Wednesday. September 23. 1977
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Chopin's album welcome change
Photo courtesy of Elektra Asylum Records
Harry Chapin brings forth honest emotion on his
new release Dance Band on the Titanic,
By Doughs R. Weil
Had Harry Chapin been able to sustain the sensitive,
somber and soul-baring insight into life that dominated his
early work it seems certain he would have achieved star
status by now.
Although his first two aSbuira-Heads and Tails and
Sniper and Other Love 'Soj-disphyed this insight in
brilliant fashion, his subsequent musical ventures have
been nothing short of disappointing. As it is, Harry
Chapin is little more than a cult hero.
Things began to take a turn for the worse with Short
Stories. Chapin's third album, Short Stories showed a
serious lack of sincerity and involvement with his music.
A storyteller by nature, Chapin seemed to be lost in the
throes of a prolonged writing block. ,
music review
The fourth album, Verities and Balderdash was even
worse, being not much more than a bunch of silly songs.
Chapin's next two albums, Portrait Gallery and On the
Road to Kingdom Come, were not only misguided
thematically but to this day they rank as the most slop
pily overproduced albums of the decade. .
But Harry has done at least partial penance for his re
cent sins with the release of his new album, Dance Band
On the Titanic. ; ;
The most welcome change on Dance Band is Chapin's
return to the basics. Here the singer-songwriter obviously
is involved with the music, and there seems to be that
thoughtful and honest emotion Chapin captures so
completely.
Triere are many highlights from the new album but the
most interesting is "Bluesman,' a tale about a medical
student that hops a bus south in hopes of being tutored
by the aging father of American blues. "Bluesman tells
the story not just through the lyrics but also through the
instrumental interplay . .
Chapin has filled the song with considerable dialogue
between "the kid" (Chapin) and the bluesman (John
Wallace), along with engaging bits of humor sprinkled in.
"Bluesman ranks right alonside Chapin's previous master-piece-Taxi,"
"Sniper and "Better Place to be.
"I Wonder What Happened to Him is a neurotic's
neurotic love song. Here Chapin sings about a girl with a
long line of forgotten romances and asks her how long it
will be before "I, too, have disappeared like I've never
been. Acoustic guitar, strings and moody cello add just
the perfect instrumental touches.
"Country Dreams examines how our dreams have a
way of dissipating like so much dust. Here the fictional
dream was simple-live a contented life in the country
with his loved ones.
The problem with "Country Dreams, however, is
Chapin's unwillingness to let the song be general. Chapin
hammers out the theme, making it rigid and as a result
he leaves the listener's imagination out in the cold.
The title track, "Dance Band On the Titanic is a
musical allegory about the entertainment industry in
which Chapin likens music to the Titanic's dance band
just playing to divert our attention from the nearby
iceberg.
Chapin's themes throughout Dance Band are inter
esting and diverse. "We Grew Up a Little Bit is the story
of a workaholic and his neglected, forgotten wife. "Mis
match" tells about a teary-eyed sentimentalist (the typical.
Chapin figure) and his sado-masochistic girlfriend. "Mis
match might sound absurd but the song's tenderness
transcends any ridicule.
After Chapin's last few albums it appeared there was
little chance he could record another album equal in
quality to either of his first two albums. Dance Band On
the Titanic is proof that hack critics like myself make
mistakes too. .
'little piece oi Europe" in Omaha's OldMqtke
i
By Kathy Foreman
Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part series on
Omaha's Old Market.
Drive to burope in an hour that s not as impossible as
it sounds if you're taking Interstate 80 from Lincoln to
Omaha's Old Market.
Although the Old Market district was first developed in
1968 by Mercer Management, this area still is growing.
The most recent addition to the Market is "a little piece
of Europe" and it's about two-thirds complete.
,..-r v
Informally dubbed "The Alfey" by shop owners, re
novation of this area began in December, 1975.
There are two restaurants and five shops in The Alley.
Two additional shops are slated to open soon, one selling
natural fabrics and the other men's clothing. And, in
about a month,- a dentist will open his doors on the third,
and as of now, most unfinished level of The Alley.
. Appropriately nicknamed, these shops are located in
alley between two Old Market buildings on Howard
Street. Until a permanent sign is finished, a chalkboard
announces The Alley is open for business.
' The first decision confronting shoppers in The Alley
is whicjT direction to begin their explorations Like
Dorothy caught at the fork of the road to Oz, either
choice will lead to a fantasy land.
Stepping down the dozen or so steps to the lower level,
a visitor notices for the first time The Alley is enclosed.
Supporting a skylight are redwood ties, later to be painted
gray to match the bridges. Mark Mercer of Mercer Manage
ment said he hopes to keep this area at 70 degrees F. in
the winter, "preserving a garden atmosphere."
At basement level (which is six feet below the original
walk), the scent of delicate flowers gives way to the appe
tizing aroma of food. On this lower level, there are two
restaurants, both on the right-hand side of the walk . . .
but there the similarity ends.
V. Mertz, open for six weeks, is operated by Mercer's
wife, the former Vera Mertz of Switzerland. Mercer said
business has been good, with most customers dining fiom
9:00 p.m. until closing at 1:00 a.m.
Mercer's father, un, commented about V. Mertz,
"They've created something from scratch that this town
needed. I cannot be categorized' However. If a label must
be used, either sidewalk cafe, restaurant, delicatessen or
wine shop would be appropriate. ,
The menu at V. Mertz furthers The Alley's European
image. Customers may choose espresso, cappucio.or exo-
tic teas to accompany their Swiss fondues, steak tartare,
or plates of imported cheeses and pate. Other imported
delicacies include French sardines, Irish smoked-salmon
and Atlantic oysters. Meals may be topped with chocolate
mousse, or the house specialties, cheesecake or fresh
fruit tarts.
, Mark Mercer said he thinks his wife's establishment is
unique for at least two reasons. He said all pastries and
desserts are baked from scratch with absolutely no chemi
cals or preservatives. Also, most of the wines for sale at V.
Mertz are "open," meaning a customer may sample a
glass of wine before buying it. The wines are imported
from Italy, France, Hungary, Germany and Spain.
Stepping inside V. Mertz from the sidewalk tables, the
atmosphere changes to that of a large wine cellar. One
dimly lit wall of the restaurant is lined with wine. Hanging
above the racks, bunches of basal scent the air and will
be used as seasoning on a variety of fresh salads. Against
another wall, delicatessen delights range from imported
hard candy to crab tree jelly and nine different kinds of
honey.
Trim's, the second restaurant in The Alley is open for
lunch from 11:30 ajn. to 2:00 pan. Monday through
Friday and open for dinners from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00
p.m. Monday through Saturday. !.,.,
, The three owners of Trini's are former school teachers.
Jerry Soukup and Steve Beliveau taught in the Omaha
Public School District and Rovert Setzman taught at
UNL Soukup's wife, Karen, who is a weekend hostess at
the restaurant, teaches French at the University of Neb
raska at Omaha. A . . v
Mrs. Soukup said this is the trio's fust venture into the
restaurant business. She said the owners hope Mexican
food, the restaurant's fare, "will be the "pizza of the
seventies."
Hie house specialty at Trini's is fresh nectar drinks.
Advertised as "not available at McDonald's" the undiluted
juices, including guava, mango, banana, pineapple, papaya,
guanabana or tamarindo fruits may be enjoyed separately
t or combined for only 65 cents.
Leicester echoes surroundings
By Bonnie Lutz
Andrew Leicester lives a life of diversity.
The environmental sculptor, who visited the UNL
campus Monday and Tuesday, constructs large art
forms that conform with the environment. Materials
include,water,sand,wood,stone and natural vegetation.
He has become known across the country for his
large sculptures on hillsides in Minnesota.
He worked with six art students in the Nebraska
Union to compose a colorful sind sculpture Tuesday.
The final product was made with 6 separate mazes of
the student's designs.
Leicester has many ideas cooking in the fire, includ
ing working in collaboration with five other artists to
design and construct surrealistic gardens in Cincinnati.
The gardens, modeled after European designs,
incorporate more forms of the environment than just
flowers, which often are seen in the United States.
Natural construction
They are constructed out of natural vegetation, -fences,
artificial streams and gardens.
Leicester aha is working on a book, doing research
around the country on a year's leave of absence from
teaching at the Minnesota College of Art. His book en
titled 20th Century . Archaeology, a photo
documentary mainly on large, enduring buildings in the
United States, He is focusing on buildings built in this
century that have been abandoned. Many of the struc
tures are civil engineering and military buildings. There
will be many aerial and ground shots, all taken by
Leicester,
Some influencing factors in writing the book come
from his past schooling in architecture and physical
geology, he said. He said, "Interests I have now I had
before I went to art school."
EnglUi examples
The Englishman said he takes many examples of dc
signs from European work, contesting that Europe is
at a time when people an spend leisure time making
their surroundings attractive, where the United States
has different priorities. He said he sees the United
Sta cs as still being Industrious, using concrete a great
deal, which is. in his eyes, flat and dehumanizing.
The artist said he believes every society toes
through cycles, and someday, the United States will
have to replace concrete as building material.
Working with such a large medium and preferring
large constructions, Leicester has to be commissioned
ahead I of time and must make a name for himself, he
said. Pus hmtts the amount of work he can do. but his
work always is a challenge, whether it ever is
completed or not. he saiJ. .
