VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 FREE March 15, 2003 MOST ROCK CONTENT IN THE TRIANGLE!!! WHAT’S INSIDE: THE WHITE STRIPES Getting Big With Elephant SOLEDAD BROTHERS: PREACHING THE BLUES AT EVERYBODY’S PICKING UP THE CRUTCH! GO! ROOM FOUR THE DATSUNS An Open Apology From Brian Howe in Regards to Zwan THE KILLS MR. AIRPLANE MAN THE OSCARS CLASSIC REVIEW: AN ARBITRARY GANG OF FOUR - ENTERTAINMENT! PREVIEW KASEY CHAMBERS LIVE IN CHICAGO 13 Conversations About One Thing FEAR AND LOATHING The best overlooked IN NEVERLAND “independent” film of 2002 a look at the media, our society, and Michael Jackson How to Watch a Movie Observe. Think. Speak. THE CRUTCH Act. www.february4productions/crutch.html CONTENTS LETTER FROM THE EDITOR The White Stripes 2 Can you hear the clickety-clack of The Crutch swinging your way? It’s getting closer, but it’s louder because it’s bigger – it’s closer because it’s better. In just the third month, The Crutch The Datsuns 4 proudly boasts that it contains the most rock and roll content in the Triangle. The leading independ- The Kills 4 ent newspapers and magazines – weekly or bi-weekly – cannot compete with the rock coverage The Crutch is putting out. In April, we have plans to expand even further, to touch the eyes and ears and Gang of Four 5 souls of those who have yet to feel the truth. We are in the process of looking for advertising inter- Mr. Airplane Man 5 est in hopes of reaching 5,000 issues on newsprint in April and hopefully even more readers than that – that is, if you kiddies can share a copy with each other. The Crutch is also looking to take Soledad Brothers 6 some of your bandwith, as it is now on the web at www.february4productions.com/crutch.html. The website will have all the reviews and writings featured in the printed issues, and will host many An Open Apology from 7 Brian Howe additional goodies, such as full transcriptions of interviews, pictures of live shows, links to related websites and other informative publications, and basically, more information on everything. Kasey Chambers 8 This month, I have the pleasure of introducing two more talented writers to the strength of The A Look Ahead in Music 8 Crutch. Brian Howe is a freelance writer out of Chapel Hill, who has written for the late, great Fear and Loathing in 9 Spectator, and continues to write for Sup Magazine. I very much appreciate his contributions and I Neverland hope you will do the same. Juan Marquez is a freelance writer, based out of Chicago, and is an expert on everything you haven’t heard about. Seriously though, Juan’s extensive knowledge in the 13 Conversations About 10 One Thing deepest and darkest areas of rock history is shocking and I look forward to future contributions in the field of retro reviews. Returning again this month is Let Them Eat Lead’s Max Fuller, who has Oscar Preview 11 been extremely supportive and helpful with many aspects of The Crutch. His publication should not be missed, so I must encourage you to email him, or me, or go to the website to find out how A Look Ahead in Film 11 you can obtain this fantastic collection of essays on music. Also returning is Dave Datillo - another How to Watch a Movie 12 writer out of Chicago, who gives us a taste of Kasey Chambers this month and will continue to explore one of rock and roll’s primary roots for The Crutch in the months to come. Opine in the Open 13 Again, thank you to all the contributors and many thanks to the readers – keep reading, keep talking Back Page Potpourri 13 – keep the information swirling and the truth constant. - Chad Cheatham Publisher/Editor/Writer Content Contributions: Dave Datillo: [email protected] Max Fuller: [email protected] Brian Howe: [email protected] Get your own Crutch t-shirt - they’re all the rage and only cost $10 a piece! They’re Copyright by February Fruit of the Loom Best (50/50), so they don’t shrink. Sizes: S,L,XL. Send an email to 4 Productions. All rights Juan Marquez: [email protected] for payment instructions. reserved. Materials may [email protected] not be used or reproduced Chad Cheatham: without expressed written [email protected] consent. Everything contained on our pages Other Contributions: reflects our criteria regard- Production: ing pertinent information, George Kaplan but we do not claim Vicki Star responsibility for the Brooksy Rick opinions or facts published herein. VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 THE CRUTCH PAGE 2 INNOCENCE AND POWER - SNAP OR PRODUCE? The White Stripes - Elephant (V2) by: Chad Cheatham The average person couldn’t possibly relate to coming out at the end of this month (moved up a exactly what they’ve been accomplishing all an artist making a P.T. Barnum, attention- week due to internet leaks), Elephant will end along. grabbing explosion onto a mainstream platform. up being their shield – not only from the spot- Hell, most musicians couldn’t connect with the lights of stardom, but from critics. With this “Black Math” runs through a memorable, rolling feelings, pressures, and utter bullshit that comes album, The White Stripes will be able to stand rock lick, intersected with a punkish delivery, with being in a mainstream media hump fest, up with tomato on their faces, split down the middle by where camera bulbs are the sun, and the claws wiping off the previous shit Ron Asheton (Stooges) and teeth of hyenas surround, waiting for you to slinging with one shy smile guitars. Maybe I’ll put my drop. Some have to take a Route 66 journey, and one fuck you stare, calling love on ice, a reoccurring some are caught as they leave their driveways, out anyone who dares to say line in “Black Math,” is the and some never make it at all. For those who that with Elephant, they beginning of the main do, life changes – money takes over, gloss haven’t progressed, refined, theme of the album. While shows in the mirrors, relationships die, and a experimented, or succeeded. Elephant briefly addresses constant octopus struggle between integrity, the gossip circus, the major pride, finance, and anything else you can possi- Elephant starts with their first theme is the circular jour- bly imagine, drives you to either snap or single, “Seven Nation Army,” ney of love – in this case, produce. which introduces everyone to neglected, ignored, lost, and a bassline out of a mid-80’s forgotten love – even mov- The White Stripes have been on a fairly short rap song, thanks to what they ing on to find solace and journey in the past six years. They’ve gone call an octave guitar (a regular comfort in the sexual from an idea, to hometown darlings, to MTV, guitar laced with a bass string). You can’t help excitement a new partner brings along. The and now they battle with the entire lot. Their but to expect something different with this thud- theme is an extension of the type of feelings last album, the 2001 critical gem White Blood ding bass as Meg’s drums slam through the displayed in White Blood Cells songs such as, Cells, waltzed the Stripes into the mainstream barricade, walking briskly, tall, and determined “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground” and “I’m and after three records under their red and white to make you move. I’m going to fight them off/a Finding it Harder to be a Gentleman,” and in belts, many critics were wondering how much Seven Nation Army couldn’t hold me fact, there are obvious sequels to these two additional material could a two-piece band put back/they’re going to rip it off/taking their time songs, containing undeniable similarities in out without having a bassist. Just after the right behind my back...and the mission coming chord progression and lyric. White Blood Cells release in July of 2001, The from my eyes says leave it alone. The media Stripes went over to the UK and played an infa- dug up everything there is to excavate on this Where “Dead Leaves” left off, “There’s No mous Peel Session that not only caused London peppermint twist and in late 20th Century fash- Home For You Here” takes over, continuing the to perk its ears at full attention and eventual ion, reported it all – revealing the ambiguous story. Most of the song is delivered in the style frenzy, but John Peel, the man himself, went on personal lives of The Stripes – brother, sister, of Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth” with simple record to say Jack and Meg White were the most husband, wife, aliens, robots, whathaveyou. “Dead Leaves” chords and keyboard to back and exciting thing he’s seen since Jimi Hendrix. Jack White, the apparent spokesperson of the fill in the gaps, but it’s all interrupted by one of This was a bold statement, and possibly unde- two, brushed off as much as he could when the most intriguing musical rock moments I’ve served and premature, but it shows what kind of questioned, leaving their music to be judged heard in a while, foreshadowed by an opening impact this group had in its arsenal. instead of the personal lives of the band. choir of Jack Whites. Following the second verse, in which Jack White sings, I’m only wait- In their first three efforts, The White Stripes Outside the actual musical aspect, rock and roll ing for the proper time to tell you that it’s im- covered some vast ground, playing around with is myth and show business – bottle and shake it possible to get along with you...fortunately I raw Robert Johnson and Son up, and you have a sell- have come across an answer which is go away House Delta blues, Gories ing point – you have and do not leave a trace, the Jack choir enters and Oblivians crossed with “one extended note screaming in the attention.