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www.universityrondos.c - *~ 5324158 or 154-9131 the: . c: 0 m 1:} 2:1 is 3? kW :9: momma fiend Emanu- CEROVED: DJ's Merlin, Fuj and Mooney bring the Vinyl so— lution to Hillsborough Street — Four Four Records. 12 TAKING METAL BY STORM 4 A CELLULOID FUTURE 5 SHAKESPEARE, COMEDY AND PUPPETS OH MY 6. TRIANGLE READIES FOR ROOT MUSIC 8 THE UNITED STATES OF HIP-HOP 10 THE KNOW PREPS FOR A REVOLUTION 15 BACK TO THE BASICS , 16 INNOVATION’S LITI'LE TRICKS 17 GETTING AROUND THE PIRATES 20 THE FINAL WORD: SURPRISE, SURPRISE 22

RED Editors Jake Seaton & Patrick Clarke RED Photography Editor Taylor Templeton Staff Photographer Chris Reynolds Staff Writers Joel DeBerry, Tim Coffield, Grayson Currin, Josh Eure, Ben McNeely, Kelly Reid, Chris Reynolds, Meredith Richboug, CD Miles Snow

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2005.02.25 [3 ] + Taking

by storm

Lamb of God lead singer D. Randall Blythe sat down with Technician for an interview about the band’s sophisticated sound and other related topics BY JOSH EURE amb of God, the powerful metal quintet from Richmond, Va, has taken the rock world by storm with its latest release on Epic Records, Ashes ofthe Wake. Vocalist D. Randall (Randy) Blythe, bass player John Campbell, drummer Chris Adler and guitarists Mark Morton and ...... V\7illie Adler have been leading the contemporary assault on timid metal for the past decade and are continuing to gain steam. Having toured on MTV’5 Headbanger’s Ball Tour and Ozzfest, Lamb of God has been propelled into the mainstream it loathes and is actively working to reshape it. Abandoning the traditional approach to songwriting, the band has allowed its tracks to evolve in a'more technical and com— plex way that lends further credibility to the sound. Recently, front man Randy Blythe sat down Richmond-based Lamb ofGod released its album Ashesofthe Wake with much critical acclaim. RandyBlythe describes the with Technician for an interview about the band’s sophisticated sound and other related topics. band’5soundasprogressive, "balls-assMetal"with mathematicalelements. PHOTO COURTESY LAMB OF GOD

TECHMQAH' For those who aren’tfamiliar with “(HNKmR’Youve toured with some major TECHRECM; 0k, let’s change the subject a tad. TECHKKIAK:Yeah. Strapping Young Lad rocks the history of Lamb ofGod,the band name was metal bands.One of your first tours was with an Your new release on Epic,Ashes ofthe Wake;was my very-intense,Wal—Martvbrand socks off.So let’s 7 changed from Burn the Priest in ’99.Can you tell us other Richmond band GWAR. Now, speaking from their a shift in your sound, lyrically or instrumen— talk about the trendy Rock-based shift towards what the significance ofthat choice was? experience, GWAR fans are notorious for having tally,from your 2003 release As the Palaces Burn? the Seattle sound of’91.The Rock mainstream has giggiil‘iEEThere is none. lt’sjust a name. Our old zero tolerance for opening acts. How did you fare Eig’flitiég Each album is different.There wasn’t so appeared to embrace a rather antiquated sound band name sounded too much like a cliché metal under that pressure? much ofa shift as a progression.The production on with bands like Seether,Velvet Revolver, Breaking name, you know? Lamb ofGod sounded good. iii-Vii“We had no problem at all.We were Ashes ofthe Wake has a lot more low-end and it’s Benjamin,Three Days Grace and Audioslave.What expecting some difficulty,but because we came thicker. But lyrically, it’s a sequel to As the Palaces do you think? TECEiNKlABi What genre would you classify out, pounded through three to four songs,tooka Burn.As the Palaces Burn was about what was com- “NT“: Some of my friends do, but l try not to yourselfin? Balls—ass Metal or a prog/traditional little breather,then blasted through the rest ofthe ing on the political horizon —— Ashes ofthe Wake is pollute my ears with that [stuff].l will say though,| rock mesh? set,the [fans] never had a chance to stop us with aboutthe repercussions. [really] hate Modest Mouse! 5‘5”“: Umm... metal i guess. But there are ”GWARl”chants. more progressive elements in our sound.Math—ie, TECflIflCIkhL It's widely known that Lamb ofGod FECHIHQIRH Really? Modest Mouse?That’s an you know? But basically, balls-ass Metal would be TECHKKm" Nice.While we’re on the topic of is politically charged.What’s your opinion on the odd choice . a good description,although we try not to catego- other bands;you knew Dimebag [Darrell] right? lraqi elections? Do you see them as a success for BLV?HE* God, listening to them'IS like emptying a rize ourselves. BL‘tTfiEYeah. the Bush administration or inconsequential in the jar ofdiarrhea into my ear. broader scope? 7555’"me Ofcourse not.Who would?There TEEflfliClfiNzThe metal community worldwide 553mg I don’t know.Anything that happens in TECKNKIAHrTeII me about it.| did that last night is an awesome Metal scene in Richmond.Are you has obviously been mourning his death.| know I that region right now, Bush is going to make out with some folks and...all right,well need to ask fellows making sure that you’re still a part ofit? 7 wept. How did that affect you guys? to be a personal success.They want to keep the you about some lyrics.Your song ”Laid to Rest” 3531's??? Yeah,definitely.Although we never really E1*WWbElt suckedThe last time I saw Dimebag, war machine rolling,which eventually results in big seems to be directed at someone, butthe target is played much there in the past;even as Burn the drank heavily with him.Actually, it was when we money for them.If Bush had been in office during elusive.Who’s it about? Priest. But we make sure to play a couple ofshows were on tour with Shadowsfall. He was the coolest the Vietnam War, he would have labeled that a suc— BLY‘S’HE Mark actually wrote that one. He was a yearthere. dude ever.We walked up and he started mixing cess as well.it sucks, but because theyouth vote fighting with a girlfriend-at a hotel one night and us drinks. He was great.That gunman is [exple— didn’t turn out,we have to deal with four more he wrote it in his room. it’s actually our love song; TECBNICIRN‘ Right on.Well,speaking of Burn the tive] disturbed. Everyone tried to make it out to be years ofthat chimpanzee in the Oval Office. our”love ballad.” Priest, you released a self—titled full-length album about the Pantera break-up, but that [expletive] under that alias in ’98 on Legion Records. Rumor had nothing to do with the music.The guy was fifinfliflafi Alright then, so not a Bush fan. How ....»‘..'...»..U- Wow...’thats precious. lespecially has it that your new label, Epic, is re-releasing that just [messed up in the head].I’m glad he’s dead, about another topic change? You mentioned the lovethe part,”I’ll turn the screws ofvengeance album. Is there any truth in that? personally. production on your latest disc being better.Why and bury you with honesty/ I'll make all your SLWHEYeah. Burn the Priest was a generic name, is that? dreams come to life/Then slay them as quickly as but it was a good record.And there’s been a lot of tecumcrau So what’s thedeal with Phil [An- gésfifigiWell, we switched producers.We got a they came.”That’s love, no? All right man, is there demand for it,so Epic is re—mastering all the tracks selmo]? guy named Machine on this album. anything else you want to tell our readers? and releasing it again. $51155;Well,we’re really good friends with 5533735Yeah.Come to the show at Ziggy's in Superjoint Ritual as well and think he’sjust lying 1:595”me DevonTownsend was the producer Winston-Salem March 17 and bring us some Caro- TEEHMQlGKsThat's awesome. Epic also has you low. He’s obviously really tore up about it, but he’s on As thePalaces Burn, right? lina BBQ. But no [flipping] coleslaw. on tour with Slipknot this spring, right? just lying low right now. 3‘37“?Yeah. BLVTEEYes indeed. ' meme. No coleslaw indeed. 31mm“! Any bad blood? Not at all.We love Devon.

[4lRED future

As a medium that is recognized as the most important art form of the 20th century, film continues to play an integral part in society. The film department helps to guide students in the direction of a career that may rapfifalfiso on ihfia klvvc‘lrmm.

”“8; ._,. .,. W, cm.»mm. .. Tim Kirkman, alumnus ofthe MC. State Film Studies Program, walks with actor Bonnie Hunt on the set of his film Loggerheads. PHOTOS COURTESY OF LASALLEHOLLAND DISTRIBUTORS

BY MILES SNOW who graduate with a film degree can benefit from the (1940). All these screenings have been free ofcharge film that Hollywood loves and needs to showcase,” ny film studies program is goingto involve industry as much as the industry can benefit from and open to the public. Each screening also has been Orgeron added. These are fine examples ofmore ' watching films, but how is this getting an them. “Our program trains students to go into an in- preceded by either a film faculty member or film cura— recent films that arouse the intellect. Orgeron, for the education? Isn’t going to the cinema or dustry that supports our economy,” Pramaggiore said. tor from the NC. Museum ofArt. most part, considers Taste ofCherryand TheAviator watching a DVD on your big screen, or small Although the program is relativelyyoung, it The demands ofteaching film are constantly great movies. screen, about enjoyment? This is certainlytrue, but continues to grow, and the student success rate is evolving because the influence and qualityoffilms The urge to create storytelling magic also remains the United States is an incrediblyvisual culture and high, as film professor Torn Wallis attested: “We have continue to reach new levels throughout society. too strong among some Hollywood figures to smash studying film can tell a great deal about society. had former students who now work in Hollywood, “The accessibility offilmmaking for more people the hopes ofmaking emotionally and even intellectu— So what do film students actually study? First, there Master ofFine Arts (MFA) programs, American Film has increased due to digital technology, satellites and ally satisfying films, ifnot works ofart. are the films themselves and the objective is“actively” Institute (AFI), and we have had ones who work as computer editing software such as Final Cut Pro,” In the past, one could recognize a score ofartistic watching them. This doesn’t mean runningaround or screen writers and producers.” Some ofthe current Pramaggiore said. More and more people are able to triumphs, like The Godfather (1972), OneFlew Over jumping in your seat; it means watchinga film closely, alumni include John Baker, who is 3 MFA candidate at make movies of their own without any kind offormal the Cuckoo’sNest(1975) and TheDeerHunter (1978), breaking down the images that are seen and thinking theAFI, as well as screenwriting award winner Robert training, and the Internet displays millions ofshort that dipped deep into Hollywood’s pockets while sur- about what the director was attemptingto do. Then Greene, who is the post-production supervisor at4th movies that people have made for personal interests. viving its stupefying embrace. Hollywood’s sullying you will see the film again, read about it, discuss it and Row Films in Manhattan, and Russ Mick, who works Dueto the constant access that people have to some innocence and soiled ideals go hand in hand with the criticize it. Students will analyze and know the film in as a nonlinear editorial/photographer for News 14 ofthe current filmmaking technology, the standard parameters ofAmerican society — and vice versa. every possible detail. The peer will then begin to see Carolina in Raleigh. quality offilms now will have to be raised. Ifpeople The larger the audience sought, the more the things in an entirely different way. The range ofsuccess is definitely strong among are able to make better movies with their digital cam- magnetic pull ofhigher numbers begins to tear awav The cinema has been recognized as the most im— those who have majored in film, butthese film majors eras than the movies they payclose to 10 dollars to see at the quality ofart. This pragmatic temptation could portant new art form developed in the 20th century are certainly notthe only students who have received at the theater, then the potential for future industry definitely change, ofcourse. It could be that the ever —one that has had a profound and pervasive effect benefits from the program. Film study is invaluable filmmaking should inevitably improve. progressing DVDs and home videos will someday al- on all ofmodern culture. The growth ofprograms for students who progress to careers in journalism, The recent decline in film quality is morethan evi— low movies to ignore the mass-market altogether and that specialize in film study as an academic discipline teaching or design. dent nowadays and hopefully won’t last for much lon- bypass onerous distribution arrangements; maybe testifies to the importance ofexamining film, notjust The professors want to expose all theirstudents to a ger, especially since America seems to be approaching such films, like books, will acquire the integrity ofa as a cultural artifact but also as an influential art form variety offilms that theywouldn’t normally get to see. a newgolden age, technologically. “There was much solitary art. Yet nothing in this country that is meant and an industry ofglobal significance “I try like crazy not to repeat myselfbetween classes, morevisionary control for directors in the‘60s and to satisfy even a select group ofpeople seems to stay “Peoplewant more arts education and the intrinsic though I regularly teach Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane ‘705. Due to this kind ofcontrol, watching movies was unprotected from the economics ofmass appeal for a value ofthe medium offilm needs to be stressed,” in my Film History from 1940 course simply because much more ofa cerebral process than it is currently. long period, ifit’s successful. Maria Pramaggiore, director offilm studies at N.C. that film is an amalgam ofcinematic history up to The target audience now is primarily teenagers instead It is great to see that Independent film has grown State, said. that point and a glimpse—albeit 20 years ahead ofits ofadults,”Wallis said. much more popular over recentyears and is begin- The model ofscholarship in the NCSU film pro— time —at things to come” Devin Orgeron, a professor “Movies like Sidewaysand Eternal Sunshine ofthe ning to hint at greater possibilities. Much more focus gram is to provide students with a variety ofskills that offilm studies, said. “I also attempt each semester to Spotless Mindhave been receiving accolades far be- is beingpaid to performance and story without the will be beneficial to any social responsibility that they plugin a film that is ofnear current vintage,” Orgeron yondtheir worth because, in comparison to the other use ofbehemoth budgets or gratuitous special effects. will undertake. Film majors study the motion picture added. In addition, the film series events that take movres out now, they actually seem like great movies Independent film festivals, such as Sundance, have in a unified manner; combining historical, formal and place atWitherspoon Student Center also play a great instead ofgood ones,” Pramaggiore said. blossomed and continue to aid in the establishment cultural analysis with filmmakingatbeginning and, . part in this exposure. But the artistic vision that seemed more realized ofgreat filmmaking talent. Two North Carolina film- eventually, advanced levels. The Campus Cinema at Witherspoon consistently in the films ofthe ‘605 and ‘705 has notentirely been makers, Phil Morrison and former NCSU student, Emphasis on the studyofthe medium, its industry, hosts more than a handful offilm festivals and series condoned. Tim Kirkman, made it to the main dramatic competi- aesthetics and technology benefit students who want showings each year as well as recent mainstream and “The Iranian filmmakerAbbas Kiarostami’s Tasteof tion this year with their respective films junebugand to have lengthy careers in the industry. Film majors independentworks. This month’s Hard Knocks and Cherry was a high point for me, though its greatness Loggerheads. . should be able to examine a diverse spectrum offilms Tough Luck: Warner Bothers in the Golden Era series lies in its ambiguity and its understatement—which “It’s great to have our group ofstudents bond in the and explore theyways in which wider contexts relate to has already shown such hard-boiled classics as They would make it pretty far from great for many viewers,” classroom and on their projects. It becomes a great individual film form and content. Hopefully, students MadeMea Criminal (1939) and They Drive By Night Orgeron said.“TheAviatoris the kind ofprestige way to work and to learn,” Pramaggiore said.

2005.02.25 [ 5 ] 1i- Shakespeare, comedy and puppets...

With an array of varied performances, Center Stage begins to kick up the semester with two

performances by Shenandoah Shakespeare Express followed by Jazz singer Cassandra Wright

BY MEREDlTH RICHBOURG greatly enhance not only the Universityexperience, the series to spark his or her interest. nection between player and spectator that verynearly but enlighten students to the many facets ofthearts This season offers performances that range from the matches the circumstances under which the original enter Stage. Arguably the best—kept secret ofNC. Exploringthe performing arts is“thefun part ofan classical theater ofShakespeare to the sarcastic humor actors performed the plays. As their motto proclaims. State, this performing arts series offers students education,”Tulbert says. ofwitty writers David Sedaris and SarahVowell. “We do it with the lights on.” access to some ofthe nation’s greatest perform- The eclectic mix ofshows offered byCenter Stage Reinventing the experience ofShakespearean drama “Shenandoah Shakespeare has an excellent reputa— Q‘a 7,..ers— from Jazz singers to theater productions to provides a trulydiverse look at cultural and artistic 40 depict the lighting, staging and attitude intended by tion,” Tulbert says. “Their performances are always dance troups to comedic acts — at reduced prices, held endeavors; Center Stage acts as “a window on the arts the Bard himselfis no small feat. wildly popular with students.”As a group ofactors who at a convenient, on—campus location. world,” Tulbert says. But the Shenandoah Shakespeare Express acting themselves are not too long out of the University set— Mark Tulbert, assistant director for Center Stage. Andrew Cherry, a freshman in industrial design, troup attempts just that. Instead ofperforming the ting, the players ofSSE bring a fresh look and energetic describes the program as “a museum, except ofperfor- attended several Center Stage events last semester. works ofShakespeare in the style ofmodern theater spirit to these centuries‘old works. mances. “Each [show] was unique in its own right and all were —with spotlights on the players, ornate sets and a “Manytimes we see students in the spring semester As curators, in a sense, we pick different types, dif— presented in a very professional manner,” Cherrysays. disconnection from the audience the SSH actors oftheir senioryear attending their first Center Stage - -5.--" “a“..cwmmn 0er far the students to “It’s kind ofhit—or-miss [due to personal tastes], but it’s prefer a bare stage and uniform lighting throughout the production and they leave saying, ‘Oh my God, I find sample. 9000 t0,§€€ such variety and such original perfor— Although the primary purpose ofcollege involves mances. entireu. . .1venue.:7 .1. V.“ - ..-.m.~5zxmonf r‘lnpcfi’i’ hmcier [[16 thisrightwheg.limgleaving!,’”Tulbert says. preparation for the work force, a cultural education The assortment offered byCenter Stage ensures that magic ofShakespeare’s plays; it heightens it. Such close semester, no time could be better to extierieiic‘e‘fheexcel- -— easily gained within the same fouryears — can ‘ every student on campus can find at least one item in proximity to the audience allows an unparalleled con- lent productions ofCenter Stage.

Shenandoah Shakespeare Express March 1 and 2 will see the troup perform two of Shakespeare‘s classics: Twelfth Nightand Measurefor Measure. ' In a twist ofcomedy and corrupted power, Mea— sureforMeasurefollows a young nun—to—be, Isabella, in her decision to either preserve her chastity orsave her brother’s life. Suddenlyembarking to Poland, the Duke ofVienna leaves control ofthe city in the hands ofAngelo, a deputy official. With his new- found power, Angelo institutes a series ofstrict laws against licentious behavior; unfortunately, these laws promptly indict lsabella’s brother, Claudio. To rescue her brother from prison — and an impending death Cassandra Wilson sentence —— Isabella must choose whether or not to Grammy-winning Jazz vocalist Cassandra submit to Angelo’s unsavorydemands. During this Wilson will grace Stewart Theatre with her intoxi~ time, the Duke has remained in the city to observe eating voice on March 31. Tulbert declares that Angelo’s behavior, disguised as a friar. The plight she is “one of thegreat Jazz and Blues singers”of oflsabella moves him to intervene and several the era. Wilson’s voice recreates the smokey Jazz plots, in true Shakespearean style, unfold to save the dives ofthe early 20th century, yet she infuses her innocent Isabella and her ill-fated brother. music with modern confidence and a yearning, One ofShakespeare’s most popular comedies, explorative mood. Accompanied mostly by a Twelfth Night, toys with perceptionsoflove andgen- low—key guitar and soft percussion, Wilson’s deep, der in a farcical romp ofconfusion and seduction. earthy voice resurrects the passion ofJazz great Following a shipwreck in which she lost her brother, Sarah Vaughn as she tackles covers as diverse as Viola disguises herselfas a man to serve the Duke Bob Dylan, Sting and Willie Nelson in addition to of Illyria, who for some time has been attempting hef soulful originals. Her dramatic, daring vocals to woo Lady Olivia. The Duke sends Cesario — the will provide a stunning and intimate show, which disguised Viola — to Olivia in another attempt to Tulbert predicts will sell out early. win the Lady’s love, but by that timeViola has herself fallen for the Duke. Olivia, on meeting Cesario/Vio- la, feels a sudden affection not for the Duke, but for Cesario. When Sebastian, the supposed~drowned twin brother ofViola, arrives in the court ofIllyria, the convoluted love connections can only increase. Stewart Theatre will house both Shakespearean performances. ‘

PHOTOS COURTSEY OF CENTER STAGE

'\ [6]RED David Sedaris and Sarah Vowell Center Stage usuallybooks acts on their rise to stardom, but on April 7, the series will offer the well—known comic writers David Sedaris and Sarah Vowell. Catapulted into fame via National Public Radio, Raleigh native David Sedaris has since written several bestselling books ofsardonic social critique, including Me in”: Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim and Naked. His comic finesse and satiric View of everydayevents earned him 'Iime’s“Humorist of theYear” award in 2001 and two 2005 Grammy nominations for Best Spoken Word album and Best Comedy Album. Fellow veteran of NPR her monologues and documentaries are prominent elements of radio show This American Life Sarah Vowell has made a name for herselfby writing witty Cashore Marionettes distinguish them. essays on topics as varied as pop culture, presi- Puppets? To entertain a college lnstead offollowing the adven- dential assassinations and quirks within her own campus? Although the idea ofthe tures ofone character, the show family. Her novels Take the Cannoli: Storiesfrom Cashore Marionettes might recall depicts“a series ofvignettes, short theNew World, The Partly Cloudy Patriot and childhood memories of Pinocchio, sketches that focus on one of these Assassination Vacation feature these essays. as Tulbert asserts that “people don’t- characters,” says 'l'ulbert. Each well as full-length non—fiction. She has appeared need to think this is a show for kid- vignette explores a unique situation numerous times on The Daily Show with Jon dies; this is a show for grown—ups.” and array ofemotions, though Stewartand The LateShow with Comm O'Brien For starters, none ofCashore’s nothing is spoken. The entire and delivers the voice ofViolet in the Pixar film creations are simplistic in the least: performance is set to selections of ’"he Incredibles'. the Cashore Marionettes boast classical music. Jowell’s wry sense of humor will join that of a violinist doll, which can truly Although the stage configuration Sedaris to entertain an NCSU audience with a play his instrument, a horse with OfStewart Theatre caters in a great veritable tennis match oftag—team comedy. Held flickering ears and lifelike prancing degree to intimate performances, in the McKimmon Center, this will be a show hooves, and an amazing elephant Center Stage will only sell tickets not to miss— but probably will, since tickets with motile ears, trunk and tail. for halfofthe auditorium on each for the performance were sold out months in Every puppet takes about 6 months ofthe two nights in order to ensure advance. to perfect, since control mecha- betterviewing ofthe puppets. nisms are unique for each creation. Exquisite marionettes, flawless Precise detail on the dolls also movement and an expressive encompasses a great deal oftime, background ofclassical music make considering the beautiful facial this series ofvignettes a show worth expressions and flowing hair that seeing, regardless ofage.

2005.02.25 [7] 4: Nathan Asher The Infantry builds its fan base around politically en- riched lyrics. The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers is helmed by a painstaking songwriter. The young bands are from two different ends of the musical spectrum but are ready to storm the Triangle

With guitarin hand, PerryWright (facing the dog),ofThePrayersand Tearsof ArthurDigbySellers, will release TheMotherofLoveEmulatestheShapesofCyn- thiaon March 1.Thealbum isWright’sfull-lengthdebutandfeatures hissister, Dale Baker of Sixpence None the Richer and LalitreeDarnielle (the wife ofThe MountainGoats’John Darnielle. PHOTO COURTESY/ARTHUR DIGBY SELLERS

Since the band’s inception, Nathan Asher The Infantry has been on a quick rise to success in the Triangle. The band's politically charged debut album has earned quite a bitofcontroversyand the group recently released a music video forthe song ”The Last Election” — perhaps the album’s most stand out oftracks.Thevideo isspansover60yearsofhistory in5-1/2 minutes,captured througharchiveddocumentaryfootageandstill shots PHOTO COURTESY/NATHAN ASHER

BY GRAYSON CURRlN

iionight at sound check, they look so polar. Nathan Asher stands stage right, chopping at a maroon electric guitar and Writhing with every word he sings. Almost intuitively, 7%... his eyes close, hitting the song’s charging crescendos like an em— phatic Springsteen at the very apex of fervency. He plays the part of a blue—collar rocker, plugging away in tattered corduroys and a grey T—shirt. Veins emerge on his forehead and neck, and the stage lights re— flect from the sweat already covering his. face and smoothly shaven head. Perry Wright is three feet away, glancing right to register Nathan’s entry into each verse and chorus of Asher’s liberator’s anthem, “They Won’t Find Me.” In a tweed, brown sports coat and a collared, plaid button—up, he looks like an academic, a nascent philosophy professor new to cam— mmmflflmammmg.- Asher’s emblazoned confidence is conspicuously absent. Even without an audience, Wright isn’t able to relax enough to close his eyes. He stares into the lights instead, fumbling for (and eventually finding) a coat Nathan Asher’s politically motivated lyrics have quickly concreted Asher a place in the Triangle’s music scene. Performing at Martin Street MusicHallon February 12, Asheralwaysseemstoknowthe rightwaytorile upacrowd. pocket for a bottle of water. Without an acoustic guitar, Wright is fidget— TAYLOR TEMPLETON/TECHNICIAN ing, nervously grabbing clumps of the silt blonde hair that falls just short of his brow. ‘

[8]RED “Can I use that shaker tonight?”VWright (quite seri— ously) jokes as he walks offstage. Minutes later, he’s still so uneasy about the new room that he can’t find his water until he’s reminded twice that he (eventually) put it in his pocket. It’s notthat Wright is necessarily not confident. He’s been on stagemany times before at the helm ofone ofChapel Hill’s best bands, The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers. He’s not reallyscared ofthis new place. And it’s certainly not that he’s nonsensical. In fact, one discovers within 60 seconds ofconversation thatWright is one ofthe most insightful and eloquent _ people in memory. It’s just that —beside the effusive, emotional and impassioned Asher —Wright is a bird ofa different feather. His logic is Asher’s rhetoric, and Asher’s as- suredness is Wright’s analysis. While Nathan Asher formed the hard-hitting Infantry a year ago and scrapped for a reputation by immediately headlining bills in the city’s largest clubs and crafting homemade billboards on Hillsborough Street, Perry Wright and his collective offriends made plans for a meticulous debut —— staking new territory at the intersection ofcollege luminaries like Radiohead and Bright Eyes. But that difference highlights a handful ofessential similarities between two ofthis area’s most inventive and important songwriters. In each approach, there is in unmistakable ambition: not for stardom or fame or even for making music a full-time, sustainable career, but more for the chance to make a lasting, valid piece ofart. In a period ofjust—o'ver-six months, both have suc— ceeded. Asher and his five—piece backing Infantry is one ofthe most consistent'draws in the Triangle, sometimes 1 2rd} In. drawing 300 people for a show a mere 15 months after PerryWright, leadsingerofThePrayersandTearsofArthurDigbySellers, leadstheband during itsopening performanceforNathan Ash February 12 atMartin StreetMusicHall. forming in his parent’s basement. Sometimes overbear— er8:TheInfantryon ing and always intense, Nathan Asher St The Infantry TAYLOR TEMPLETON/TECHNICIAN is a charged, well—oiled machine capable of ingraining that needs release,” during the opening bars ofthe producer with an ambition matched by both vision and That journey is a landmark for Wright, and —— for the impressions. Theband’s live shows are the stuffofleg— martial “The Flag is Waving You.” talent. But Wi'ight’s own works are hard to dismiss; the test of us —- it’s one ofthe best local albums to emerge end, two-and-a—halfhour marathons ofAsher’s incisive On stage and in writing, Asher seems to be at the painstaking songwriting— methodically constructed In years. songwriting and drill—calling backed by the march ofa edge ofa constant quest for answers and truth. A to steer clear ofverse-chorus—verse ease and a—to—b Asher has been expecting this kind ofstatement mighty Band —— be it. The or E—Street. recently released music video for “The Last Election” - narration. from Wright foryears. They first met in 2002, each Fans knew the words to “The Last Election”—— the portraysAsher and his band mates trying to reconcile “A lot oftimes, I read critics and journalists talking rehearsing to strangers at open—mic nights in Raleigh band’s left~leaning theme song strung up on presiden- their future with a world’s troubled past; 60 years of about an artist coming ofage in their work, finally and Chapel Hill. tial and pop culture indictments_ before the group archival footage pit the struggles ofblue-collar guys in a reaching that point,”Asher says about Wright, who sits “You would hear 20 people at one open—mic night, had recorded it. But recording eventually came with white—noose world. across the table swirling a piece ofWoody’s deep—fried and something had to draw you in to really pay at— Steven Heller, the Grammy—winning, Asheville—based The troublesofpoliticians and society plague him, cheesecake in caramel and chocolate. tention to anybody else,”Asher remembers. “For a lot producer for Bluegrass pillar Doc Watson. The band’s but his anecdote is the quest itself— the girls, the busts, “Perry had a burned copy ofthe album in his car of reasons, I would really focus in on him when he debut punches with the same unabashed, unadulterated the failures and the victories. one day right'after they mastered it, and —— as soon as I played.” and unpolished power ofits live show. “Nathan isn’t a protest singer,” Wright says, making heard it — I knew that had happened for him in a big The same holds true for Wright. “The live show for me is a purist form. It’s really much the same observation. “For me, he does more way.” “I understood from the beginning that Nathan was [expletive] human because you don’t have anything to than that. It’s not that obvious. He’sjust always going Wright’s only previous release, 2002’s PsalterieEl), grounded in his own sense ofmusic and that he had fall back on in front ofthese people,”Asher says, admit- for something more.” was nearly song-driven to a fault, relying only on the a tradition, that being the American Folk tradition,” ting that the concert hall is his band’s pedestal. “With The same applies to Wright himself. Since 2001, rising tide and devastating crash ofeach song to carry Wright answers. “'I‘hat’s completely different from my the live show, you’re there. It’s physical. You’re tired.” working with a loose collective ofmusicians and art— the listener. At once transforming and overbearing, it own tradition, and it always intrigued me.” Drummer Daniel Abbate cites Carter Beauford and ists, and releasing work underthe Bu Hanan Records revealed a songwriter capable ofalarming self-reflec— The two became quick friends, and —— over the years John Bonham as parallel influences, and the evidence imprint has hunkered Wright down in Chapel Hill. For tion and social reckoning. -— have debated philosophy, music and religion at pours from the stick—splitting polyrhythm that cracks Wright, it’s been a hermeneutic experience, one friend’s But this is a perfectly crafted, concept—guided album late-night taverns and on beatnik trips north. Wright is from the kind ofbiceps that people speak ofin mea- ideas dramatically influencing his own. from start to finish. Wright hems the tides here, biding the son ofa Presbyterian minister. Asher struggles daily surements. The rest ofthe band —— bassist Nick Abbate; Fourteen people contributed to The Mother ofLove his time in slow, Low-like dirges (“The Slow Decay of with a commitment to ludaism. Wright introduced keyboardist Lawson Bennett, guitarist Chris Serino and Emulates the Shapes onynthia, Wright’s full—length Some Radio Afterglows”) before unleashing the same Asher to Bright Eyes, and Asher took Wright to his first a sometimes nomadic harmonica player named Turner debut. That list includes his sister Erin (a songwriter floodgates he manned for Psalterie’s most compel— (and only) dance club. Brandon —— is the thick, made-for-vinyl glue filling the herself), Dale Baker ofSixpence None the Richer fame ling moments. “You will be lifted up into the glorious Tonight, in the traditionally Rock—friendly Raleigh, cracks between Abbate’s snare whips and Asher’s raspy and Lalitree Darnielle (the wife ofThe Mountain Goats’ heights / into a gracious night,” he howls above a raging Wright takes the stage before Asher, presenting his dictums. lohn Darnielle). Alex Lazara —— one—third ofthe label’s organ and a distorted three-chord guitar snarl during Indie-leaning fare to a lukewarm crowd. On March 4, Those maxims mark him as a rare find: Asher other flagship act, The Go Machine —— co—wrote and the cathartic “Raise Up,You Celestial Choirs.” Asher 8c The Infantry will repay the favor at Local 506, answers Dylan in“TheyWon’t Find Me,” painting produced the effort. Here, things push to a dynamic limit, circumscribed opening forWright at a massive, cover—free CD Release a picture ofa pedestrian suburban poet looking for “Every good decision on this record reflects Alex through circuits, glitches, starts, stops and — ultimately party behind TheMother oflxwe Emulates the Shapes something a little different.~“'l‘urn up the Faders” Lazara, who really is a genius,”Wright says, dismissing grand statement. Wright’s songwriting is on a plane onynthia. Asher’s reception in Chapel Hill —— known finds the poet hunkered in the city, using “liquor as a his own contribution to his own band. all its own, teasing ontological lessons from fossils of nationally for a degree of Indie—Rock-induced jaded- tourniquet” as he plays“dumb in the club.” Questions To an extent, Wright is on key. Lazara’s input is the weak flying Archaeoptryx, cheap—motel love affairs ness ——~ is always questionable. ofconformitygive rise to a thirst for salvation and inestimable. The slow trickles offoundsound creaking and marriages doped on doubt and dishonor. But the common quest behind each songwriter’s redemption, Asher hammering“With the skin ofyour behind many ofthe album’s best cuts and the record’s He unravels as a heartbreaking, self~destructive mess shared goal transcends any town boundaries or bents people between your teeth / And a blood on the street perfectly calculated crescendos reveal Lazara as a in spots, only to be both redeemed and redeeming. polarity, hair length and clenched eyes be damned.

2005.02.25 [ 9] + A recentlyestablishedorganizationat Stateallowsthosethatareinterested in Hip-Hopandtheculturetomeeteach otherandcollaborateonprojectsorjusttalkaboutthemusic.lnflowentialMCand NC.StatestudentAlexThompson startedthe Hip-HopOrganization-—or H20—tounitethosepeoplewith similartastes.Anthony"MicSavvy”Parham isa graduatefromOld Dominion butisa memberofthegroup.He,along with DJ Merlin,andseveral breakdancers,freestylersandbeatboxersperformedFeb.23atTheBrewery.

The United States of

BY JOEL DEBERRY (poetry) and the percussion-heavy stylingofAfrican As Hip-Hop has continued tribalism. These two clashing ideologies, married to ver the past three years, Hip—Hop has cries ofsocial inequalityand a subsequent need for to evolve into an industry greinvented itself. Everyonebesides inner— up—tempo artistic freedom, gave birth to Hip-Hop. ‘ icity youth who had no interest in an Elvis, a But after two decades ofpurposeful artvia the new, revolving around bling and the Renoir or even the Contemporary Soul artists abrasive, yet endearing mode ofHip-Hop music, the oftheir parents’ audiophile— like anyabstract art content has inherently changed and become simplya exploitation of women, some form — all but stigmatized its acceptance. platform for monotony, greed and pseudo-beef. Inner-city kids—particularlyAfrican American Often deemed an elder statesman for Hip-Hop, artists have'stayed true to the kids— knew no great cause in the late‘70:; and early Tupac Shakur could justifiably gripe about the imbal— ‘805, aside from survival and perhaps a foggy dream of ance ofpower in America, and then glorify his mother genre’s modest roots as a voice an education that would yield a better life. Numerous in spite ofherdrug habits. Public Enemy brazenly “hush” programs and a gradual removal ofits leaders exposed nearlyevery facet ofhierarchical power abuse for a subculture. marginalized the Civil Rights Movement ofthe prior — be it the government, the prison system or law decades. Remember MLK? Remember Bobby Ken— t enforcement in general ——all in terms ofthe racism nedy? that continued to pervade through ourculture. All that said, a musical—your parentswould That is no longer Hip-Hop. Now people consider probably disagree —- subculture emerged from these that“hating.” Now that is“imposingyour agenda,” impoverished boroughs. A subculture that would or, simply,“bitching.” Forgive the cliche, but findinga indirectly fuse Europe-attributed vocal representation mainstream artist with a well thought out statement

[10] RED that theartist reflected upon with social significance below the proverbial radar. Artists who don’t boast —— or any significance, for that matter—is a difficult bullet wounds or rims the size of Ford Fiestas seem to task. Now it is heresy to make a Rap record that go unnoticed on the grand scale. doesn’t subjugate women in Victorian (see_“cave— Perhaps this scenario is a reflection ofour capitalist man”) terms, or boast your ability to rent a car that society, and its victory over interpersonal contribu— you probably aren’t licensed to drive.And this is tions to a collective mental and spiritual well—being. formulaic, it seems. But that’s another story. Busta Rhymes once claimed,“1 make sure every- It’s no surprise that Hip-Hop has gotten a bad rap, thing remains raw.” But in almost a decade’s time, he lnflowential MC and H20 founder, Alex Thompson has begun to contribute to an overcooked entree of —— aka Charlie Stuarts —— states. Sure, everyone wants static flows and even more content that is static. to see his or her peers succeed. but when the art you That’s not to say that there aren’t such artists, be- subscribe to is altered in a way that places emphasis cause there are. However, the artists that earn the most on material gain, that art is cheapened. capital are the ones who perpetuate every unfavorable “It ain’t all got to be about blunts and 40s,” Thomp- social stereotype. And there’s no need to name drop, son says. because fans ofthe genre can very well distinguish More than a decade ago, successful albums carried the different camps. Though, one name needs to be titles such as, Mecca and TheSoul Brother, and It dropped, and that name is in the form ofan NC. Takes A Nation ofMiIIions to Hold Us Back. Today, the State campus club -— the newborn Hip—Hop Organi— common theme ofthe “art” is entitled Get Rich or Die zation, or, in its simplest, most liquid form, “HZO.” . Tryin’. Last Friday, H20 held its first public event, dubbed So where does Hip-Hop go from here? Most would. the“Spring Semester Jump Off,” in the small court- say that it’s at the top of its game. And most would be yard near NCSU’s tri-towersjust outside the Free right, ifthe‘top’ was in the context of money earned Expression Tunnel. and spent. On a blustery afternoon, founders and members of Inflowential,aHip—HopquartetcomposedofNC. Statestudents, rocksthecrowdedconfinesofRukusPizzae 12. Ifthat’s the case, Hunter S. Thompson is at the the club set up a makeshift stage for live performanc- CHRIS REYNOLDS/TECHNICIAN top ofhis game today, because his book sales have es, which would carry on until 7 p.m., as temperatures skyrocketed since his suicide earlier this week. Perhaps dipped below 40 degrees. With vocal performances cancers worked a taped—down sheet oflinoleum with tial refers to modern Hip-Hop as“watered down” and the larger material theme is that an entity is at its peak from Raleigh’s Intlowential, Lazarus, and even the glowing dexterity. often “fake.” Most Hip—Hop purists would agree. If in its death. Elliot Smith suddenly became a cult suc- local blazing virtuoso Median, the show’s fluidity What?! No booty contests? No car snow? Who any great truth can be arrived about the current state cess in his death. Johnny Cash’s albums flew from the transcended the powers ofOld Man Winter. had the most headrests, and thus, the most televi— of Hip—Hop, it would be its new affinity for material shelves. Ray Charles just won eight (irammys. The free show wasn’t limited to verbal showcases, sion monitors? Which artist got the most respectable wealth and negligence for humankind as a whole. I don’t buy into this, though. Hip~Hop needs to however. Graffiti artists took over the Free Expres- applause? While Hip—Hop was born in a righteous, raw, return to its rhetorical birthplace a place offun, sion Tunnel; Dl Ill Digitz (freshman James Meyer) Are these not the elements that comprise Hip—Hop? philanthropic bed aimed at social equality and social awareness and art. Hopefully. HZO’s attempts operated the vinyl — scratching and mixing—-with Where in the hell was the beef? Someone has to be mutual fun, it seems to have digressed into a personal to rediscover the Hip—Hop culture will spread to ultimate fluency; a local tandem gave an inspiring feuding with someone else, right? soapbox for winners of new wealth and self-gratifica— neighboringcampuses and, eventually, back into spoken—word ode to Hip—Hop; and volunteer break Wrong. Taylor Burgess—Tab One — ofInflowen- tion. Artists whose aim is to right a wrong and remain mainstream music.

AspartofMicSavvyand DJ Merlin’s better knownas S&M-— Hip~Hopshowcaseon Feb. 23, numerous peopleshowedto showofftheir breakdancingskills.Thebreakdancing waspart ofa2-2 B-Boycompetitionfora $200cash prize. Breakdancing is oneofthemany parts ofHip-Hop culturethattheN.C.Stateorganization, H20, includes.

TAYLOR TEMPLETON/TECHNICIAN

2005.02.25 [11 l 4,; .5“?! .u ~85.wa _ a: .. :rv-~~WlmwunW~W9fiw

Fujdescribes FourFourRecordsas, ”Old-school Atariflavorwith a little Xboxspice.” TA LOR T LEl'ON/TECHNICIAN A giant DJ Shadow poster, signed by the man himself, trio gets wealth from the business in other ways. “It Relieffundraiser for tsunami victims or H20’s Spring we just want him to host it.” On the subject ofbasket- sits by the register. Non—stop Hip-Hop plays through feels good, especially when people appreciate it — say, Semester Jump 0 ast Friday. Ill Digitz —— James ball, he declares, “Free mixtapes to the basketball team the speakers. "l'hanks forbeing here,m Merlin says. Both Merlin Meyer — a freshman in business management has ifthey beat the hell out ofCarolina.” “It‘s old~schooliAtari flavor with a little Xbox spice,” and Mooney have other jobs. been DJing forthree years. “I’ve been going to Four Merlin hasbeen working on his own productions is how Fuj defines Four Four. Talking about the mix- “\Ne do ok, but obviously since we had to get day Four since I started DJing,” Meyer says.“It’s where I and hopes to release some soon through their own ture ofold and new stacked from floor to ceiling on jobs, it’s not making us enough to live offof,” Merlin go to get all my records — we’re all good friends.” label one day. the walls and in the bins —— the used records in crates admittes. “We like being here,we like providing “It’s my favorite store in the world,” Meyer says Theywant to do Some 15—Boy competitions maybe lining the floor. . records for people, every now and then we all get a matter—of—factly. in the summer time, and put on some shows. In the Helping Fuj up the stairs with boxes ofrecords, dinner out ofit. .. it’s pretty much out ofthe love that DJ Spunky, a WKNC regular, echoes Meyer’s mean time, they’re increasing their selection. following the pipes overhead as I go up the stairs we do it. DJing is how I pay my rent — howl put sentiment, though her record buying is limited to Anyone can stuffa store full ofrecords, but when -— round the corner— Four Four feels like the defi— food on the table.” hercollege-student budget.“Local record stores are they really care, something unique is created. Four nition ofunderground. As the only major source for Hip-Hop in the area, always awesome," she says,“but the Four Four guys Four is like a public service —— a little Red Cross of “Mooney’s house, Merlin’s house, my storage unit‘ they’ve got their fingers on the pulse oftriangle Hip— are great.” music retail —— surrounded by the bling and over— —- we’re overrun with records," Fuj says with a laugh. Hop. “I hear ofnew groups all the time, Raleigh’s got In the distant future, Fuj says he’d like to one day marketing ofa lot oftoday’s Hip—Hop. Three guys Opening the boxes ofrecords fresh offthe UPS a decent underground scene,” Merlin says. “There are see the store three times the size ofwhat it is now. But keeping it real for the rest ofthe sinners — not in it truck, Indian—style on the floor, Fuj rips into the boxes more and more Hip-Hop nights going down, Justus for now what he’d really like to do is a mixtape with for the money~— who will say,“What’s up?” when like a kid at Christmas time. League and Little Brother are blowin’ up.” He is opti- State’s own Julius Hodge.“We want to do a mbrtape you come in the door. “It’s the bestjob I’ve ever had. I listen to music, spin mistic for area DJs as well, such as WKNC’s DJ Forge, — and we want Julius Hodge to host it,” he says When I realize that over an hour has gone by records, meet interesting people all day and to have Away Team and others. emphati‘cally,“So from me to Hodge; please come talking to these guys and I’ve flipped through all the that be your job — it’s like a childhood dream,” Fuj Merlin hands me some mixtapes oflocal DJ lll host our mixtape.” ' bins, it’s back down the stairs and to the clamor of explaines. Digitz, which haven’t left the CD player ofmy car Just thinking about it, Fuj gets more and more ex— Hillsborough Street. Four Four is a real record store Owning a record store won’t make you rich. The in three days. You may have seen him at theWave of cited, saying, “We’ll do any kind ofmixtape he wants; owned by real people.

[14] RED Bassist Wally Neil, lead singer Graham Fountaine, drummerJeremy Bryan, and guitarist WillyWilcox make up The Know a '705-style Rock band complete with shaggy moptops. CHRIS REYNOLDS/TECHNICIAN

Armed with ’705-s-tyle Rock and shaggy moptops, Raleigh--based The Know took the helm of antiquated RockIn The TriangleIn less than four months.

BY JOSH EURE Raleigh’s PostPro— three ofwhich can be found on The Know’s website (theknowrocks. he Triangle continues to harbor talent com). Two Videos from a recent showare also on all musical fronts, leaving no genre available. Renowned venues such as the Lincoln passed over. From Hip-Hop to Metal, Theatre havealready hosted the quintet and Pop-Punk to Alternative, local venues itwill be rocking downtown at Martin Street have nurtured the sounds we crave and have Music Hall on St. Patrick’s Day. given us almost constant access to them Mth traditional Rock ‘N’ Roll as the engine, — often encouraging regrettable fads. Musical The Know’s catchy, eccentric Pop-Grunge reso- trends, whims and rages have always found sup— nance is redefining the movement The Strokes port in our backyard where a diverse fan—base pioneered, and further ensconcing the name in dictates a patchwork landscape oflocal music. the Triangle scene. Inspired by such innova- One such trend that continues to thrive is tive acts as Led Zeppelin and The Beatles, The the movement to revive antiquated music and Knowhas rapidlymolded a collection ofsongs titles. The Strokes, TheVines,The Hives and that are notonlyhaunting in their innocence, now Raleigh’s very own The Know. but seem to be aurally questing for a ripening Though the fashion ofrekindling‘70s—style experience. musical themes was an intriguingconcept, it “We’re called The Know; as in the carnal displayed little in the way ofcreativity. Fortu— sense ofthe word,” Fontaine says. nately, for Triangle scene enthusiasts, this banal “Wejustwant to enjoy writing, record— sdaIdat”moux2I0;J,IOABJ classification excludesThe Know. ing and performing what will hopefully help While on the surface, the members appear The Know performs at Martin Street Music Hall with other Triangle bands on Feb. 12. providea soundtrack to a revolution,’ Fontaine to be card-carrying members ofthe shaggy— TAYLOR TEMPLETON/TECHNICIAN says about the band5 agenda -— lyricallyand mopped guild ofrockers in body-hugging otherwise. denim,theyare, in fact, a group ofnotable While theband is hardly poised to achieve musicians with averydifferent approach to guitaristGraham Fontaine through an online “We’ve only been together four months, but such a task presently, with its unique blend of their.auditoryconceptions. ad only-four months ago. However, that has not we’re serious about our music,’’Fontaine says. ‘7OS-style Rock and poignant melodies, The GuitaristWillyWilcox, bassistWallyNeil stopped the group’s immediate leap into the The band recentlyfinished an 8-track EP Know is undoubtedly on,track foraMmodicum and drummer Jeremy Bryan foundvocalistand local Rock gamut. with engineer and producer Matt Horton of ofsuccess at least. A revolution? Who knows?

2005.02.25 [15] Comprised of entirely N.C. State students, Brooks Wood Band is earning a strong following in the Triangle and is preparing for a professionally recorded l.P.

/ Performing at Ruckus Pizza and Bar in Mission Valley on Feb. 12, Brooks Wood Band always proves to be quite an audience draw. CHRIS REYNOLDS/TECHNICIAN

BY KELLY REID he knew something was missing. “I’d known it be a lot Rock music and Stevie RayVaughn’s infamous guitar more fun,”Wood said. “And at the same time, there’s composition into what he plays today. Sheeran keeps p ith a highly competitive, capitalistic a lot ofsongs I had in my head or I had written little a calm, collective presence on stage but transforms the V society, it’s not surprising that the music ditties that would only sound good with a band.” lyrics into instinctive melodies. How they combine oftoday has become a means ofgaining Near the end ofthe spring semester of2004, mutual their thoughts is what makes the group stand out. wealth and exploiting one’s narcissistic friend and bassist, Miah Wande introduced Wood to “It’s not like there is [a] formula for writing a song,” facade ofcreative individualism. This transformation drummer Danny Shampine. Wood contacted Shamp— Wander points out. Although there may not be a set ofmusic from an art form into a lifeless industry has ine online about starting up a band. ofinstructions, these four guys have produced some lowered the quality of music and skewed the vision At first skeptical, Shampine questioned who this impressive tunes. ofwhat it actually is to be a musician. Yet in Raleigh, random guy was, but upon hearing Wood’s recording “I think it’s different every time. Just this last time, there are four guys who stick to the basics. Fueled with his views changed. Danny called us and had an idea to do a song in a Playing solo since he was 15 years old, Brooks a love for music, the Brooks Wood Band is creating “He had a link in his profile for [Wood’s song] certain timing and so we sat down andjust kind of Wood made the leap tojoing a band in late 2004. that toe-tapping, make you want to dance, feel good ‘Made for Two’ and in the first 10 seconds I was like, crunched until we came up with a chord sequence Now called Brooks Wood Band, the members are music and spreading it around the Triangle. ‘Holy 5”",1’11 be in his bandl,’” Shampine said ofhis that worked,” Sheeran said ofthe band’s approach to planning on entering the studio in March to re— Formerly a solo act, the Brooks Wood Band has first encounter with Wood. During the summer, the writing music. cord a professional album. been a working group offour since the closing two played with other musicians, but nothing ever When it comes to creating their songs. it is a col- CHRIS REYNOLDS/TECHNICIAN months of2004. Composed of Paul Sheeran on elec- clicked. When Wander returned from his study abroad laborative effort across the board. tric guitar, Miah Wander on bass, Danny Shampine in New Zealand, hejoined in on the group, and they “[Miah and Brooks] kind ofc0me up with the ' on drums and Brooks Wood with lead vocals and all knew the chemistry was right. chord structures for songs and the ideas behind the people out there smiling and having a good time. acoustic back up, these N.C. State students are quickly Wood and Sheeran both had a music theory class songs,” Sheeran said.“Me and Danny end up being That’s why I love playing shows.” building a large fan base and playing their exuberant together, and by the end ofDecember 2004 Sheeran the ones who embellish them.” This universal connection between writing songs, tunes every chance they get. They’ve played shows at completed the group with his electric guitar sound Wander matches rhythms on his bass with the kick- their performances and the crowd response is provid— the Flying Saucer, Lincoln Theater, Ruckus, Berkeley that puts a comfortable edge to the sound ofBrooks drum beat Shampine provides from the drums.“It’s inggrowth and new experiences. Cafe and The Brewery, alongwith a benefit in Chapel Wood Band. really cool when you get a team together, everybody’s The group gets most gigs by sending out their four- Hill for the Children ofFallen Soldiers Fund. Sheeran has been involved with music since he was on the same page and working for the same purpose,” song demo to venues and other bands. With success Brooks Wood has been playing solo since he was 15 6-years old. After playing piano and saxophone, he ‘Wander said. fresh in the air, the band is set to record professionally years old. Growing up in Eastern North Carolina, on ventured into exploring music with the guitar. Beyond assembling songs, Brooks Wood Band has a an album with Saul Johnson ofUnderground Sound the farm he would listen to old Country music with “I was about 15 and picked up my dad’s acoustic chemistry that carries over to the stage. in Greensboro. his dad. His stronger musical influences come from and never really stopped playing after that,” Sheeran “What really amazes me is the reaction we’re getting “I’m very astounded by how much progress we’ve the early music ofthe Allman Brothers, the acoustic— said. “I begged my parents for about 300 bucks and from everything,”Wander humbly said. The group has made.” Wood said. soul sound ofGavin DeGraw and Jackson Browne bought someone’s old electric guitar and crappy little earned the recognition and transposed their love for Brooks Wood Band is a group ofmusicians with an -— Browne being most influential on Wood’s lyrics. amplifier.” music into a life thatfills the audience. “We have the accessible sound. “That’s always the word we’ve used: Wood continued to write and perform his songs but It was from here that he transformed his love for coolest fans,” Wander said.“There is always so many accessible. Accessible but at the same time not boring.”

[16] RED “ intnovaion so BY JAKE SEATON With a P—Wing at their disposal, Nintendo flew members ofthe collegiate press from all over Mario World over the treacherous mountains ofTiny—Huge Island, the seas ofJolly Roger Bay, the deserts of Shifting Sand Land and the slopes ofCool, Cool Mountain to Wet—DryWorld and inevitably Princess Peach’s castle to collect six gold coins. The members, who remained oblivious to what new challenges would come next, battled Goombas, quicksand and the ruthless Bob-Ombs to bring back to their respective castles, the knowledgeofwhat little tricks Nintendo has coming for the NewYear. Hazy Maze Cave trapped some in an endless loop while others roamed aimlessly around The DarkWorld. ‘ The timeless prize for such an effort was a chance to run through a maze ofnameless white pills and fruit, trying to avoid ghosts and gobbling the horse—size pills to become the hunter rather than the ,1 its sieetesa a hunted. As dramatic as that maysound —— and believe me, it was —— Mario World was 01’ US. ofA while Tiny- ydaes’t ta tail gs y. Huge Island was merely the Smokey Mountains. Jolly Roger Baywas just The Great Lakes and Shifting Sand Land was the Midwest; Cool, Cool Mountain was the mountains ofSt. Helen. The final destina— tion, Wet—DryWorld, is home ofNintendo’s headquarters in Washington state and Princess Peach’s castle was the Westin Hotel in Seattle ——where Nintendo gave 30 collegejournalists the chance to play

2005.02.25 [ 17] ALLYUO =

games that are set to be released in 2005. every single product that the ratings board (ESRB, “Whoever is your enemy can become your friend that is compelling. It’s surely a beautiful product, but The part about the battles was totally true though, Electronic Software Ratings Board) rates. In July 2003, and we now work very closely with Sega. We have beyond playing the games, we’re not sure what else honestly. The Goombas were Russian prostitutes the US. Computer and Video Game IndustryTrade many people who have been in—and—out ofcompanies that’s going to do for the consumer and we will have who tried to guide those lost in the Seattle night (The Group retired the IDSA (Interactive Digital Software and are fond ofboth associates. It’s interesting that we to wait and see,” Kaplan said. Dark World) to the nearest dive bar. The quick sand Association) name and reformed it as the Entertain- were the first one and many people said, ‘Oh no, that Before Sony, Nintendo competition consisted of was a group ofwomen who sucked the scribes into ment Software Association (ESA). ‘can’t happen,’ and [Nintendo did get competition] one real threat and that was their console rival Sega. their stories oflost love, endless travels and misplaced “We don’t know who the raters are; we don’t ever —— many people can make good video games,” Kaplan ' Sega released Game Gear in the US. in 1990 with youth —— not to mention problems with the Russian . get to meet them. They are doctors, they are educa- added. everything the Game Boy did not have: a color, backlit mafia. Bob—Ombs were similar to quick sand, except tors, they are parents, they are a ratings board that As Nintendo and Sega played Pick—Up Sticks with screen, and 4—channel surround sound. The problem, they were strangers who looked for the nearest should we don’t have any sway with —— they will look at your Congress, a new enemy brewed in the background. however, was the systems size, weight and battery life, to cry on. game and they will send it back and say the ratings Sony was planning the launch ofits 32—bit PlayStation which were all incomparable to Game Boy. Somejournalists read the free map wrong and is going to be “X.”And we, from whatever marketing console. “Sega gave it a really good shot [with Game Gear], thought five blocks meant five miles and were lost point-of—view, think that doesn’t work, we say, “OK, iny a year after the launch ofPlayStation, Ninten— but the thing was bigger than my purse. I think the on the Seattle Monorail (Hazy Maze Cave), and the we want this to be a Teen rated game. What do we do released its 64-bit console aptly named Nintendo batteries were D, or took six AA batteries that lasted endless maze ofwhite pills was a utopia ofalmost 20 have to do? And they will say, ‘Ifyou want it to be that, 64. As these two systems fought in the console wars five hours. It weighed more than my baby. Ifyou took GameCubes set up with the latest Nintendo software, then you’ve got to do this,’” Perrin Kaplan, vice presi— — as Sega had once: done with Nintendo —-— Sega’s it on a car ride, the color screen would fizzle out in and an equal number of D55 and Game BoyAdvance dent ofmarketing and corporate affairs for Nintendo attempts at a 32-bit system — Saturn -— and finally no time. It was a great idea,but the technology wasn’t 51’s with new titles as well. , ofAmerica, said. Dreamcast, marked the end ofthe hedgehog led really there yet so it fizzled out... But, [Sega] gave it a For collegiate journalists who make their precious Outside ofits wars with ratings boards, Congress company’s push in the great console wars ofthe 905. good run,” Kaplan said. pennies by enriching their lives with the enjoyment of and parental lawsuits, Nintendo was fighfing a battle it . One ofthe reason’s Dreamcast failed to capitalize Since Game Gear’s demise in 1997, Nintendo once free Nintendo games, this was the Chocolate Factory was not accustomed to... a console war. was due to great customer anticipation for Sony’s again largely remained free ofa handheld. However, oftheir dreams. Willie Wonka guided the 30 Charlies Since the company’s inception, it had faced little to PlayStation 2 (P52), Microsoft’s Xbox and the Nin— with the growth in popularity ofiPods, PDAs and cell from one game to the next, teasing their sweet tooth no competition in regards to 8-bit video game systems tendo GameCube. But this was a territory in which phones, the call for more portable items is increasing. for self—entertainment with an entire day ofgame play — Mario quickly wiped away any chances ofa viable even Nintendo had trouble competing. According to Kaplan, “A lot ofthe world is going and gaming knowledge. competitor in the 8—bit market. However, come 1991, According to sales figures provided by Kaplan, portable and to do things portable is natural, these as Nintendo readied itself to make the leap to 16—bit Nintendo sold 2.3 million units ofthe GameCube in days.” This may pose a problem for Nintendo due to consoles, there was already a leader in the industry the US. in 2004, while P82 and Xbox sold 4.6 million Sony’s interest in the market, but with the release of that had been thriving since 1989. and 4 million respectively. the DS, there is still hope for the little company that Sega released its 16—bit Genesis system in August Though it seems Microsoft and Sony are now could. 1989, but as Nintendo prepared to release Super the forerunners in the console arena, Nintendo Nintendo created the DS as part ofits move towards Nintendo (SNES), the company began packaging its still adorns the crown of King of Handhelds. The innovation. The portable includes two screens — one ’lt wasn’tjust about green or red blood' Genesis systems with some quick competition for company has sold 7.6 million units ofthe Game Boy ofwhich is touch sensitive —-— a microphone, wireless The theme for Nintendo is a return to innovation. Mario through Sonic the Hedgehog. Ultimately, it was Advance in the US. this past fiscal year and it sold 27 Internet capabilities, a faster processor, 3—D graphic Those that grew up playing NES can testify to the not the battle between the red-capped Italian and the million Game Boy Advance units since the system’s rendering, wireless game sharing, stereo sound, a company’s attempts at innovation: the Power Glove, blue-backed rodent that claimed the fate ofone of launch in 2001. rechargeable battery and dual slots for backward Zapper, Satellite, Robot Operating Buddy, Advantage the two companies’ 16—bit system; it all came down to compatibility. With these advanced features and the and Power Pad were all Nintendo’s stabs at trying performance. system set at a higher price point, the DS is geared for something a little bit different. “[Sega was] really our first viable competitor and the matured gamer. After NES, much ofthat innovation cooled down, it was the first time that Nintendo realized, number “[Nintendo holds] the philosophy ofremaining and that goes across the board for consoles. There one, we’ve made a mark on something that was a a mass-market product for consumers. That means were bigger problems to face that steered Nintendo permanent form ofentertainment and it was going to ’To do things portable is natural, these days’ the price point has to be within a mass-market range. away from the philosophy ofinnovation — that was be around for a long time and we sort ofdidn’t think “A lot ofpeople don’t realize that [the Game Boy The fact that the PSP is going to be $250 puts it out video game violence, a medium the movie industry anyone couldjab us permanently, but they gave a is the top selling video game system], and one ofour ofreach for a lot ofpeople. At $149, having PictoChat had faced manyyears before. good run for our money but they ultimately went out stru ’ r es with working with media is that they are embedded into [DS] and being with a Metroiddemo “As a younger industry, the video gaming industry, ofbusiness doing it,”'Kaplan said. continuing to write about console system and we say, included in the package, that is a pretty sweet deal for especially back during [those days], was under a But through this new enemy, Nintendo found an ‘Hey wait a minute, ifyou look at every dollar we that price and that keeps it in the mass—market realm,” lot more fire and a lot more political pressure than ally. Sega and Nintendo worked closely together to spent, a third ofit —— at least —— is going to handheld.’ Kaplan said in regards to the PSP’s price point in the movie industry. Movies have been around a lot battle the pending lawsuits regarding video game The reason why we have a great challenge in getting comparison to DS’s. longer time, it’s a more accepted medium. With older violence. coverage for that field is because we don’t have a com— “That’s something, as a company, we work very generations, because they saw [the change in gaming “Our senior vice president at the time had to go petitor. Now suddenly, with Sony coming in, every- hard to do; Nintendo is very skilled at getting the price violence], some ofthe older generations ofpeople in front ofCongress to testify about [video game body is writing about handhelds,” Kaplan said about ofcomponents down,” she continued. in Congress have never played a video game,” Tom Violence]. And another individual, who had been the press coverage ofhandheld systems and games. Since the Nintendo did develop the system with Harlin, manager ofpublic relations for Nintendo of heading marketing and had been removed from Nin- As Nintendo is still the leader in regards to portable oldergamers in mind, the company has no fears of America, said. tendo and picked up by Sega, was called tobe on that video gaming systems —~ and has been since Game pushing outits own Game BoyAdvance from the “When they hear about violence in a video game same panel,” Kaplan said.”“It was an easier and more Boy launched in 1989 — Sony is taking a big risk in market. It continues to be a top selling handheld and they say, “We’ve better do something about it im- glorious day for [Nintendo] because the whole slew of entering a World in which it has no prior experience. Nintendo has no plans to stop making games for ,. mediately.” So, that is how the video game industry congressional members who were grilling them, it was Come March, Sony will release the PSP handheld it. With that in mind, it helps consumers with the has changed, but at one point in time — when Mortal i really focused on Sega.” system and is shaking a few leaves at Nintendo in the prospect ofpurchasing a DS since the system can run Kombatcame out—that was a hot political topic that “Having to fight things on that battlefront, Nin- progress. a GBA game. . wasn’t just about age, it wasn’t just about green or tendo was able to be part ofconvincing Congress that “Although Sony is coming out with the PSP, we’ve “The Game Boys Advance SP and the D3 are really red blood. It was about where the industry was going we don’t need government regulation — that was had nine contenders tryto topple our handheld two different price points, and two different systems. and'whether the industry would sustain that kind of the start of, what is now known as the ESA, formally area and we’ve beaten nine contenders. Sony is the They can survive simultaneously in the marketplace, reputation that turned offmillions ofparents across IDSA. Nintendo and Sega actually were two ofthe definitely the most viable ofthe [contenders] because which obviously they are —~ Game BoyAdvance SP the United States,” he continued. companies that were the very start ofit — creating oftheir brand image, but we have watched them, too, continues to sell very well. You don’t want one to can- It was Nintendo, however, that was at the forefront an association where we self~regulate every single struggle to figure out how to put together a product nibalize the other; we realize they can sell simultane- ofcreating an association that can self-regulate product that is rated,” she continued. that is a reasonable price point, a product that works, ously,” Kaplan said Ofthe prospect ofa GBA v. DS war.

[18] RED gfin-r ArecentlyestablishedorganizationatNC.Stateallowsthosethatareinterestedin Hip—Hopandtheculturetomeeteachotherandcollaborateon projectsorjusttalkaboutthemusic. lnflowential MCand NC.State studentAlexThompson startedtheHip-HopOrganization—-—or H20—tounitethosepeoplewithsimilartastes. Anthony”MicSavvy” Parham isagraduatefrom OldDominion butisa memberofthe group.He,alongwith DJ Merlin, andseveral breakdancers,freestylersand beatboxers performedFeb.23 atTheBrewery.

The United States of

BY JOEL DEBERRY (poetry) and the percussion—heavy styling ofAfrican ‘ As Hip-Hop has continued tribalism. These two clashing ideologies, married to ver the past three years, Hip-Hop has cries ofsocial inequalityand a subsequent need for to evolve into an industry reinvented itself. Everyone besides inner- up—tempo artistic freedom, gave birth to Hip—Hop. cityyouth who had no interest in an Elvis, a But after two decades of purposeful art via the new, revolving aroundbling and the Renoir or even the Contemporary Soul artists abrasive, yet endearing mode of Hip-Hop music, the oftheir parents’ audiophile like any abstract art content has inherently changed and become simply a exploitation of women, some form —— all but stigmatized its acceptance. platform for monotony, greed and pseudo-beef. Inner-city kids — particularly African American Often deemed an elder statesman for Hip-Hop, artists have stayed true to the kids —knew no great cause in the late‘70s and early‘ Tupac Shakur could justifiably gripe about the imbal- ‘805, aside from survival and perhaps a foggy dream of ance of power in America, and then glorify his mother genre’s modest roots as a voice an education that would yield a better life. Numerous in spite ofher drug habits. Public Enemybrazenly “hush” programs and a gradual removal ofits leaders exposed nearly every facet ofhierarchical power abuse for a subculture. marginalized the Civil Rights Movement ofthe prior —— be it the government, the prison system or law decades. Remember MLK? Remember Bobby Ken~ enforcement in general — all in terms ofthe racism nedy? that continued to pervade through our culture. All that said, a musical —your parents would That is no longer Hip—Hop. Now people consider probably disagree — subculture emerged from these that“hating.” Now that is“imposing your agenda,” ‘ impoverished boroughs. A subculture that would or, simply, “bitching.” Forgive the cliché, but finding a indirectly fuse Europe—attributed vocal representation mainstream artist with a well thought out statement

[10] RED RAFFAERSDESK

The entertainment industryIS going after the software makers of Grokster and KaZaA. But is that the best way to curb piracy? BEN MCNEELY

t’s Saturday night in the dorms. Three college buddies get together and decide to go to a movie. They go to the the— ater, pick out a movie and walk up to the ticket window “$8, please,” the ticket worker says. “But we’re college kids,” they reply and pull out their student IDs. “In that case, $6.50,” the ticket worker replies. They pull out their pockets to find a handful of change an walk mAmv rmH1 their heads sagg1ng,usu king all the way back to the dorm. Another Saturday night spent sequestered inside. But one of the buddies has a bright idea: they can download the movie online.

Getting around the pirate

They fire up BitTorrent, type in the name ofthe film track IP addresses that download certain tagged movie ments in MGM V. Grokster, oiherwise known as the they want and watch the progress bar grow and grow and music files got his IP address and sent ResNet Grokster case. Twenty—eight ofthe world’s largest like Pinocchio’s nose at a short-fiction writing contest. notification. entertainment companies are suingthe parent compa— Soon, after the microwave popcorn has been popped, “ResNet e-mailed me, asking which one ofus [his nies of Morpheus, KaZaA and Grokster, claiming their they are enjoying the film they should have paid $8 to roommate or him] downloaded the file. I replied back, products allow users to infringe copyrights by illegally see. saying that I did it, that I deleted the file and all my sharing music, movies and software over the Internet. They got it for free. file-sharing software and that l was sorry,” Carey says. The Ninth Circuit Court ofAppeals says that peer- Two days later, an e-mail appears in the inbox from “Theyconsidered the matter closed.” to-peer software is capable ofuses that do not break the campus-wide network administrator. “It has come The press reported the stories: students threatened the law and ruled the software companies can continue

J _ ., 3“»; -Arman to our attention that someone at this IP address has by lawsuits levied againstthem by the entertainment to develop the software because it is being used for illegally downloaded copyrighted material,” the e-mail industry for illegallydownloading music and movies. legal purposes. With ChiefJusticeWilliam Rehnquist’s reads. Thanks to the Digital Millennium Copyright Protec- center chair empty and with no idea when the seat will Oh SXUQX' tion Act, lawsuits can be made against offenders in fill again, the entertainment industryand the software John Carey, a sophomorein history, got caught record time. makers will square offin front ofthe Supreme Eight. “1 iownloaded an illegal copy of The Grudge using Now, the entertainmentindustry is claiming that the But how far will legal methods be effective for the KaZaA,”Carey says. “I used KaZaA to download MP3s, makers ofpeer—to—peer networking software programs entertainment industry? but never downloaded new stuff.” should be responsible for how users use their products. Arman Assa, a master’s student in business manage- Carey says a companyhired by the movie industryto On March 20, the Supreme Court will hear argu— ment and president ofPackMUG, the Macintosh Users

[20] RED [’I think the music and has a right to protect intellectual property as nuch as but the fact that people have to resort to downloading products neans these companies are not catering to their customer base.’ -Arman Assa

up, says it could hurt the industry. lukewarm. tion ofthe law.” you perform a search, they build a list ofwhat people Organizations need to protect intellectual property “Out ofthe 7,000 students that are on campus, about “Peer—to—peer programs don’t have a central direc— have on their computers and keep a cache oflists to iuch as possible because it is the source ofcompeti- 1,500 have signed up for the pilot program and are tory to pull from, so the question is whether or not the speed up the searches,” Assa says. “When they have that edge needed to be in a market,”Assa says. “They using the services,”Attarian says.“That’s not that many. software being used for illegal downloading is in viola— degree ofcontrol, they should exercise it over its users go after users and enablers, but when you do too At UNC, they have 700 more people signed up than tion ofcopyright law,” Drooz says. to control illegal activity.” :h ofthat, you’ll have a backlash. You don’t want to we do.” The Supreme Court ruled on contributory infringe- “Just because they say it was OK with Sony Betamax, ifter 18-19—year-olds that areyour main customer Despite the low numbers, Attarian hopes students ment back in 1984 when it handed down the Betamax it doesn’t mean it is right with KaZaA,”Assa says. 2. From a public relations standpoint, it creates a will provide meaningful feedback. decision. Traditionally, the court does not overturn itselfex- ative perception with the customer base.” “We are making available to students an alternative. The court ruled in Sonyv. Universal Studiosthat cept in warranted cases. Technology has changed in the 5 an alternative to the lawsuits, the entertainment The University hopes students would use legal means, Sony, maker of the Betamax video machine, could not last 20 years. But that is not stopping the entertainment .lstry is trying to innovate new ways to enable the but most people are still going to go for free downloads. control how its customers used the products. Once the industry from exhausting every legal resource. ting technology and allow users to download copy- This15 something they have to address,” Attarian says company sold a Betamax machine, it no longer had any Drooz tells of“politcal threats” coming from the ltEd material legally. legal liability. entertainment industry, where it would lobby for Con— 0000000000000 Drooz says the software companies — the makers of gress to pass a law that made Internet service providers 000000000000 KaZaA, Grokster and Morpheus —— are relying on the liable for their users’ activities. If— and that is a big if Legal Recourse court upholding this precedent. —— that happens, the University would have to monitor rw business models’ At the same time, the entertainment industry is also “Their position is much like the Betamax case. The every piece ofinformation that goes across its network. he silhouetted figures dance around on the televi— pursuing every legal means possible to protect its copy- Supreme Court held ifa device has a substantial non— That is impossible, according to Drooz. Also, the users 1 screen to U2’s newest single, “Vertigo.” The adver- right~—~ including going to the U.S. Supreme Court. infringement use, selling it doesn’t make you guilty of would have no guarantee ofprivacy on the network. nent is for a special edition iPod -— black face with The court is down one member since ChiefJustice contributory infringement,just because customers may But Drooz says that is a remote possibility. d flywheel— that has the band member’s signatures Rehnquist is battling thyroid cancer. There has been use it for illegal purposes,’Drool says. ' “That’s a far—fetched extreme, I don’t see us really vrinted on the back. is clear that Apple Computer has taken the online sic business by storm. iTunes Music Store sold 250 ”There are lawful uses for P2P programs. That is why N. C. State ion sOngs in January and has a 75 percent digital sic market share, according to Digital Tech Consult— has not banned it from its networks, but if it is found out that The iPod, Apple’s iconic hard—drive based music 'er, has a 90 percent market share over rivals like Rio someone is using it for unlawful use, we will stop it. ”-Daw-domoz Creative Technology. mm the success Apple has had, it became clear to speculation as to ifor when he will return to the bench But Assa argues that P2P programs aren’t like the getting there,” Drooz says entertainment industry to think about new strate— this session, or ifhe will step down at the end ofthe Sony Betamax machine, and the makers should not in combating illegal downloading. term. enjoy such protection. 0000000000000 Ifthey [the entertainment industry] are going after Until then, the opposing parties will have to convince “PZP networking tools are a different medium from ple, in the long-term, they are going to have to the majority ofthe sitting eightjustices. VCRs. [The makers of] Morpheus and KaZaA don’t No easy answers ince that,”Assa says. “They have to ask themselves, The case, MGM v. Grokster, centers around an area sell products, per se,’Assa says “They can control John Carey says he believes the entertainment in- A; can we get around this problem by being innova— ofcopyright law called contributory infringement. what their users can or cannot access. They should be dustry is doing the right thing bygoing after users that y» “Someone is guilty ofcontributory infringement held accountable for any illegal activity done on their illegally download. me possible solution to curb illegal downloading when they facilitate the copyright infringement ofa network.” “Hell yeah, it’s stealing and i think they [the enter- :ollege campuses is collaborating with universities third party, such as creating-the tool that allows that Since users must sign into a P2P program with a tainment industry] are doing the right thing. I think if ffer legal online downloading programs. The UNC tool to be used for illegal purposes,” David Drooz, as- username and password, the software companies can they can scare enough people, they can cut download- em is currently administering a pilot program with sociate university general counsel, says. “It’s sort oflike control what users can see and download. ing down drastically,” Carey says. ister, Cdigix, Rhapsody and Ruckus— all online aiding and abetting in criminal law.” “Theycan control who is on the network and can “I feel it15 against law, but ifthere is not an easy way ;ic services. Drooz says that file-sharing services that use central- check what is going on that network... they connect ofgetting caught, then people are still going to do it. If he idea is simple: students choose to open a free ized servers to store and swap files are “clearly in viola- people to different computers on the network. When there is a more efficient system ofgetting caught, then mm with one ofthese services and can download as people would not do it as much.” :11 music they want and keep it on their computer Assa attributes rising prices for movies and music as the duration ofthe free trial — in this case, until a cause for illegal downloading. end ofthe academic year. But the user doesn’t “I think the music and movie industry has a right 1ally own the music files. The services use what is to protect intellectual property as much as possible, ad “tethered streaming,” where the actual file is live— but the fact that people have to resort to downloading amed to a users computer. products means these companies are not catering to the user wants the actual file, they will have to pay their customer base,”Assa says. “When you go and pay 3,which, for most online music stores, is around $12 for a CD, that is a rip-off.” ) a song. “Record companies are partly to blame for not pay- .J. Attarian,supervisor for Communication ing attention to their customer base and young people mology Student Services, says the music industry «(am — supposedly their biggest customer base,” Assa says. ying to work with universities to develop new tapes. mocu tit As for legal recourse, the entertainment industry iness models and to develop ways to upset illegal L.“ny?IQ”! la should leave universities out ofthe fray. , mloading. “There are lawful uses for P2P programs. That is why l‘he universities want to know two things: one, to 3th,! flf iii.”flit”: rive NC State has not banned it from its networks, but ifit what the response will be from the students and 3 final“! (31:10 iiiifi‘ is found out that someone is using it for unlawful use, , to see what the legal downloading traffic will do we will stop it,” Drooz says. their gateways,” Attarian says. “Our position is that it is an issue between the he UNC system sent out mass e-mails to students entertainment industry and people doing copying. The lNC—Chapel Hill and NC. State, inviting them to University should not be put in middle because we do in the pilot program. So far, the response has been The FBI gave Hollwood film studlos, mu51c companies and software makers permis- not support or condone any act.” sion to use its name and logo on DVDs, CDs and other digital media in February 2004. This was done in hopes of detering consumers from illegally reproducing copyrighted material. IMAGES COURTSEY OF FBI

2005.02.25 [21 ] 4: urprise

.o 'i BY TIM COFFIELD Mellowgoldwas also my first experience with a hidden track, an unlisted mishmash ofweird noise he’d tucked at the end ofthe cassette’s B-side. And this brings us back friend ofmine—— a laid-back guy-—once found a roofing nail in his $5 hot to the nail in my friend’s mouth, and to the piercing knowledge that the artistgave you beefhoagie from Lil Dino’s. Actually, he found the nail in his mouth the nail somethingyou didn’t buy. having originated from the sandwich. Itwasburied within the tender folds of The discoveryofthis secret music sent my imagination reeling. This Beck guy, Dino beefmaterial, unrevealed to my friend calmly masticatinghis lunch until I decided, was a singer dedicated to his fans. The truest ofrockers. I pictured him, it made a nearlyirreparable impact on some ofhisgum tissue. longhaired, scragglyand smelling like menthol, slipping into the studio late at night, Hold that image. perhaps through the chimney ortheventilation pipes, long after the dictatOrial busi— Now: rewind a decade, or more, back to the early-mid 905 and that golden five or ness-types had gone home to theirstucco mansions, and recording the trackin secret, seven year stretch between the end ofWarrant and the beginning ofNickleback that for me, his target audience. I thought it was the coolest thing. was thebest in music history.‘All good guitar Rockgivesvoice, loud voice,to the oily Inspired, I purchased more cassettes. And when I ran out ofmoney, I would shoplift desperation ofits fanbase, which is kids. Unlike Hip~Hop, which is centered both them. Becauseitwasn’t about the money! Thatwas the whole message! sonically and topicallyon I, rock focuses on you. It often takes the second person tense, And everyone, it seemed, was sending it. The hidden song, a trick that goes back and even when it doesn’t, it still kind ofdoes. at least as far as the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’sLonelyHearts Club Band, reached its zenith In this sense, Rock was at its healthiest from there in the early‘905. Sponge, Tool, Blind Melon and Nine Inch Nails all included full- about 1991 to 1996. length unlisted tracks. As did Soundgarden, Oasis and even Hootie. Cracker’s Kerosene I’m biased, ofcourse, but that’s the point. You Hathad three. might argue I call theseyears the best simplybecause Radiohead did an alternate take of“Creep,”as did the Meat Puppets with their“Lake they coincided with a certain time in my own life, but ofFire.” Pearl Jam capitalized on play-through tech with an intro for Ten’sopener, you’d be wrong. I wasjust lucky. “Once,” tacked to the album’s end. Green Daylamented like heartbroken seventh grad- The first cassettes I ever owned were Beck’s Mellow- ers, singing“All by myself/ I was thinkingofyou.”Nirvana’s “Endless Nameless” even gold and Hootie 8: the Blowfish, CrackedRear View. made the radio. In middle school, I harnessed the powers ofHootie to Then there were the bands, many ofwhich may havehad cards in the oflicial Juarez seduce women over the telephone. I’d look up the phone Cartel Rolodex, which used the extra minutes to get extra funky. number forwhatever hottamale I chose to conquer, The Crash Test Dummies and Silverchair stuck unlisted classical piano numbers call, and hold the receiver up to my onto their albums. The Spin Doctors remade “(That’s the Way) I Like It” with freakin’ boomboxblasting“Only Wanna Biz Markie. Stone Temple Pilot’s Purpleshowcased a baritoning hobo named Dick, Be with You,” after which I’d Alice in Chains’ Sap featured a duet offeedback and human flatulence, and the Stone murmur sweet nothings until Roses piled several minutes ofreallycrappy Folk/Jazz puree onto Second Coming. the dial tone cut me OH. And my favorite: the Supersuckers, clearly with the economics ofjukeboxes in mind, I also remember lying included a repeat oftheentire album as the unlisted track on 1994’s La Mano Cornuda. 0n the carpet in my room, In retrospect, the appeal I found in hidden songs none ofwhich were particularly clutching myold kiddy good music — seems easily explained away with some smart-sounding phraseology. blanket while sucking on We could, after all, link those nameless mysteries to something our therapists would an unlit Newport, listening really sink their teeth into, something like the elusive nature ofpersonal identity at to“Loser” about4000 times in a puberty. row. That song really resonated with me. But isn’t made-to—sell psychobabblelike that every bit as detached and impersonal as The chorus, halfofwhich was in Spanish, the music biz that the hidden songwas designed to resist in the first place? I think so. lent Beck’s theme a globallytranscendent Those songs were gifts, simple as that. Quirky little thank yous from the rockers to quality. the kids, tucked away like Easter eggs. The appreciation went both ways. Hey, it said, having trouble quittingyour At leastthat’s how it seemed to me.And really, wasn’t that the point? security blanky habit forcigarettes? You ain’t the only one! Contacttlcoffi[email protected]

[22] RED enonownv's BRAND-NEW

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