the Seahawk I MAINSTAGE I September 2, 2004 7 Wilmington band explores Without a Paddle is up a creek I SOPHIE HONEYCUTT new boundaries in rock \ STAFF WRITER The latest sophomoric humor film, LINNIESARAH HELPERN Soon after Berry joined the band, Amiss "Without a Paddle," takes it's title's LIFESTYLES EDITOR found themselves at Cape Fear Studios cliche a little too seriously. recording their very first professional album. plays the nerd, a guy who is un-cool Local Wilmington band Amiss has a The process was exhilarating, and the album because he went out and got a career. mission: to reintroduce to the world what turned out better than any of the band could Dax Shepard is the stereotypical loser they beheve is the true definition of rock. have hoped. "We ran around like a bunch of who never grew up, and With the release of their first studio album kids at first. But the album turned out so well," has a fabulous life but doesn't appreci- , Communication, along with an upcoming said Gerner. The result is Communication, ate 1t. The group goes on a camping trip roster of shows, Amiss knows they can save a seamless mix of different rock styles tran­ and the unthinkable ensues. Sounds humanity from standard cookie-cutter rock scending the boundaries of the normal rock like one big, cliche ball of fun, huh? and bring 11 all back to basics. But all hope is not lost. Eccentric Drummer Jay r------:7111..,.....-.,..--.,._-.... characters can make any played out Simpson and bass- story entertaining, right? Too bad the c,,.-.iyorom<1>a,m 1st Nick Calcutt were trio failed. There is not nearly enough Seth Green, Dax Shepard and Matthew Lillard childhood friends humor in this so-called comedy; it couldn't hit water if they fell out ofa boat. Their tal­ who found a common needed more slapstick and witticisms. ent fails to shine through and please audiences due bond in their love of One hopes for Lillard and Shepard, to restrictions placed on them by directors. playing. It was upon . of "Punk'd" fame, to spar and impro- S11npson's relocation : vise, and therefore make the audience cackle. though Shepard was amusing, one can't he to Wilmington that he And Seth Green, prince of impersonations, but subconsciously wait for met future Amiss gui­ simply didn't get enough freedom. Green was appear each time Dax was onscreen. tarist Kris Gerner and funnier in "Party Monster," an indie drama. Don't go to the cinema ·with any expe the band slowly began Lillard has always been a surface-humor tation except to be distracted. The actm to come together. sidekick so he didn't disappoint much. and see PADDLE page: After a year and a half long search for a front man that would The Standard: more than a name? suit their distinctive ~,._..,,~ Yep Roe. sound, local acous- r:-«•c_;,,n•• Upon first listen, Wire Post to Wire soun, tic musician Robbie i...:;,~~ Berry answered a flyer , Before their third full-length album Wire similar to many of the bands out there tryi1 requesting a vocalist ~__,,..,.. Post to Wire ever enters the CD player, The to make it big. Even their bio sheet soun, "who doesn't suck." Standard is already a perplexing band. Their familiar. The story has been told countle Gerner reminisced, name in itself is one big rhetorical question. times: Band So-and-So has a tJTeless work eth1 "We did that for.~ year Amiss releases its first album, Communication, an entertaining mix of Are they egomaniacs, proclaiming to the an unbelievably intense live show, and a and half, auditioned various rock styles. They will perform at Lucky's Sept. with fellow world that they have raised the bar, and that 00 10 influenced by Husker Du, Sonic Youth, at ~h1rty to forty vocal- Wilmington band allorouthin'. The show will start around 10 p.m. they are the standard for every musical act to 1sts. A lot of them were ____::______follow from now until kingdom come? Or are the Cure (but don't forget the greats like Tl really good, but they . they saying, "You know, we're pretty stan- Beatles and Bob Dyla11.). Band so-and-so just didn't fit." Little did the boys know how format. dard; we're just kind of your average, run of going back to their roots on their new albu1 much their future lead singer didn't suck. Each song introduces a sound qmte dif- the mill band, striving for mediocrity." opting for a minimalist approach and a ra· Although the chemistry was immediate, the ferent from the one before it, thus creating Hailing from Portland, Ore., The Standard aggressive sound. This will be a coming-c band spent an extended period of time tell- an unusual exploration of genre-shattering recorded their debut self-titled album in 1999 age for Band So-and-So. Band So-and-Sc ing him he Just wasn't right for the group. originality. The band takes pride in their and followed it up in 2001 with August, on the unorthodox songwriting will stick a provt However. Berry was eventually offered a avoidance of the mainstream. "We're kind indie label Touch and Go. Wire Post to Wire is bial middle finger in the face of corpora home with Amiss. the band's debut with Chapel Hill based label see STANDARD page

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