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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 22, 1991)
Arts & Entertainment .— ■- - - ■ ■ .- - ■■ 1 — Tear-jerker has moments “Paradise’ By Anne Steyer Staff Reporter Forgci “Miami Vice,” wilh its pasiel jackets and no-socks look. Don Johnson has left Sonny Crockett behind with his performance in “Paradise.” (The Lin coln) Johnson is Ben Reed, one-half of a failing marriage, in the small town of Paradise. His wife Lily is played by Johnson’s real-life spouse Melanie Grif fith (“Working Girl”). They lost their infant son two years before in an accident and their marriage has been on the road to destruction ever since. Enter young Willard (Elijah Wood), the 10-ycar-old son of Lily’s old friend. Willard’s family is experiencing a crisis and he needs a place to stay for the summer. Lily agrees to take him in, de spite Ben’s objections about entertaining Willard all summer. Willard is an unusual little boy, wise beyond his years, but naive where his own family is concerned. He is on schol arship to a private boys’ school and is constantly picked on by other kids. He needs some friends and some answers from his parents. There arc two main stories here, al though the film is full of subplot. Of primary concern arc the troubled mar riage and Willard coming to terms with his family crisis. The boy’s presence and interference is pivotal in the Reed’s reconciliation. ; Screenwriter Mary Agnes Donoghue (“Beaches”) directs here in addition to carrying the screenplay credit. She doesn’t waste too much time sweeping the beau tiful countryside, which is a pitfall new directors often fall into. She gives a good effort, although her * See PARADISE on 10 IP Michelle Paulman/DN Jason D. Williams puts his foot down on barroom rhythm ‘n’ blues Sunday night at the Zoo Bar. fligh -energy musician attacks Zoo piano Ii Robert Richardson iior Reporter __ As soon as the opening band cleared off the d Bar stage Sunday night, Jason D. Wil ms, cowboy boots and all, attacked the piano ih pure Southern honky-tonk style. [Many in the standing-room-only audience i seen Williams’ high-flying routine before. Williams was straight-forward with the scriplion of his music. “It’s a combination of boogie-woogie, clas al, ragtime and jazz, and influences from he said. But as Williams played with enough energy move a locomotive, the show took on a fresh light. His style, Southern drawl and bouncy blonde curls were unmistakably Williams, but the real attraction, he said, was his spontaneity. - “I think people enjoy seeing me because there’s nothing up there that’s calculated,” Williams said. “It’s all freestyle. It’s just like I’m like playing the piano and I’m up there hearing it for the first time myself. And when a musician or entertainer can do that they’re really good.’’ Hailing from Memphis, Tenn., Williams has been playing for as long as he can remem -a 1 bcr. He hasn’t had a music lesson since age 7, but he’s always known what he’s wanted to do with his talent, and he’d gladly pay to see himself. “I wish many times that I could sit back and see that same show,” Williams said. “High energy, jumping on the piano, playing every thing, just rocking the house. I tell you, 1 really love entertaining and that’s what I’m going to do the rest of my life.” Don’t mistake Williams’ attitude for arro gance. ‘‘It’s just confidence,” Williams said. ~ . See WILLIAMS on 10 15 and rellects personal toucn y Carter Van Pelt aft Reporter In a world full of contrived images and >ntrived music, it’s nice to discover artists ho are truly down to earth and real. If you’re >oking for such a band, look to Vancouver, anada’s Grapes of Wrath. The band, who chose its name out of a lovic book two weeks before its first gig, has ist released its fourth album, “These Days.” he LP, and the band’s music in general, has an xtrcmcly personal and noticeable apolitical Jcl. According to singer/guitarist Kevin Kane, lis is a reflection of his own philosophy about ongwriting. “When I write songs, I write about things lat affect me personally. Political issues arc ot personal.” Kane said he uses his songs to communicate, feelings to people I don’t know.” He sees the vorld as revolving around human interaction. “All the world is relationships . . . people elating to one another, and that’s what I write ibout. One of the best examples of this kind of song s the touching “No Reason,” in which Kane ipologizcs to a woman with whom he has >roken tics. “It’s a very personal song, and it really affected the person for whom it was written.” Kane says his favorite song on “These Days,’ is the first track, “Away." “I like the weird elements (within the song).” Each band member has their own favorite, but according to Kane, “we like all the songs,” and they agree that “These Days” is their best album. Musically, The Grapes’ sound is a combina tion of The Beatles, R.E.M. and XTC, but according to Kane, the band’s biggest influ ences “really have nothing to do with the bands we get compared to.” The obvious exception, however, is the Beatles. Kane admits that, along with The Monkeys, they arc one of the bands that the Grapes grew up with. The Beatlc connection is evident on “These Days.” Not only docs the album contain har monics and chord progressions reminiscent of the Fab Four’s, but the final mix was done at London’s famous Abbey Road Studios — where the Beatles worked in the late ’60s. The XTCish sound of “These Day’s” is probably because of influence from producer John Lcckie (XTC, Stone Roses), who even look a Dukes of Stratosphere tape out of the Abbey Road vaults to be sampled onto “A Fishing Tale.” However, Kane is quick to note that “contrary to rumor, Andy Partridge (XTC singer) wasn’t in the studio (when we mixed).” He describes the band’s audience as primar ily a college crowd, especially in the United States, but he adds that “in Canada, (in addition j to the college audience) we’re a band that people in their 30s listen to.” Kane feels that the current music scene in i Canada is “pretty healthy.” He says he appreci ues the fact that Canadian bands get a good ihare of the airtime on Canadian radio and the Canadian video station, Much Music. “There’s more variety on Much Music ... hey show more independent artists (than MTV).’’ As for their future plans, The Grapes of '1 Wrath will be embarking on a fall tour of the United States and Europe in support of “These Days” and writing more songs. Although none of the band’s previous tours have made it to Nebraska, Kane said he hopes to include a stop in Lincoln or Omaha this time around. *4 Courtesy of Capitol Records Kevin Kane of the Grapes of Wrath said he avoids political issues when he writes songs.