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Dallas fete to feature Russell
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Composer-pianist Leon Russell
By Val McPherson
Persons going to Dallas for New Year's Eve might
be interested to know that Concerts West is giving a
party that night. The festivities will start at 8:30 p.m.
in Market Hall. The guest list includes more than
1 5,000 people.
If your invitation has not arrived yet, you can pick
it up now or at the door for $10. With a special
discount coupon from the Union South Desk, the
admission drops to $9. This price also covers party
favors and parking. Nightclub set-up with tables and
chairs, beer, champagne and dancing will be available,
but the main attraction will be on stage.
The headliner for the evening is Leon Russell.
Russell got his start in music several years ago in Los
Angeles as a session man and producer. After a tour
with Delaney, Bonnie and Friends, Russell returned
to Los Angeles.
Joe Corker was in L.A. looking for a group to go
on tour with him and Russell volunteered to organize
it. The result was Mad Dogs and Englishmen. A movie
and album was made of their work and this brought
Russell much wider recognition.
Many groups and individuals have teamed up with
Russell for albums and concerts, including the
Asylum Choir and the Shelter People. The
partnership that brought him his greatest returns in
popularity was with George Harrison and Co. at the
concert for Bangladesh. Chances are that "Jumpin'
Jack Flash" and "Youngblood" will tx- a part of his
New Yeai 's Eve show.
Joining Russell on stage will be Willie Nelson.
Nelson thinks of himself primarily as a writer of
country music; however, his music is known for its
tendency to cut across traditional country lines into
pop and rock domains. This is shown by some of the
very noncountry musicians who have recorded his
songs, including Frank Sinatra and Little Anthony
and the Imperials.
Nelson has recorded at least a dozen albums of his
own works. While on stage at the Market Hall, he
probably will do some of his better-known ballads in
the baritone voice and guitar-picker style that is his
trademark.
Also on stage will be Kinky Freidman, the son of a
Jewish psychology professor, who gicw up on a Texas
ranch. In his music, Freidman combines his Jewish
heritage and awareness with classical country themes.
Fieidman released his first album earlier this year
entitled "Sold American," and a single by the same
name. He was backed up by his group The Texas
Jewboys and because of their name, Freidman is
afraid the album will not yet into some chain stores.
Fieidman was quoted in Newsweek as saying, "The
name of my group is poison to Jewish store owners."
Russell, Nelson, Freidman and numerous other
partygoers promise to usher in the New Year with a
gala celebration. Market flail, located off Stemmous
Freeway, is about a ten minute drive from the
Cotton Bowl. The doors will open at 7 p.m.
Long-term concerts chairman Hart resigning
By Diane Wanek
"Being Union Concerts chairman has been my
motive lx;hind staying in school. And my only regret
as I resign is that I was unable to bring Ray Charles."
Jack Hart, after an unprecedented four semesters as
Union Concerts chairman, is resigning his position.
"It's time to move on," he said.
Hart sa'd he originally signed up for Concerts
chairman because "I wanted to guarantee that my
year: in college would be put to good use, I wanted
10 turn people on to lesser appreciated and
lesser known artists, I wanted the opportunity to
make friends and maybe I just wanted the
opportunity to make people as happy as I am.'''
Hart believes the concerts he produced have
achieved these goals. "I've had a lot of really fine
response from people, especially from those who had
not been exposed to the people I would bring in.
That's a real thrill. I've had some complaints too, but
those were educational because they usually helped
me work out bugs in production."
McCoy Tyner was the first musician Hart brought
here to perform. Hr,rt recalls, "' didn't really know
anything ;-houl him except that he'd played for Tranc
(Jonn Coltrane). I remember how a local jaz?
drumn-H.r, Victc Lewis, got really angry wbon I got
cold feet about IxTnging Tyner.
"I had decided to go with a Cecil Taylor concert
instead, because I was afraid Tyner wouldn't have a
draw. Well, Victor talked me into bringing Tyner, and
he didn't have a draw. But it was a great concert.
That was my 'million dollar bash,' or it seemed like it;
I'd never spent $4,000 before in one weekend."
Most of Hart's concerts have been free; he wanted
it that way. Hart said he believed he could reach a lot
more people that way and expose them to music
other than the type they get at Pershing.
After Tyner, Hart brought Doc Watson, Muddy
Waters, Herbie Hancock, Bill Monroe, Buddy Guy
and Junior Wells, Pete Seeger, who was brought here
with the cooperation of Dan Ladely at the Cheldon
Gallery, Leo Kottke and McCoy Tyner once again.
When asked why he chose to book people who
wouldn't he very big drawing cards, Hart replied, "I
booked them because of a belief in their art and
belief that the exposure of them to people not
familiar with them would tniich everyone involved.
Hart said something has gone wrong with every gig
he's produced, especially as far as sound systems and
other technical problems.
"A lot of the success of each concert has been
luck, like maybe the stars were in the right spot," he
said.
"Leo Kottke w-js a nop concert of a sort," lie
added. "Kottke is a big name, but there was no
compromise made on quality."
Hart said the "cherry on fop" of his term as
Concerts chairman wr$ McCoy Tyner. He and Hart
took a walk throimh Pioneer Park a few hours befoie
Tyner's plane left. "He told me he'd never forget that
walk through the park," Hart said.
At
... - ri. ;
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Jack Hart, left, with guitarist Leo Kottke.
Ascetic
combats
posters,
'stenches'
"Cover the walls with posters," friends say, when I tell
them about my apartment and what a bleak, shag carpeted
monastery it is. Frankly, I hate posters. I also hate cheap
decorator candles and incense.
"Today is the first day of the rest of your life." I have seen
that vapid platitude on at least half a dozen different posters,
and have heard it on a TV commercial as the closing line of a
jingle for hamburgers or milk or something That's where it
belongs.
Remember "What if they gave a war, and nobody came?" It
may seem heartfelt and thoughtful to you, a sensitive and
meaningful thing to say. I remember it was used first in a song
by-get this-the Monkees. Next time you feel like sighing over
that fetid phrase, think how stupid you are for quoting the
Monkees.
Those posters all have twilight photos of couples walking
on lx:aches, or of naked California girls with white bikini
mark
you hove my word
ieldgaard
patches, trying to look contemplative.
Inept drawings of gyrnnastically entwined twosomes are
popular. Pictures of young women with aereoled volley Iwl Is
for Ixeasts, carrying swords and wearing chains apparently are
marketable, judging by their sc.it cu y in poster places,
I know people who practically faint with ecstasy every time
anyone lights a candle. This is the result of an archetypal
prejudice. Did people wax ecstatic over tallow before electric
lights?
No, they didn't. When Edison invented the bulb, every one
was delighted.
Now, however, we love candles. Or rather some people do.
They freouontly buy scented ones, but to me, all , ..'.dies smell
like scorched wux.
Candles should be used when the lights go out or when you
don't want to see anything. In the latter case I concede their
romantic usefulness, since their murky light smoothes
complexions and makes everyone look life a movie heroine
through a greased lens.
Incense makes mi; sick, and I am not being cantankerous.
Once, when a girl and I had retired to her living room after
supper, she lit a stick of mcenso, and I complained
"Would you raiher smell stale, greasy pork chops from the
kitchen?" she asked.
"Yes," I n.'plied without the slightest hesitation.
I suppose there always will be a market for graphic
wallpapers, odd illumination:, and Moved stenches, but I
believe the market is declining. As the- counterculture sinks
into anthropological t,ji pits and the supiernely social 'GOs pass
from memory, all this head shop stuff will become
unfashionable. Their; will hi; just a bunch of outmoded
over-30s sitting around amid then rock rococo.
Not me. I gaze with satisfaction ,it my bare walls and
breathe deeply my thin, unladen air. Per hap', I am part of a
new wave . . a new reaclionaiy .jsaMiusin.
Pticjp 8
daily nobraskan
ttiursd'jy, docrmber 13, 1973