Bail}}ular Ipri ARTS & FEATURES Thursday, June 23,1994 7A Local Band Avoids Cliche With Debut Ifyou owned a castle high on a hilland The album’s thirdtrack, “Splendor,” is addition, if for no other reason than to had to pick a band to play for you, one an exquisite example of layering guitar as hear one of the best and brightest songs whose eerie sounds echoed from the dun- well as bass, compliments of TonyMiller. again. Plus, there is the benefit of hearing geons to the tallest tower, Psycho Sonic Singer Peace leads offwithrhetorical ques- Millersolo, showing offthe natural talent Cindi should be your choice. tions, “What is my answer?/What does it of this self-taught bassist. The band’s self-titled debut comprises mean?” Afterfour bars ofbass and a few Wingrove explained that the band’s seven songs, all bound by a supernatural more lyrics, the rest of the song is instru- name was the name of a song done by the feel that evokes images of darker forces. mental, keeping an even level of ferocity. group Transvision Vamp in the early ’Bos. The music transcends the typical local On “LadyElaine Fairchild,” drummer “Ijust heard it for the first time last week- sound, particularly through its contrast of Johnny Wall creates a Curesque atmo- end,” he said. “Itsounds like the theme angry energy sphere with his consistent strength. Ab- song for cartoon, GODWIN a actually.” and sorrowful, | IQELLE sent of lyrics, the instrumental forum Wingrove gave some insight on the emotion-laden Music Review evokes images of an evil storm raging on band’s influences, which range from jazz reticence. “Per- the open sea. What is special about Psycho to Pink Floyd to more hard-core hie. In petualFaith”is "Psycho Sonic Cindi' A- Sonic Cindi is their talent for exploring the the past, theyhave toured with bands such a prime ex- depth of emotions encompassed in the as the Judybats, Dillon Fence and the ample of the band's ability to incorporate dark side ofhuman nature. Going beyond Dead Milkmen. Psycho Sonic Cindi’s fu- the complementary styles ofguitarists Ben rehashing the same themes over and over, ture, based on the strength ofthis release, Toad the Wet - Sprocket Todd Nichols, Randy Guss, Dean Dinning and Glen Phillips willplay at The Ritz in Raleigh Wingrove and Eric Peace. each track is a separate component of a is After 30 months together, Saturday night. The Santa Barbara-based band promising. is on tour in support of their new album, Dulcinea. Although a two-axe combination is larger piece. the band is in the position to be a defining nothing new, Psycho Sonic Cindi resists “Fan” is the only track that is out-and- force in the competitive local scene. Ifyou predictability, thereby providing arefresh- out energy all the way through. Angry thought all the bands who played inChapel ing twist. “Cerebellum” is the first song, guitar with heavy distortion in the solos is Hill sounded the same, check again for a and it makes for a strong beginning. The the backbone of the song. All of this is fresh change. California song sets the stage with its moodiness, by lyrics of reinforced Peace’s Psycho Comes Age about the de- Sonic Cindi (with guest Quartet wavering back and forth between frac- mands of relationships, “Ilet her in, but Neverland) willbe playing at Local 506 The name of the group’s latest effort is who didn’t start drumming until BYCHRIS NICHOLS Guss, tured bits ofdance beats and steady, con- she won’t leave,” he sings. Friday night. They’llbe live shots taken from “Don Quixote,” wherein a his senior year of high filming ARTSAND FEATURES EDITOR school, said there centrated riffs supplied by Wingrove and The “wack bass mix” of “Perpetual for their upcoming video for “Splendor,” plain and unvirtuous townswoman, two different approaches torecord- were Peace. Faith” included on the CD is a welcome so head on out and be of it. Life in a band might be something like Dulcinea, is idealized by the novel’s title ing recording live in the studio or re- part chocolate ice cream that’s melted in the character. cording one instrument at a time. mit nine months instead ofone year, said sun. You start out with ice cream, then it “Iwas we were current album, RESTAURANT MENTOR reading itwhen record- The unlike Fear, before FROM PAGE 3A Campus Y Director Zcnobia Hatcher- basically turns into chocolate milk, an end ing,” Guss said. “And itjustkind of came it, was recorded with FROM PAGE 1A the band playing as ing.” Wilson. That flexibility means the Big product considerably different from what up, the notion ofthe romantic ideal. aunit, although both albums had the same grams. Volunteers for Youth requires six Buddy program has volunteers than Shatzen and Harvey willact mainly as more you - started with. “Dulcinea is, perhaps, imaginary, but producer, Gavin MacKillop. hours of training, a few interviews and a it can handle about 400 applications for ” investors for the restaurant. But Shatzen But they’re both pretty good. They just it’s something to live for.” “We’rereallyproud ofit he one-year commitment at least (Dulcinea), said he would be to spend the 180 volunteer spots available. go down differently. The developed a loyal follow- said. giving helpful hints based four hours together each quartet “Itreallyaccentuatesstrengthswe’ve his week, Worley Applicants who aren’t assigned aLittle From a telephone in a Jacksonville, ing with the recording of its first two al- had since early on. It’s sort of an all- on restaurant experience withPepper’s. said. “The 12-month commitment is im- Buddy volunteer for “Idon’t have a real ofMexi- are encouraged to Fla., hotel, Toad the Wet Sprocket’s drum- bums, Bread and Circus, which they re- encompassing record things we were knowledge portant because it takes a while to build a one of 11 other Yvolunteer can,” he said. “Ijustwant to look at Campus op- mer, Randy Guss, discussed how an origi- corded for $650, and Pale. several years ago and where we doing relationship,” she said, “nie main idea is hopefully good, food.” portunities, such as Youth United Part- nal package has taken on a whole new life After the success of the singles “AllI willbe. Dulcinea is a few months old. But quality that the two will a friend- The restaurant’s focus people develop ners, which plans group activities with 3,000 miles from the Santa Barbara, Ca- Want,” “HoldHerDown,” and “Walkon we’re not the same we were three will be big ship that willbe interactive and fun.” middle school students. people burritos, handmade tortillas and a variety lif., garages where the band started play- the Ocean” offof Fear, the band’s inten- months ago.” Volunteer Ginger Norwood, a The Hill-Carrboro sys- of salsas, McMillan said. Shatzen said he rising Chapel school ing nine years ago. tions, in the eyes of the populace, might Guss said the band members listened'to UNC sophomore, said she had found this tem, thought the however, has emphasized the impor- “Idon’t think we do this, really, for have gotten a little skewed along the road a wide variety of music and styles, which restaurant would shine be- to be true. “It’staken longer tobuild trust tance of the commitment in its cause of the long-term anyone else but ourselves,” Guss said. to widespread appeal. accounted for the impossibility of regional Mexican style the between my friend and I than I antici- proposed Mentor-Advocate pigeon- eatery hoped to program. “It’sreally too important for that. That’s Loyalists might lament that their ice holing the group’s output. “We’rejust sort incorporate. pated,” she said. The proposed program would “There’s to be a lot of for require the reason we’ve been doing itfor so long. cream had melted. The new pool of fans of traditional,” he said. “Instrumentally, going room The two have cooked dinner, watched 20 to 30 hours of a Shatzen said. “We training and two-year “But it’s important to have an audi- mightthink they’d found some ofthe sweet- we’re not even that adventurous. interpretation,” want movies, picnicked in the Arboretum and commitment before volunteers would be to do something different.” ence. There’s something really important est, purest chocolate milk this side of The band’s roots go back more than gone to track meets together. “Ithink it’s matched with students, said Pam Bailey, McMillanadded that he wanted to start about breaking the shell. That’s one ofthe Hershey, Pa. two decades, when a 4-year-old Guss met really neat that Pam is like a friend instead director of Volunteers and Partners for we by just selling food and eventually offer ways can do it is through art. Regardless of the people’s impression, Nichols. He became friends with Dinning of like a Little Buddy,” Norwood said. Education. “We don’t think something is “It’ssharing. When there’s interaction, Toad the Wet has maintained in high and then with in entertainment, like livebands. McMillan Pam is the 14-year-old girlwith whom she better Sprocket junior Phillips and his friends have been 12 than nothing,” Bailey said. “Abro- that’s when itgets really exciting. It’s more their enterprise, desire and need for what high school. working hours was matched. ken is than most days, the off relationship more damaging of a dialogue than a performance.” they do. But most of all, they retained “It’s hard enough for us to agree on mainly cleaning grime Another program, UNC’s Campus Y one that didn’t happen at all. Some chil- Now, the floors and enlarging the kitchen. the band made up of Guss, complete creative control over all aspects anything, much less music,” Gusslaughed. Big Buddy program, also requires inter- dren have been bytoo many adults “We were going to make a few changes rejected vocalist-guitarists Glen Phillips and Todd of their careers. “We’ve been together for a long, long views and a training session, but unlike too many times, and they need to learn Nichols and bassist Dean Dinning is Guss added that while he comfort- time. And we’re like brothers in to the kitchen and open it, originally, atthe Volunteers for Youth, students was that sense. end of can com- about long-term commitment.” touring in support oftheir fourth and most able with where the band was May,” he said. “But it turned out now, the Brothers don’t always get along, but defi- a recent album, Dulcinea. members remained in a constant state of nitelythere’s a bond.” that we wanted to do whole lot more.” “The talks to tells While 1991’s Fear was on its way to creative flux. Toad the Wet Sprocket’s current tour building just me and me what it wants to do, and I listen.” going platinum, the vision of the band that “Generally, the routine is that we like willwrap up about this time next year. just took its name from a Monty Python skit the album that we most recently finished,” “Touring is really difficult,”Guss said. was no longer confined to play on college he said. “The album should be a record of “Playing live is not. Those are two differ- Ifour bagels were any radio and in “alternative” clubs. where we are right now. ent things.” “Asfar as the perception of the band, “It’s(Dulcinea) pretty close to us. Iimag- And while the band juggles touring, a fresher, they’d it’s made big differepce, which is kind of ine in two years we’ll understand the playing, recording and shooting music vid- COMING be frustrating because it’shot really represen- progress better. We’re moving forward. eos, Guss said he had always Loved play- tative ofthe band, "puss said. “That’s the It’s the next step. Our songs are more ing live more than any other aspect. wheat, water and yeast. frustrating thingabout singles. That’s gen- mature. The songs are stretchingus. We’re “We’re all more into the music,” he SOON! erally the only thing people know about no longer afraid ofputting a song that we said. “That’s something we consider sa- the band.” like on the record.” cred.” July Look No Further Than 34 Copies Talk about a fresh bagel. At Bruegger’s, we take the purest, TGIF all-natural ingredients. Turn these (kettle-boiled, Catalog Clothing Outlet into authentic hearth- Good on all plain white baked) bagels. And keep the ovens baking batches of fresh, hot bagels 8 1/2xllautofeed and all day long. As far as we see it, anything less fresh Walk one more block to West Franklin self-service copies. isn’t worth sinking your teeth into. And save 50-80% everyday! 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