The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, September 15, 1980, Page page 10, Image 10
daily nebrcskan monday, September 15, 1980 The Chief another feather in Clearwater's headdress page 10 By Dili Graf and Pat Higgins "I love it here. Every time I come to Lincoln it's a happy occasion. Every time Chicago bluesman Eddy Clearwater comes to town it's a happy occasion for all involved, but this time he brought Lincoln blues fans something extra. Clearwater not only fired up the crowd with his broad-based Chicago blues style, but also had the pleasurable task of promoting his new album, The Chief. With the exception of Ike Turner's and Ralph Bass's rework of "I'm Tore Up," the album is a collection of Clearwater originals that reflect influences of West side blues, R and B, cooking mambo and Chuck Berry. Clearwater has played on countless recordings during the last quarter century, but The Chief is the first release he considers to be totally his own. No-Nukes tune Reflecting the freedom he experienced in recording The Chief Clearwater included a No-Nukes tune entitled "One Day At A Time," which he calls, "semi folk song and protest." Clearwater has been playing the blues since the early 50s. But while growing up in Macon, Miss., Country and Western stars were his trrst idols. "The first people 1 remember listening to were Hank Snow, Hank Williams, Red Foley, Chet Atkins. They're the ones that inspired me to play guitar," he explained. Even today, Clearwater said, some of his favority recording artists include Kenny Rogers and Willie Nelson. However, he doesn't see his love for country music as strange. "Country music and the blues are very closely related," he said. Another tie to the old west is Clear water's full-length Indian headdress, which has become his trademark on his posters and most recently on the cover of The Chief. Clearwater, whose given name is Eddy Harrington, said the headdress was a gift from a friend in Chicago. Headdress part of collection Following a show in Chicago, he met and later became a good friend of Pat Sweet. Her hushand collected Indian jewelry and other Indian relics. He had died just before they met, and she was holding onto his collection, he said. "She had this Indian headdress, I thought it was really beautiful. I asked if I could buy it. She replied, ill never sell it, but IU give it to you provided you never part with it.' Now it's sort of my good luck piece," he said. The Chief is his first album on the Rooster Blues Label and also his first re cording to be released both in the United States and England. Clearwater explained that American jazz and blues artists are enjoying great popularity in Europe. During earlier European tours, he said he was amazed at the response of the fans. "They know more about me than I know about me." Ill do an interview and they 11 know all about it." European concert tour Later this month Clearwater will travel to Europe to play concert halls in England, Germany and Switerland. Clearwater will make the trip to Europe without his band "The Untouchables." However two days after his return, he and the band are off to Mexico to play to crowds so large that a bull fighting arena has been rented for the concert. Although it appears that foreign crowds are crazier about American blues than Americans, Clearwater said the movie The Blues Brothers has helped that some. He said he wasn't thrilled that blues newcomers John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd made several million on what started as a joke. But he added, "It could be a blessing in disguise. Blues have been around all along, out tne movie, I trunk, has helped awaken the public," he said. But' even if The Blues Brothers don't help Clearwater and the blues, at the age of 45, Clearwater said things have never been better. "I've become aware of both the music and business ends of business. I'm more seasoned. My eyes have been opened but that all goes with more experience." Ridiculous plot proves enjoyable By Pat Higgins . Oh Heavenly Dog's premise may strike cynical observers as being a trifle ridicul ous. After all, what is Chevy Chase doing in a movie with Benji, the wonder dog? ooQdj reus Surprise, the movie is quite entertaining, if only on a superficial level. We're not talking art here, but good clean fun. The credit for this must be given to a hereto fore unknow, Joe Camp, who wrote, directed and produced Oh Heavenly Dog. He probably will make quite a bundle of cash off this epic because it should be the sleeper success of the fall. Oh Heavenly Dog is a mixture of styles. Mystery, comedy, light romance and poli tical intrigue are brewed together along with references to Heaven Can Wait and Star Wars. Chevy Chase has the main role here as a soft-boiled private detective stationed in London. He continues to hone his persona of a suave klutz into a very likeable character. Chase has some cute twists on the Phillip Marlowe tradition of private eyes-he carries a bottle with him at all tines, only it is cold medicine that he hospitably offers to viators. The beginning of the movie features Chase in his speciality of physically orient ed, slapstick humor that he does better than anyone else working today. This movie is more along the lines of Foul Play rather than that of Caddy shack, which enables Chase to play a more sympathetic character. Chase has a chance meeting with the striking Jane Seymour by (literally) run ning right into her. Sparks immediately fly between the two and one settles down expecting a little romance, but fate inter venes in the form of a plot twist that sends Chevy to meet his n aker. Chevy is less than happy about beginning his afterlife (remember Heaven Can Wait?) and proceeds to make a deal with the powers that be. This scene doesn't really tit in with the rest of the movie, but since it is quite funny, it is forgivable. The afterlife resembles general registra tion for classes, with interminable standing in line, bureaucrats and plenty of red tape to trip up the unwary. Chevy finally makes his return to the land of the living but, in a rare case of Teutonic inefficiency, he is put into the body of (you guessed it) cute and cuddly Benji. Surprisingly enough, this works very effectively as the inconguity of watching Benji wagging his tail while Chevy spins a typically sarcastic monologue make the Continued on Page 1 1 ' V V i . ,w r$ WV TV x J Xl 'in1 Photo by Mark Billingsley Chicago bluesman Eddy Clearwater promoted his new album, The Chief while in Lincoln. Big band-bar Kilroy's strikes a few sour notes By Carl Sjulin The graffiti "Kilroy was Here" lined America's walls during the 40's and 50's. Well, Kilroy has returned to Lincoln in the form of a new bar that specializes in the big land era. Kilroy's, 360 No. 48th St., represents a new trend that has been sweeping the nation and revitalizing the music and atmosphere of the 1940's. Unfortunately, dining out even though the basic theme and structure of Kilroy's fit into this epoch, there are several rough edges that need to be ironed out before it can truly portray this period the way it deserves to be represented. Kilroy's is owned by Robert Potter, who also owns Pickle Bill's Ribaria located in the adjoining building. Kilroy's serves as the waiting room- lounge for Pcikle Bill's and is also open to the public as a bar. Something different The bar manager, Kim Marbac, said "Robert Potter has always been a big band fan. He saw the success of similar places in other cities and decided Lincoln needed something different." She said that since they opened two weeks ago, business has been steady. "We have been getting a lot of lookers and are pleased to find that many of them are returning." What they are returning to is an old storeroom that has been remodeled into a narrow trip down memory lane. The walls are adorned with musical instruments that range from antique bugles to snare drums. The other walls display several intersting murals that depict some of the spirit that earmarked this period. Vaudeville chorus lines and a sketch of a small jazz combo are highlighted by a hanging crystal ball. Along the back wall are the words and music to the hit song "In the Mood." The music is provided by large speakers that play assorted big band tunes at a moderate listening level. The seating is taken care of by small tables and booths. There is a small dance floor, but relatively few people use it. General manager Sydne Mosen said several innovations are planned. Attitude adjustment "We are planning on having a happy hour that we will call our 'attitude adjustment' period that will run from 4 to 6 pjn. We are also opening at 10 ajn. on football Saturdays." "We are also thinking about bringing in some small jazz bands and combos that would be featured several times a month." AD of this could make for a really able evening, except for a few minor (yet irritable)details. For starters, the prices aren't exactly cheap, with mixed drinks around $130 and beer running at $1 . If the service reflected it, these prices wouldn't be so bad. The lighting in general is too bright and some tables and chairs on the main floor, are small wooden booths elevated several feet. They must be designed for people who are seven feet tall because at 6-4, my feet couldbarely touch the floor. However, the bar has a lot of potential once the rough edges are ironed out. This type of variation is needed in Lincoln, but Kilroy's doesntyet give the Glen Miller craze the vehicle it deserves.