Drop Radio Wants Its Audiences to Dance by DEBBIE WILLIS Beyond Salt Spring
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SECTION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2003 Page 81 Drop Radio wants its audiences to dance By DEBBIE WILLIS beyond Salt Spring. pie's reactions to Canadian Staff Writer "We really want to start and Peruvian-born musi Drop Radio has what branching out and tapping cians playing reggae, seems like a simple goal: back into the Vancouver fan Meaghar said they have met when the band plays, they base," said Meaghar. "We're nothing but open minds. want people to dance. open to playing anything." "I haven't encountered According to guitar play Part of Drop Radio's any objections to us playing er Dave Campbell, when an appeal could be due to the reggae music. You've just audience gets down, there's fact that each show is differ got to play the music that a real connection between ent. comes from your soul. If it the band and the listeners. "We never play the same comes from your heart, you "It's a giving and receiv way twice," said Campbell, can do no wrong." ing: we spit music out and who mentioned the Eventually the band they give it right back when impromptu country version wants to record, and they they dance," he said. of Redemption Song they hope to produce a full "Everybody' s participat once performed. "There's a length album by next ing." high level of spontaneity." spring. Their only stipula When everyone in the The three members of the tions are that the recording _ room is grooving to the band bring varied back be "high quality" and pro same beat, lead singer and grounds to the creative pro duced on-island. guitar player Laughlin cess. Vargas started playing _ This is partly because the Meaghar, drummer Fidel music in the school band in band members credit the Vargas and Campbell know Peru, then played in Salsa, supportive nature of Salt they are achieving a higher reggae and punk bands in Spring itself for some of goal than simply music- Peru. their success. making. · Campbell was a teen " [Salt Spring] has an "We're all about promot musician who loved to jam, incredible music communi ing a certain amount of but dropped out of the ty. I personally have felt social change ... promoting music scene entirely four nothing but warmth from movement, dance, joy and years ago. When he met local proprietors and fellow happiness,' ~ said Meaghar. Meaghar in Vancouver, he musicians," said Meaghar. "We want to create an atmo was pulled back in to the In fact, Salt Spring has sphere of harmony." five-piece Laughlin Band. meant more than friendly The band plays a unique Meaghar himself is most faces for the band. It has mix of reggae, Latin and AT SUNDAY CONCERT: Drop Radio vocalist Laughlin Meaghar sings out during ly self-taught, after trading touched·the music itself. funk, and though they don't a concert Sunday at Everlasting Summer's Ga rden Fa ire. Photo byDebb;e willis his hockey equipment for a "Our sound has been cul necessarily call their music bass guitar and amplifier at tivated on the island. political, they do often write for about three years, along months, they couldn' t be playing at the Last Minute 15 . He later smashed the There's a sense of warmth material about "people, with former Salt Spring res happier with the music they Productions party in bass during a punk phase, and peacefulness here. It's a social change, and peace," ident Guy Williamson, who create. Centennial Park on and then lived in Toronto as great place to capture our said Meaghar. taught the two about classic "I'm actually quite Saturday night. a busker. essence because it's such a "We're advocates of reggae rhythms. amazed at how things are - Their first off-island gig When asked about peo- beautiful island." peace. We're not really Williamson no longer unfolding. It continues to was a private house party happy with a lot of stuff in lives on the island, but get better. and better. I'm last Saturday night, and they the world, and change starts Cap1pbell and Meaghar met playing the kind of music said they are willing to play at the consciousness level," Vargas at a jam night at I've always wanted to play," any event. he said. "We want to create Anise about six months ago, said Campbell._"This is the "It was pretty much our an atmosphere that starts and Drop Radio was born. best band I've ever been in." plan to play as many gigs as with the community. That's "He was one of the only Drop Radio has played we possibly could," said why we like Salt Spring, reggae drummers who could Beaver Point Hall; the Tree Meaghar. "We wanted to because it's such a tight-knit really pull it off," said House Cafe, Anise become really tight and community of really active Campbell of Vargas, who Restaurant, StarBooks, the road-worthy." people who share a lot of moved from Peru to Salt Vesuvius Pub and the They were all surprised at similar values." Spring about a year ago. Everlasting Summer Garden how busy they have been on Campbell and Meaghar Though the band has only Fest and Music Faire last a small island, but hope had been playing together been together for six weekend. 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There was nothing chilly about Chopin's birth in 1810 and ended Visentin, and pianist Catherine with the Devil, including haunting The last selection, Dohnanyi's the August 16 performance by the with Dohnanyi's death in 1960. Ordronneau played through the ly sorrowful solos intertwined with Quintet for Piano and Strings Op. 1 Boreas String Quartet, an ensem This concept illustrated that the other sections of Mowszkowski's sections that sounded like the in C minor, "included Ordronneau ble named for the Roman god of repertoire was sprawling and also piece, including some lovely solos soundtrack to a demonic car chase. and the entire string quartet. It was the north wind. Audience mem succinct, spanning a total of 150 by the two violin players. Pianist Ordronneau also gave a satisfying to see all the musicians bers were swept away by music of years, while also showcasing The piece ended with the elec powerful, first-act solo perfor on stage at the same time, and the the highest calibre. some artists who according to trifying Molto vivace. The trio mance of Chopin's Ballade No. 2, rousing finale was the ideal way to Passionate music alternately violinist David Visentin had performed the fast-paced section Op. 38. sweep audience members onto blew like a soft warm breeze or a shared girlfriends. without blasting through it, The piece began with a quiet their feet for a standing ovation. hot, torrential stream through The night opened with the achieving a lively perfection. tone but then exploded with fury. One Degree of Separation was ArtSpring's auditorium, leaving flourish of the Allegro energico The full string quartet, including Ordronneau proved an incredibly part of Festival ArtSpring 2003, listeners rapt. from Maurice Mowszkowski's violinist Simon MacDonald and expressive performer, and it was which closed August 19 with an The concert's One Degree of Suite for Two Violins and Piano cellist Paula Kiffner, then per impossible to take one's eyes off amazing perfm;:mance by interna Separation title was · chosen Op. 71. The music came through formed the Mephisto Waltz No. 1 her as she played. tionally acclaimed singer Russell because each composer featured exactly as the first movement by Franz Liszt. Saturday's audience was so Braun. - Chopin, Liszt, Mowszkowski described: a burst of energy that A musical interpretation of the spellbound that there was a Centennial Park party Classic play series will be for youth is about more explored at Friday meeting A group of islanders interested in pre project will operate on a volunteer basis. senting a series of classic plays by authors "It is hoped that several such dramas than just swear words such as Arthur Miller, G.B: Shaw, Harold presented in this informal fashion during Pinter, Edward Albee and Henrik Ibsen is a season will provide those interested inviting the public to join them. with the opportunity to at least hear - or A "parental advisory" has (PARC) approved the event, gards those rules will "get A meeting to discuss the concept is set hear again - some of the standard reper been issued for Salt Spring and the RCMP will be pre carted off real quick." for the Croftonbrook conference room on toire." residents.