i uoowrjn • ttf'i Vfurm A soundtrack Here they come to better the day!i than CONCERT | Former Shock that means something. He is en tor Jan Smith. A recent transplant from sunny Florida, this is Lobo member Jeffrey Butts joying a different kind of vibe with Modem Hero now. Com Steelman's first gig with a band the forms a new band pared to Shock Lobo, "Modem though she's been singing since Hero is more melody-oriented. the tender age of two. The words and melody are more Modem Hero is still in its in Vonetta R. DeVonish important." said their manager fant stage since the group has only actual Staff Writer Kathy Gates. Butts describes their been together for several weeks. sound as "soulful rock 'n roll." It They worked hard in preparation is "totally original and not as com for their performance at the 2"d It was sweltering outside and mercial as commercial rock out Annual Atlantis Music Confer movie Special |Signal even hotter indoors as a few hun there." He's not so anti-establish ence, where they drew a huge dred music lovers packed into ment though. When I asked him, crowd. little love tune called "Rainy Day Smith's Olde Bar for the Band to as an example, what he thought By the way, why the name Parade," along with a Violent Band Combat on Friday, July 23. of Jennifer Lopez's hit "If You Modern Hero? "Modern Hero The Pleasantdales received the Mike Davis Femmes number that is classic Had My Love," he replied, "I re represents a crossing of racial and most votes, beating out The Contributing Writer Femmes, offers a break in the ally like that song. I think it has a gender lines to make beautiful mostly hip-hop and soul album. Charlie Mars Band and Modem good groove." music. The body of Modern Though they're not particularly Hero, and took home a $1,000 The other members of Mod Hero's work is well represented good songs, they are well placed prize. em Hero are former member of through their live set. Through within the sequence to break down All is not lost though and the band Deluxe, guitarist Rob diversity in race, sex and musical As with any off-beat comedy the aesthetic of drum machines Modem Hero won't let this turn Guthrie, drummer Karmen background, those players come featuring the dead-pan Janeane and synthesizers into the more tra of events get them down. The Gossett and bass player Tony together to create a 'modem hero' Garofalo and the self-deprecating ditional form of real instruments band's lead singer, songwriter and Belser. Belser is a GSU graduate for the new millenium." They Ben Stiller, an equally quirky played by real people. guitarist, Jeffrey Butts, would with a degree in music. Back-up seem to exemplify what music is soundtrack is to be expected. To keep up with the retro vibe probably say "it's all good" as he's singer Joy Steelman hooked up all about and bring it to people The opener of the Mystery that astonishingly still permeates enjoyed much success before. A with Modem Hero after she dis who enjoy it despite their differ Men Soundtrack is a folk-tinged pop culture after all these years, former member of the group covered both she and Butts were ences. number with a strong back-beat by the soundtrack features the obliga Shock Lobo, Butts hopes to con taking lessons with voice instruc newcomer John — don't worry tory disco numbers. The Trammps tinue his success and make music about pronouncing the last name make you wanna "bum tha mutha Oszajca called "Back in 1999." down" with their all-too-popular The best way to describe this song '70s dance mantra, "Disco In would be to say that it sounds an ferno." awful lot like Beck learned how And if the Trammps don't get Your love is better to sing. you hook, line and sinker, the Bee To get this album out of stores Gees will makeyou change your and into your stereo, this record religion, pick your two-foot Afro, - like most soundtracks — em than aliens squeeze into those polyester pants ploys the help of at least one cur that were already too tight ten rently popular big-hit band (in this pounds ago and waste the night songs, maybe they could produce music gone horribly awry with the case Smash Mouth) to increase new influence of hip-hop that away performing frightening Alex Orr a good album. appeal and boost sales. The group The opening song on the al makes me sick. That last quote is dance moves in a foggy haze of Contributing Writer lends to the movie their newest multi-colored lights. bum, "The End of It All" mixes courtesy of the Dreamworks PR 'smash" hit containing twangy The best reason to buy this good guitar and absolutely horri people trying to reach the guitars, scratchy turntables, and a particular soundtrack is, save for fying sounds from a keyboard. "younger" crowd. hip-hop beat called "All Star" a handful of current pop and an Mahaffey said this song is about, This album might be okay if which I'm sure has been played cient disco tunes, you've never Breakfast With Girls is the "this guy who taped a sheet of acid it was background music at a party on the radio more times than heard any of this before — that new album created by Matt to his chest and smuggled it onto with an open bar and free Prozac, 'Stairway to Heaven." is, unless you just really like those Mahaffey, ffontman of the group a plane and died." I don't think but that doesn't happen very of One of the strangest moments bad-hair, big-shoes, tight-pants, Self. This is the third album from this guy is dead, I think he's writ ten. And if you do find yourself on the record is the resurfacing of high-voiced flashbacks to that age the band and it is on the ing all this band's lyrics. "Your in that situation, you would be Dreamworks label. the almost forgotten "I Kissed a most of us are too young to re love is better than aliens" is my better off staying at home. Each track has the potential Girl" girl, Jill Sobule. Her poppy member anyway. favorite example of the gibberish to be decent pop music, but lyrics found on this LP of whirl Tune into GSTV (Channel 6) for Mahaffey makes them sound like wind stupidity. garbage with overuse of synthe I was indulging in this opus FROM MUSIC | Page 28 The HOT SPOT 2000 sizers and other technological ter of "old-school hip-hop grooves, Showing the Hottest Rap and R&B videos rors of music. If the band left be tripped-out synthesizer and hooks vided in the goodie bags high hind cutting-edge technology and Hosted by: TOO CLEAN galore" when I realized this album lighted 36 of the featured bands just concentrated on writing is just usual mn of the mill pop for attendees' listening pleasure. Showtimes *12 noon *7pm *10pm A number of alternative music publications were also helpful. One local band that attracted a <9 ^u-edu large crowd was Modern Hero, who performed an energetic set at the Tabernacle. At the Hard Rock bum Cafe, sultry singer Sonya Vetra untouched p&per—pnime4 \-foi ( new $dnOo\ i-upplrt^/ moved the crowd with her soul •fvr your ^ homewcfk. ful blend of funk and rock. (S-ettirig ofg Overall, the conference can >VM2^4 a new semester- be considered a success. It was informative and a very good way to meet music industry profes sionals and perhaps get signed to a label or get a job. Urban music will hopefully have a larger pres ence next year, especially due to Atlanta's reputation and future as a major force in the music indus try.