HUB Concert Reflects Spontaneity of Hipsters' Songcraft in Played out the Song Would Still Get by PAT GRANDJEAN Straightforward
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The Daily Collegian Wednesday, Sept. 11, 1985—15 Wham! is more than just a teeny-bop band By DIANE D. DIPIERO voice throwing out reasons why it’s onstage, which consequently rubbed Collegian Arts Writer better to do your own thing than be off on the audience. unhappy in your job (“I’m never Opening the triple bill concert was $2 off any Large I don’t often admit that two of the gonna work, get down in the dirt/I Katrina and the Waves. Lead singer The Daily Collegian five concerts I've been to were per- -choose to cruise”) and a moving Katrina Leskanich has a powerful formed by Shaun Cassidy and Rick version of ‘‘Careless Whisper.” stage presence: She’s cheerful and 3-item or more pizza Wednesday, Sept. 11, 1985 Springfield. And when I divulged the WHam! also performed a couple of funny, and she can belt out a tune like arts songs that might be business. “(Every Night I) fact that I was going to see Wham! in new included on nobody’s Philadelphia’s Veteran’s Stadium the band’s next album. Of course, Rock Myself to Sleep” and “Walking one coupon per pizza last Sunday, people decided I’d never Michael’s lyrics have never been that on Sunshine” were sensational num- rise above the teeny-bopper-pop mu- profound. But he seems to have gone bers. Unfortunately, all of the other sic level. Actually, the Wham! con- for all-out corniness in the new song, songs seemed to fade into one drawn- | M985 Domino's Pizza Inc cert (along with Chaka Khan and “Where Did Your Heart Go?,” which tune. The audience seemed more North: 237-1414 out Sun-Thurs. 11:00-2:00a.m. Famous artist Altman will exhibit Katrina and the Waves) proved to be comes equipped with lines such as, receptive to Katrina’s monologues j Expires 9/13/85 Hours: 1104 N. Atherton more than a mindless musical en- “Did you lose it in the rain/Or down than to the band’s music. (“Listen to j Fri.-Sat. 11:00-3:00a.m. Heads star in a quirky movie deavor. in Mexico.” Auntie Katrina,” she told the swarm Cus,omer pays app,icable sales ,ax 234-5655 | Limited delivery area South: baggy pants. He’s the most intriguing character of gallery Wham! composed of singer Because Michael’s voice was in fine of people crowding the field, “every- By JILL S. KOSKO and his unique works at local 421 Rear E. Beaver group. Watching Byrne, you get the feeling he’s on George Michael and sometime-gui- form and because he always seemed body take three steps back, or these I Our drivers carry less than $2O Collegian Arts Writer the develop.") j some inaccessible plane of thought, like'he’s caught in tarist Andrew Ridgeley, accompa- so wrapped up in his songs not to girls up here will never I By JOAN MORYKIN hied by a trio of horn players, a mention the fact that he’s so darn Chaka Khan filled the gap between They’re an interesting bunch all right. the Twilight Zone. especial- Collefclan Arts Writer drummer, a bassist and three back- cute —he was able to get away with Katrina and the Waves and Wham! The Talking Heads are the subject of Stop Making Equally appealingare the other members, attractive, up singers follow in the tradition of the cornball lines. For the most part, It’s fairly easy at a live concert to tell Sense, directed by Jonathan Demme which ly Tina Weymouth on bass and vocals. An the film The etchings and lithographs of appealing to younger gen- the music was crisp and entertaining, if a singer really has a good voice, footage from their 1984 concert tour. It’s a long-haired blonde, she has her own indescribable, bands the presents local artist Harold Altman will be singing, The back-up singers and musicians, and Khan had no trouble passing the surprisingly unpretentious and understated look at one down-to-earth charm that perfectly offsets the remov- There’s a lot of a lot featured tomorrow at the Douglas dancing an exorbitant amount although they often looked rather test. Her medley of Rufus and Chaka today’s talented musical groups. This is no ed nature of Byrne. She continually wears an express- of and of most Albert Gallery for its premiere Fall of shaking of certain body parts. bored and lethargic on stage, sounded hits, including “Tell Me Something Duran Duran video there’s no splashyvisual effects, ion on her face that seems to say, “I don t know what having a presentation. ", In the band's opening number, Mi- very good. The band’s second encore Good,” and a new release, “I Am slick direction or'sexy close-up shots of group mem- drugs these people are doing, but we’re sure Art historian George Mauner has chael, clad in tight black denims and number (they had three), Chic’s Woman / I Am a Backbone,” were leering into the screen. In fact, the The Talking good time here. , , bers band described Altman as,“technically ad- black fringed jacket (unbuttoned, of “Good Times,’’ had a great beat that flawless. In “I Feel for You” and Heads members seem unconscious of the cameras Chris Frantz and Jerry Harrison, the other core Worrell, Alex venturous, while his subject matter course), strutted onto the stage with kept the audience dancing around, “Through the Fire,” Khan and her upon them. They don’t concern themselves with im- members, are complemented by Berme limited; Adding excellent backing has remained intentionally Iwo black male dancers. Their moves despite the extreme heat. two female back-up singers cranked pressing or flattering the audience, and instead, con- Weir, and Steve Scales. meticulous and pre- and ten-minute, vocals and a lot of spice to the band are Lynn Ma ry his technique is Were upbeat and quite good, but after The real occupation of Andrew out in full force, her centrate on performing and having a good time. cise, while his settings are sensuous of The Beatles’ “We - Michael’s occasional- Ridgeley in this group is as yet un- funky version a good timethey do.At leastyou think so and Ednah Holt. Judging from their enthusiasm, they five minutes of And have and often undefined.” ly cocky, look-at-me gyrations, the known. He moved around the stage Can Work It Out” captivated the sometimes you’re not sure what they’re doing.Like the seem to be enjoying themselves more than anyone on Altman, a Lemont resident and number began to resemble a male mouthing the words to the songs, then audience. modern art you see in museums, their actions are the stage. has ex- the sets and lighting are two of the most interesting former University professor, stripper routine. he came to the front and strummed a She also made points with strange and probably mean something, but what, The a the United States • stopped singingfor of the show. A large, three-part screen behind hibited throughout After that, the concert took on a few chords. Occasionally, they even crowd when she you’re not sure. aspects His works have been grabbed the fire hose camera the band flashes pictures and words with no apparent and Europe. more carefree tone as Wham! broke let him croon a few “oohs” or “la-la- few minutes, For instance, the movie opens with the included in many museum collec- offstage and brought sighs of relief singerDavid connection. Because most of the sets and outfits are into a peppy version of “Everything las” into the microphone. Other than focused on the whiteKed sneakers of lead tions, including the Museum of Mod- that, he seemed to be there to an- from lots of overheated fans. alone. sets down muted shades of black and white, the screens are the She Wants.” The group played seve- Byrne as he walks on to the stage, He ern Art, New York City, the San Big nounce a few of the songs and to The stadium was about three-quar- “Hi,” he says. “I have a tape I main source of color in the performance. Shadows are ral songs from its Make It album a tune box beside him. Francisco Museum of Art, and the record, Fan- provide Michael with some compan- ters full, and the audience seemed proceeds to turn on the box and play manipulated and used to their full advantage, creating and three from its first want to play.” He Art Institute of Chicago. Abroad, tastic. Highlights were a cover of ionship during the concert. At any energetic through the hot, sticky along an acoustic guitar. Behind him, the backstage eerie effects on the faces of band members and black on Altman’s drawings have been housed “I’m Just a Love Machine,” “Wham rate, those two fellows, along with the weather. The fans were responsive to to even a silhouettes. lies fully exposed the audience not , , in such museums as The Victoria and player, seem to a lot of fun each band; unfortunately, immedi- cartons, and other Varied in style and presentation, the songs keep the Rap,” featuring Michael’s powerful bass have backdrop exists to hide the ladders Albert Museum ofLondon; the Biblio- ately after Khan’s outstanding per- paraphenalia scattered about. film moving. Byrne’s voice is just as unpredictable as and growls, but theque Nationale of Paris; the Mu- formance, fans startled yelling, “We One by one, the group members emerge.