cheers & jibes - the Gryphon, Friday, April 17, 1981 - Styx thrills concert viewers By JANICE BRASWELL a man pushing a broom. Very guitar, James Young with back ground sky and stars ap­ Generations of loyal rock softly on the keyboard, Dennis guitar and vocals, and Chuck peared, enlivening the already fans gathered in the ‘best of De Young began “The Best of Ponozzo on base guitar and animate performance. times’ with the power of Styx Times,” explaining in his lyrics vocals. The concert ended abruptly in a concert appearance April that the Paradise Theater was The fans roared with to fans’ dismay as they cried 11 at Greensboro Coliseum. in his hometown of Chicago in “Grand Illusion,” “Renegade,” “We want Styx” and “We No opening act was needed, the 20’s. As he reached the “Blue Collar Man,” “Lords of won’t go” steadily for four or as the sell out crowd anxiously chorus, the set went up, the Ring,” and especially for five minutes. Soon Styx reap­ awaited to embark on a revealing the four other the lighting and special effects peared to bring the concert to voyable to the Paradise members of Styx, and a neon during “Great White Hope.” a paramount close, by disap­ Theater. Banners stating Paradise Theater sign lit up. Another cry rose up when pearing in a cloud of blue “Paradise at Last” were hung The sign danced and rocked Shaw and De Young related to smoke while a screen came while frisbees and beach balls with the rhythm of the music the audience about time and down showing only the fading were tossed around the and kept a steady beat with life before performing “Too silhouette of the band. The old restless mass. At 8:30, music the drummer, John Ponazzo. Much Time on my Hands, Paradise Theater set came from the 20’s began, continued Styx greats such as “Rocking Babe,” and “Borrowed Time.” back down and De Young once with the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and the Paradise,” “Miss The mass readily agreed when again began “The Best of ended with “Hooray for America,” “Crystal Ball,” Tommy Shaw called for them Times.” When all the lights Hollywood.” The curtains “Snow Blind,” and “Pieces of to “Sing Along,” and they were dimmed, a short film of dropped, revealing a stage, Eight” were performed, with reacted wildly to Shaw and De the tour credits was shown, bare except for a piano, a set of Tommy Shaw leading in vocals Young’s antics during "Come with special segments on each the old Paradise Theater, and and acoustic and electric Sail Away.” A special member of Styx. Letters to the editors

Disrespect noted crowd in “cheering,” not in Two new books establish Dear Editor, sobbing. Yes, we lost the The rejoicing, laughter and game, but we lost to the applause that I personally number 1 team in the state witnessed Monday afternoon, which makes us number 2 and King's horror supremacy March 30, at RMSH after the with such an accomplishment announcement of the as this, I see nothing to cry assassination attempt on about. By TOMMY O’CONNELL President Reagan was sicken­ governmental LSD experi­ indepth record of his thoughts Stephen King’s two new ing. But this was not the first ment. She is kidnapped by the on the particular material. books certify his position as Whether Reagan be black or outbreak of tears from the government because she can white, a Republican or modern fiction's “King of the light fires by looking very in­ > cheerleaders this season. For Macabre.” Democrat, a liberal or a con­ example, how was the basket­ tently at something (not an or­ King creates suspense in servative, he IS a human being dinary girl). The book ranks every one of his works, even in ball team supposed to feel The books Firestarter and AND the President of the when there were still two along with The Stand, The Danse Macabre, and he main­ United States. Danse Macabre are two works Shining and The Dead Zone as tains a considerable action minutes left in the Bed- on different subject matter The appalling lack of dingfield vs. Rocky Mount one of King’s best fiction level so the reader will not respect for the Office of Presi­ and are written in different works. grow tired of the work. Every play-off game? We were styles. The books may be dif­ dent and the importance of behind, and the cheerleaders one of his books is excellent that office, and the lack of com­ ferent, but each is tremen­ Danse Macabre reveals a and if full length books don’t were on the sidelines in tears. dously effective. passion for the man and his Yet somehow the team pulled new talent of King — nonfic­ interest the reader. King has family (not to mention the it out although it would have tion. The book is his first published a collection of his others involved in the attemp­ appeared all hope was lost. Is Firestarter is a typical King feature length nonfiction short stories entitled ted murder) was completely in­ this what cheerleaders are for novel relying primarily on hor­ work. It is an analysis of the Nightshift. comprehensible. — to discourage the players ror and science fiction for horror medium including It saddens me to think that I instead of encouraging them? much of its effect. However, movies, radio and books. have apparently misjudged the novel does not totally rely Not many young people are the character of many of my on those two mediums, and it going to spend $14.00-$15.00 students and other students at Losing a ballgame like the builds up to a suspenseful The book reads very easily, on a book, especially when Rocky Mount Senior High! Chapel Hill game was truly climax that will truly (pardon and (unlike much nonfiction) it most feel that they are forced Jane Parvin hard to accept, but if anyone the cliche’) have the reader on does not bore the reader by re­ to read too much in school. should be able to compose the edge of his seat. maining too long on a par­ Cheerleaders criticized King’s books are exceptions, themselves, it should be the ticular subject. Although he and many students may find Dear Editor, cheerleaders. That’s their job The novel revolves around a does not lengthen subjects, he that these books are actually ' I found it repugnant enough — to keep the crowd “up” no little girl who is a product of a does give the reader a rather enjoyable to read. at the Chapel Hill vs. Rocky matter how “down” the situa­ Mount playoff game to see tion becomes. From now on if cheerleaders crying on the you want to take a picture to sidelines at the end of the represent the defeat, capture game, but to publish a picture the emotions being expressed Diversity keys album's success on the front page of the by the winning team — those newspaper was even more happy smiles and glad faces in­ abhorrent. I was under the im­ stead of SAD, CRYING By LEIGH RIVENBARK pression that the cheerleaders cheerleaders. harpsichord to the soaring Wanna Go Home,” the driving, were supposed to lead the Lynn Batts electric guitar. Unusual ar­ medium-rock lament of a Life is a gamble, these men rangements of vocals and in­ gambler realizing he can not say, an obsessive risk. With strumentals vary to yield an win. highly original lyrics and album as colorful as the stain­ An apparent attempt to varied, versatile music, the ed glass on the cover. slow the pace, “Time,” fails. Alan Parsons Project Bands compete in contest “May Be a Price to Pay” This romantic number seems competed in Grade Six. packages the gamble of life in leads the album with in­ overly long rather than relax­ The Turn of a Friendly By CHARLES HARRISON “I am quite pleased with our teresting use of funky bassline ing, and Woolfson’s gentle Card,its most recent concept grade,” Band Director J. C. over symphonic strings. Elmer vocals are lost. album. Thirty-five Eastern North Sykes said. Gantry’s husky lead — he A quartet of songs on side Carolina bands participated in Mr. Sykes thinks the con­ The song titles explain this sounds somewhat like Eric two cements the story and is a contest festival held here. test is worthwhile. musical story. A few are: “May Clapton — lends power to the the peak of Parsons’ produc­ The contest was sponsored "I think it gives kids and Be a Price to Pay,” “Games excellent lyrics of Alan Par­ tion. Chris Rainbow proves the by the North Carolina Music teachers incentive. It keeps an People Play,” "Snake Eyes,” sons and Eric Woolfson, who most versatile singer, going Educators Association. Bands objective in front of them,” “The Turn of a Friendly Card.” co-wrote all nine songs. easily from the title track, were classified in a series of Mr. Sykes said. In presenting this “tale of Top 40 hit “Games People with its classical guitar and grades, from one through six, The contest festival is held obsession” (as the sticker on Play” may be the best-known lilting melody to “Snake grade six being the hardest. throughout North Carolina in the cover calls it), the Project song on the disc, but it is not Eyes,” gutsy pop rock. The Wind Ensemble receiv­ the spring. This is Rocky employs four strong lead necessarily the best. Its The Turn of a Friendly Card ed a Superior in concert music Mount's eleventh year hosting vocalists and every musical in­ vocalist, Lenny Zakatek, more is in itself a musical gamble — and in sight reading. They the bands. strument from the delicate truly takes control on “I Don’t one that succeeds.