September 21. ls-79 San Francisco'Foghorn Page 15

Greg Kihn Rocks From start to finish, the band displayed their line musicianship in all forms. Ihe rhythm section ol by Denise Sullivan "We could open with 'Sweet Larry Lynch on drums and Steve Hard driving rock and roll .lane' but we'd rather keep Wright on bass especially shone characterized the Greg Kihn building it up until thc end." stated during the encore numbers. Band's return to San Francisco Kihn flatly. "Wc do our own thing, When asked to comment on the Saturday night at thc Old Waldorf. regardless." new wave movement, Kihn's Though thc show kicked-off on a Kihn was relatively happy with immediate response was. "I like the laid-back note. Kihn and his band the night's first performance. From Pants," as he sat comfortably in managed to get the audience the onset the band rocked tightly. skintight black slacks. "I like jumping by thc final encores. "We weren't out of tune or modern girls and the modern During an informal backstage anything," smiled Kihn. world," he joked. interview between sets. Mr. Kihn The first set featured such well- Kihn is a firm supporter of new gave some of his views on rock and known numbers as "Secret bands and encourages his fans to revealed some of his thoughts on Meetings" and "Cold Hard Cash" support other local club acts like returning to thc Bay Area. from the "Next of Kihn" LP, as they backed himself in the early "We toured all thc big cities, but well as his covers of "Rendezvous days. 1 really like it here," smiled the and "Roadrunner" from his latest He guaranteed. "They're going relaxed vocalist still high off of his effort, "With the Naked Eye." LOCAL ROCKERS: The Greg Kihn Band, (clockwise from to be the next headliners." first performance. The album is doing better than left) Greg Kihn, Larry Lynch, Steve Wright and Dave Though he admits to being a bit Explaining why the band paced all previous Kihn records and just Carpenter. nervous at times, one would never the show so carefully, Kihn stressed broke into the national top 100 know it by the likes of thc old that "it's rock and roll. If you don't charts. Another LP is expected for including opening for the Cars at However, the intimacy of thc Waldorf show. Onstage as well as pace it, you don't do well. We save release by Christmas. the Spectrum in Philadelphia, and Old Waldorf is the perfect off, Greg Kihn is a confident it for the second show or the next Kihn proudly stated, "It is were well received everywhere. showcase for Kihn and his band. gentleman. night." definitely my favorite so far." He "Automatically a year ago 1 Songs like "Secret Meetings" or In conclusion. Kihn only had a According to Kihn, it would be likes to play "Moulin Rouge" live would have said I like playing the "Remember" (which featured a few words of wisdom: "Rock and easy for the band to gain the as well as the unrecorded "Things clubs, but lately we've been doing nice lead by guitarist Dave roll is here to stay, and if you don't audience's attention, especially to Come," a boogie number that so well on the concert stage, j Carpenter) simply would not be as rock, you're square." Though not here in the Bay Area, but instead of comes off well in concert. almost favor it because of the effective in the stadium as they profound, the quote conveys the appeasing their listeners, the band During the national tour, the energy." explained Kin enthusias­ were Saturday in thc Battery Street essence of the Greg Kihn Band pleases itself. band played a number of big gigs. tically. nightclub. precisely.

Joni Mitchell Changes With The Times

by Van Ault Mitchell's lyrics added later. indication, she is hardly going to If one were to suggest that it The catchy melodies and be crucified. With a new band pays for musical performers in personal, introspective lyrics and her new material, Mitchell general, and those of superstar have vanished, and what emerges performed a set of fifteen songs status in particular, to change now may be perplexing to some, drawn mostly from her last four with the times, one need look no engrossing to others. "Here's the albums. These mixed her further than Joni Mitchell for thing," she told the press mainstream hits, such as "Big "I'm off on some kind of trip, and a new cycle is starting." At convincing proof. Formerly a recently. "You have two options. Yellow Taxi," and "Free Man In least that's what Minerva says. Minerva, as you all know, is the folk music idol in the sixties, You can stay the same and Paris" with expositions from Roman goddess of Wisdom who writes the Sunday Horoscope Mitchell moved into mainstream protect the formula that gave "The Hissing Of Summer in the pink section. "It's decision time." she says, "and yours is pop music in the early seventies. you your initial success. They're Lawns" to the "Mingus" most likely to be 'no'." Well, my "no'Uecision was not to go to By the middle of this decade, she going to crucify you for staying collection. From the latter, she class on Tuesday in face of all the Foghorn work I had to do. I had dramatically veered away the same. If you change, they're performed "The Dry Cleaner hope Sr. Neil can forgive me. from the mainstream sound, and going to crucify you for From Des Moines," her new Ramones fans already know that one ofthe funniest rock begun to experiment with the changing. But staying the same is single, and "God Must Be A films around is the Saturday Midnight feature at the Roxie. jazz genre. Those experiments boring. And change is Boogie Man," which had the Not everyone is ready for Rock and Roll High School,though, reached fruition with the recent interesting. So, of the two audience singing the chorus. and it was with some trepidation that I took my entire release of "Mingus," a musical options, I'd rather be crucified "You Christians shouldn't be household to see it. The reaction was varied: three had mixed collaboration with the late jazz for changing." offended," she quipped as she feelings, three really liked it, and one has gone totally bananas bassist-bandleader Charlie If the reception at Joni introduced the song. "After all, and now wanders around the house shouting, "I want you a- God does have a sense of humor: Mingus. The music on thealbum Mitchell's concerts in San rou-ouuund!!!" The Roxie is in the Mission, near Taqueria La he made all of us!" was composed by him, with Francisco two weeks ago is any Cumbre (remember last issue?), at 16th and Valencia. Call 863- But the most intense musical 1087 for info. moments were with material Do people laugh at things you say? Do you like to see movies, from 1975's "Hejira" album. listen to records, participate in cultural activities like Sunday- When it was written. Mitchell Park roller skating, and read books, magazines and the was on a personal trip around the Foghorn? Do you hold strong opinions that everyone else country. The contemplations of disagrees with? If you answer "yes" to any ofthe above, then the title song. "Amelia" and you are the person I am looking for to write for the "Black Crow" all expressed the entertainment section. Consider it. Ihe experience is valuable, anxieties and insecurities one the money useful, and the company is outstanding. Drop by feels when appraising one's life anytime, but Thursday night at 7 is best.... from afar. There are so many good things to do for entertainment in this Through the course of the city, it boggles the mind. San Francisco iseasils one ofthe top evening, individual members of three cities in the U.S. for interesting things to do and see. and the band were allowed to it's especially noted for having them in a small, easily accessible perform extended solos, which area. Boredom is inexcusable. To allow yourself to be bored is included a somewhat improvi— to insult your mind and deaden your spirit. Take a chance! Go sational bass solo, and a to a movie you never heard of. Go to a bar or cafe and talke to climactic bongo solo, which led strangers. Go for a long aimless walk on a sunny afternoon. Do into "Dreamland." Exhibiting a it! It's taking a risk, but nothing will make you feel more alive. vulnerable stage presence, Next week the Foghorn presents the X interview. Mitchell shunned the usual self- accompaniment on guitar, and stood alone at the mike to sing acappella. Backing her on with a revised version of the old "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat," which "Shadows And Light," the song hippie anthem, "Woodstock," a drew a thunderous ovation of assumed hymn-like connota­ fitting conclusion to a approval. "Raised On Robbery" tions, as perhaps an ultimate magnificent concert. "Wood­ dropped all restraint, and statement on the conundrum of stock," a product ofthe sixties, in allowed the band to plunge full- human experience. its new fonr seemed to force into the bombastic rock A standing ovation brought underscore ho\* much Joni style seldom associated with Joni her back to the stage, where she Mitchell has progressed Mitchell. In closing the show, sang the poignant "Last Time ! musically from those early years, Mitchell brought out the Saw Richard" while seated at the and why she continues to remain opening act. The Persuasions, a piano. Another standing an innovative force in JONI MITCHELL: From Canaatan folkie to sophisticated five-man group that sings ovation, and Mitchell encored contemporary music. jazz vocalist.