The Members of Evil Farmer Have Cause for Elation. Their Jazz
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THE ARTS AND ENTERTAIN MENT SECTION OF THE DAILY NEXUS vil Farmer un things in working with it n o w i n g ly Dave and Paul, not to formed years mention Dan, is that Eago, when all the songwriting is so its members were play strong that we can put ing together in a jazz a lot into it. It can re band in the music ally flesh out. department. Paul: Dan and Ari put Years later, bassist a lot of their own music Ari Gorman and into it. We just give drummer/com poser outlines. David Brogan were Ari: But all the stuff toying with the idea of we’ve ever done of starting a band, but Brogan’s, he’s written had seven horn players out charts, whether its and no singer. So they every single note in the turned to fellow jazz bassline... musician Paul Moore, Paul: Not all of it. Not a singer/composer/ “Be Strong Son.” keyboardist/guitarist/ Ari: It had a chord etc., then playing with chart. the band Lava Child Paul: That’s an ren, who eventually outline. agreed to step in. Ari: But it’s just a They formed Sea of chord song. But like Green, whose mem-, “Digital Spider” and bership was eventually “Bubblegum Terror,” whittled down, and don’t you remember? with the addition of Paul: “Bubblegum Daniel Zimmerman on Terror” was never writ guitar, the Evil Farmer ten out for me. quartet was born. Ari: It was all written Their jazz band out. roots are still unmis Paul: It’s only a four- takable. The music is chord song. an almost noncategor- Not-So Grim Dan: It was never writ ical melange of styles, ten out for me. including undercur Ari: OK, well shoot me rents of jazz strains, as down then. When he well as the Grateful originally wrote it, it Dead. What comes was a full score; trum across strongest is that pet, trombone, tenor the band knows how sax, alto sax... to play. No three- Reapers Dan: A lot of the songs chord I.V. have-a- actually had horn parts guitar, groupies-will- which we turned into follow mentality here. guitar parts. Because They have had to we „ didn’t have any fight against simplistic horns anymore. crowd expectations ■ but, almost in spite of Paul: I’ve learned a lot their musical literacy, about audience appeal have developed a by playing in bands in growing following in Isla Vista. It’s really I.V. and were recently crazy, you know? We asked to play at this were at this party, play year’s Extravaganza. ing, and there were The group talked to some young girls there ENCORE about their that were just like, music late one night at “Play some music that their Del Playa apart Isla Vista’s Four Fanners on the Rise: Ari Gorman, David Brogan, Paul Moore, Daniel Zimmerman will make us dance. ment. The following Don’t you know any was edited from an The Members of Evil Farmer happy songs? Can’t interview. you play ‘Brown Eyed Paul: What I think the Have Cause for Elation. Their Girl?’” band is a lot about, for Dan: So we did. Dave Brogan and my Jazz Groove Blend Has Ari: And we played it self at least, is that we really well. We whored like to write songs and Garnered Them a Loyal ourselves. we like to compose— a Paul: We had never lot. And the band is a Following and a Spot on the played it before and way we can hear songs the chords just came to in that format, to get it Extravaganza Roster. us, like from god or across for ourselves. something, and it Ari: .Add forme, one, of ENCORE INTERVIEW BY ALEX MACINNIS the most exciting PHOTOS BY STEVE OLSEN , See1 FARMER,. p.4A 2 A Thursday, May 7,1992 vent eview Carrots and Culture Now In Its Third Year, the Acoustics Series Continues to Bring Unique Acts to the Pub ome people think beer and sitars we’d like to see more people take advan don’t mix. To that, the folks at the tage of this opportunity. But, at the same A.S. Program Board, with their time, the series has a loyal following that S Acoustics series, say, “Phooey.” enjoys it.” A program that features jazz, blues, Still some might say, “Putting acoustic world music and other unamplified forms, music in The Pub, with a bunch of drink Acoustics, now in its third year, unites Pub ers? That’s a load of bunk!” playfulness with the serious business of Not so, retort past performers. Despite music-making. Offered eveiy Wednesday the somewhat boisterous atmosphere, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., the admission-free many musicians find the gig quite amen series has been home to the UCSB Sitar able. Ari Gorman, whose Omnivorous Ensemble, authentic Flamenco dancing, Jazz Odyssey has played Acoustics several guitar duo Dada, and local blues stalwarts times over the last three years, quiped, Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan, to name a few. “The Pub can be great. Sometimes in the The Acoustics series Attendance for the program hit its peak middle of the afternoon, it doesn’t quite at the Pub has with over 1,200 students, faculty and staff work. But a lot of people sit and eat the car featured dozens of at last year’s twin Flamenco performances, rots and celery and do get into i t ” ACOUi acts, but few were but usually settles somewhere around 75. On Wednesday, May 13, Program more popular than In fret, a consistent audience prompted Board presents the Midnight Swingers, last year’s UCen Dining Services to offer complemen an act that mixes traditional jazz with la- Flam enco tary broccoli and ranch dressing as a ges tin styles. With a full horn section and de performances. Over ture of thanks. Despite this palatable pros finitively tasty jazz grooves on numbers «iti» pub DE ESPAl 1200 people flocked perity, event organizers yearn for more. like “Veteran Avenue” and “Work Song, ” to see the dancing, “Generally, the kinds of performers we the Swingers are sure to impress. Be you featuring w hich was have are unique and outside the main voracious vegetarian or avid jazz sectar advertised around stream,” said Program Board Adviser Mar ian, The Pub is the place to be. ntonio de campus with an ilyn Dukes, who has been involved with A j é s E2 —Pax Wassermann October eye-catching flier the series since its inception. “Of course, (left). ■MUSIC REVIEWS On the Express Train to Hipdom No Soul No Strain bass and drum in any garage and make like volcanos and Wire Train rock and roll —• it would have been great. But that didn’t MCA happen. At one point in Wire Train’s existence, it undoubtedly These guys might be worth checking out if they were to had a perfect amount of cool. After listening to No Soul No play live, though. That way they would be free of the elec Strain, however, it is easy to think that perhaps they’ve got tronic demondry of bill bottrell. In the raw, the Robert- ten a little too cool. Smith-but-not-as-whiny voice of lead singer Kevin Hunter “Stone Me,” “Hey Jordan” and every other song on the would be allowed to get a workout as it competed with Jeff album is good, catchy, enjoyable, groovy or whatever the Trott getting carried away on guitar. It might even reach a criteria Is for a well-made pop songThings start to,go awry point of being somewhat Van Halen-like. But that won’t in the hands of producer Bill Bottrell (or, as the e.e. happen, at least on vinyl, as long they have this producer on cummings-esque, needlessly over-designed liner notes in speed. dicate, “bill bottrell”). Our man bill has over-produced these tunes so they are slicker than greased pimps. Wire Train will be “live and unplugged” at the CD & Wire Train has the potential to be a very hip, somewhat Tape Store in Isla Vista on Monday, May 11 at8p.m. Call alternative garage band. If only the group would have 685-9695 for more information. down-played their David Bowie, Cure and other very hip influences—and up-played their ability to pick up a guitar, —Denis Faye Popsicko Finds Life After I.V. Joke Band Status Popsicko much Celebrity Skin glam rock as can be stuffed into a red Demo vinyl vest. Lead singer Brown’s voice is clean throughout, If a good name was all it took, these guys would be livin’ although clearly at the limit of his register at many points in high on the hog. the recording. The songwriting, at the level of merely “neat” Unfortunately for the members of Popsicko— including for the bulk of the demo, rises to a creative pinnacle on the chameleonic Keith Brown, whose tally of local band “Lady , Starlet,” the closing track. memberships (The Wonderfuls, Glitteibug, Cardboard “Roll Out,” the recording’s opener, implores: “Let us en Superstars and Baby Dangerously) should qualify him for tertain you/ Nothing wrong with having nin.” True. But for benefits — their aptly chosen name is only the first step in an act like Popsicko, with potential for doing more than what has been described as many members’ attempt at a pleasing a groupie following, resting on the “joke band cop- “serious band”. out” would be a waste of time.