Portable shares their Secret Life

From the picture on the cover of KRISTIN ORAVETZ the band dressed up in suits, it's hard Contributing Writer to know what kind of music to expect. But once the first song "What's Wrong" is played, it makes one want to venture further. The music, a mix- ture of alternative and something a little calmer, is very enjoyable. It has a familiar sound, even if you have never heard any of their songs. The song "Redlight" is very Radiohead- esque. Lead singer Chance has a remarkably strong voice with a wide range. The mood of the album is very upbeat. You can't help but tap some- thing or move with the music. The CD is not something that has to grow Portable, a group just signed by TVT on you. Once you hear it there is a records, the label that first started the very strong possibility that it's going career of fellow New Orleanian Trent to show up in your CD player again. Reznor, has recently put out their first The light rock/ alternative sound to album Secret Life. Their song "Help Your- Secret Life is definitely appealing easy self" is being played by over 70 radio listening. Expect to hear more from stations across the nation, the group Portable in the near future. has just finished its first tour and also appeared at Woodstock. FILE PllOTO For some reason, all the guys in Portable were voted "most likely to become funeral directors" in high school. The Fastbacks don't quit One of the Big Easy' s best

ANDREW CATTELL TIM KOEHLER a loyal following. In the past year, contributing writer contributing writer however, The Fastbacks have under- gone several changes that may help their popularity. The band voluntar- If you leave Tulane and New Orleans ily dropped Sub Pop records as their without experiencing ReBirth Brass Band, ｬ ｡ ｢ ｾ ｬ and signed Mike Musburger as you might have missed the best band New their drummer. Orleans has produced in years. Inspired The new album, under the spinART by their first cou ins, the Dirty Dozen label, shows The Fastbacks' ability Brass Band, and formed in the early '80s, to combine insightful lyrics with the ReBirth is a huge, loud, fun melting pot driving guitar rhythms of punk rock. of funk, jazz, R&B and sou I. The effect is a 39- minute record of The Mnin Event tries to cover all of the not. While The Mni11 Event's samples from catchy tunes like Ｂ ｏ ｮ ｾ More Hour," strengths of ReBirth and succeeds "Just the Two of Us," "Waterfalls," and "Maybe" and "My Destiny." Kim War- admirably. Opening with the bombastic "Jingle Bells" lack the genius of John nick' s vocals give the impression of "Blackbird Special" and "It's All Over Coltrane's "My Favorite Things," they're a daydreaming schoolgirl. She is mo t- Now," then shifting to mellower tunes a helluva lot more fun. ly dreaming of her future, as she muses before gearing up for the massive half- Since T/1e Main Event is a live CD, it Although The Fastbacks have not in "Dreams 1.H.S." She then turns '1our central track that shares it title with grants a wonderfully accurate picture of seen much success in their 20 years, angry at what the world has thrown the CD itself, The Mai11 Event slowly works ReBirth's awesome live shows. ReBirth the group refuses to give up their love her in "Have You Had Enough?" when its way into the listener's brain, just like starts such a rollicking party through the of music. After forming in 1979, the she admits that "sometimes life is so the best jazz does, to the point where the cours<.' of The Main Event that the ending Fastbacks have been a driving force miserable, it isn't fair and doesn't dividing line between performer, per- drops off slightly, which is excusable, con- in the Seattle punk scene. Their great- care." It seems that these lyrics are formance and li tener disappears. sidering the album's long (70-minute) est success occurred when Pearl Jam true enough to The Fastback , a band Equally eager to show off their own length. included them as an opening act for that has been unable to become a pop- musical creations as to incorporate sam- If you've missed ReBirth's shows in the their world tour in 1996. Unfortu- ular band outside the city limits of ples from other musicians' work, ReBirth's past few weeks, pick up a copy of 1'/u• Mnin nately, they've been unable to achieve Seattle. goal is clearly to force the audience to have Evt'nt. You won't regret it. fun and danc ', wheth r they want to or 22 october 22, 1999 arcade