronze/ my (who usually doesn't use his sur­ "Fire". The band also took time out flew into an amusing thrash-metal Chili Peppers might be just what chin is chrome/..../my blood runs hot like molten lead/ rock the name). Recent band replacements to play a few bars of "Mr. Brown- chunking rage. After this short and you're looking for in a group that boat I'm gonna knock you dead). Chad Smith (drums) and John Frus- stone," a song written by fellow L. A. entertaining song the band closed its will put your hips (and more than "I Don't Know Anything" vibrates with the quick snare gallop ciante (guitar) appeared to be a part friends and hell-raisers Guns N' show with a powerful cover of likely the rest of your body) back in of drummer Mark Kingsmill combined with the lyrical and guitar of the Peppers since their concep­ Roses. "American Band." motion. reverb. This gives way to the song's spiraling climax, a mayhem of tion. shouted lyrics and heavy guitars and drums. The dreamy psychedelic swagger of "Hallucination" holds no doubt on the meaning of its content. The song is about the influence of illegal substances on the mind (i.e. getting hammered). Stones perform to Satisfaction Through its southern country bite, we get an idea of the Hoodoo® alize what the words "LIMITED much "tighter" this time around as stage and allowed Richards to take Gurus' Utopia in the lyrics, (gonna teach you some of my religion/ by Jolin Oslby and Eric Fawcett but please turn down that television/ hallucination/ across the VIEW" meant on our ticket stubs. A compared to other Stones tours of over on lead vocals. While in the the past. Playing with the original nation/ lost generation). The theme of "Hallucination" goes along giant tower housing the lighting and spotlight, Richards sang three songs with the Gurus' image as Woodstock worshipers and being This year the Rolling Stones, fol­ mixing equipment stood in the cen­ band members were two keyboard including the favorites "It's Only lowing the trend set by the Who and influenced, in more way than one, by that era. ter of the field, obstructing our view players, two backup singers, and a Rock and Roll" and "Happy" through other legendary acts, regrouped to Another song which is seemingly in the same category as of half of the stage. Something had two-man horn section. a voice hoarse from years of drugs, record an album and scheduled a na­ Throughout the show, the Stones "Hallucination" is "Where's That Hit?". But "Where's That Hit?" is not to be done about this. cigarettes, and Rebel Yell Whiskey. tionwide tour to support the new about smoking dope it is about the Great American Pastime, While Living Colour rocked did a good job of mixing their classic Jagger then returned to round out music. The Stones' new album is en­ Baseball. This homage to the sport, containing dubbed bits of the through a set including all cuts from songs, which everyone came to hear, the show performing, among other titled Steel Wheels, and one of their newer material, which was "7th Inning Stretch" and a simulated crowd, gives the listener a their hit album Vivid, we found a with the songs, "Sympathy For the Devil," most recent concerts took place at well received yet did not excite the foreigner's view of the revelry in the stands and the fear in the ticket stub for a seat with a much which he sang while standing on Iowa State University in Ames. audience as much. The classics in­ batters' box (here you are at Shea/ your heart is in your throat/ will clearer view of the stage. Through a scaffolding 100 feet above the audi­ All rock concerts held at Iowa cluded many of the songs off of the you make the play/ will you miss the boat/ Where's that hit?). process of stealthily working our way ence. This song stood out from other State in the past had been performed greatest hits LP Hot Rocks, such as "Baby Can Dance (Pts. 1I-1V)" holds something that is new for closer to the stage, we eventually Stones classics in that the character­ inside Hilton Coliseum, but this "Under My Thumb", 'You Can't Al­ the Hoodoo Gurus. In the tradition of FIREHOSE and Camper Van found ourselves in great position to istic percussion groove was modified time, the Stones opted for a different ways Get What You Want", "Ruby Beethoven, "Baby Can Dance" changes genres in the middle of the watch the concert. Let the show be­ from its original raw sound to a arena; Cyclone Stadium. We were Tuesday", and "Gimme Shelter." song, something that the Gums arc just experimenting with. The gin. more techno-percussive one. fortunate to obtain tickets to this But the song that brought the changes are not as abrupt as FIREHOSE'S are, but they are After an hour break following After playing a solid two hour set noticeable. event which included Living Colour Living Colour, the show did begin. house down was the classic the Stones said goodnight and left as the opening act. "Satisfaction," which had the whole "Baby Can Dance" begins as ballad with Faulkner's shaip, By now, night had fallen and a cres­ the stage, only to return soon after During our three hour road , trip audience on its feet singing every dreamy vocals dubbed over, creating a round with himself and cent moon shone just above the to appease the crowd's pleas for south, we heard news over the radio strumming some mellow chords on his acoustic guitar. Then the stage. The crowd roared and lighters word along with Jagger. The only more with a spirited performance of about the show. The concert, the song off the Steel Wheels which re­ song breaks with Shepherd on his electric guitar spinning for a were held high as the interim music "Jumping Jack Flash." With this song, largest in Iowa's history with a sell­ ally fired up the crowd was "Mixed while and finally returns to its original form. was silenced and all of the house the lowan crowd reached a level of out crowd of 54,000, was the Stones Emotions," the very successful single fervor reminiscent of the Iowa City In various places on the album, labels instruct the listeners to lights were dimmed. Finally, with an only stop in a non-metropolitan off the new album. The other tunes PLAY LOUD. If any one song is meant to played loud it is "Death in enormous blast of fleshpots lining Livestock Auction of 1985 when A1 area. The small community of Ames, from the new album were well re­ the Afternoon". Not only is it one of the better songs on the 11 song the stage front, Mick Jagger, Keith Bakerfield's prized sow "Nellie" was home to only about 20,000 year ceived though they lacked the Magnum Cum Louder, but it is also one of the rawest. The song Richards, Ron Wood, Bill Wyman, sold for a record high of $1,083. round residents, buzzed with antici­ widespread recognition so character­ could be a reflection of gang violence in America, but the lyrical and Charlie Watts, took the stage Following the song's climatic pation of the event which put the istic of the other songs. content is lost in the vibrancy and pure power of the music. This is a and kicked into a rousing version of ending, the members of the band set town in a USA Today write-up con­ A couple of the many visual high­ sacrifice that had to be made to give "Death in the Afternoon" its "Start Me Up". down their instruments and moved cerning the upcoming Stones' tour. From the very first note played, it lights of the show were two enor­ to the front of the stage for a group raging greatness, (everybody's always saying everything is changin'/ Most townspeople welcomed the and not a minute not a second too soon/ and I'll be looking 'round/ was clear to everyone that the Stones mous, lifelike, inflatable women bow. After a few moments the event, but some saw it as a major dis­ but always see the same thing/ another death in the afternoon). were not here to simply cash in on which sat on the 100 foot speaker Rolling Stones, with smiles on their turbance to the otherwise peaceful cabinets at either side of the stage. faces, separated and left the stage for Magnum Cum I.ouder is nearly what the title suggests. This their name, but to prove that, despite town. an average band member age of 46, The two women, sparsely clad in low good. Wliat followed was a fireworks album shows signs of greatness, but graduates from my school with We reached Ames in the early af­ cut tops and high cut skirts, were in­ display rivaling any Forth of July cel­ honors (cum laude) not with great honors (magna cum laude). If they still could rock with the best of ternoon and embarked on our own flated ebration: an appropriate ending for you first timers want to try some magna cum laude Hoodoo Gums 'em. Jagger strutted and pranced just as the band stuck the tour of many of the pre-concert par­ such an event. get Blow Your Cool. It is a much more accomplished album. The first across the stage as if he was20 years opening chords of "Honky Tonk ties thrown by Iowa State students' side of Blow Your Cool is one of the best, in terms of continuity and younger, while Richards churned out Woman." This sexist display re­ It was evident that nearly every­ fraternities. As the time of the con­ maintaining diversification, ever. his trademark guitar sound with the minded the audience that the one in the audience left the stadium cert drew close we bid our fond ever present cigarette dangling from Rolling Stones have not yet grown feeling satisfied. Not only had they farewells to the Beta boys and his mouth. Wood backed up up and remain among the bad boys 1 witnessed the Rolling Stones, one of headed oyer to the show. Once in­ Richards well on rhythm guitar and of rock. the world's greatest and most endur­ Next A/ess: The Dcs Moines Compilation. side we closely examined our tickets provided many of the guitar leads. Three quarters of the way ing rock bands, but they had seen a in order to find our seats. Not until The band's rhythm section, bassist through the show, Jagger left the rock and roll performance at its best. we reached our seats did we fully re­ Wyman and drummer Watts, sounded

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