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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 1992)
ArtsSEntertainment Traveling comedian appears at Lied Poundstone stays close to audience despite lifestyle C0IB&4*, By Mark Baldridge Senior Editor Paula Poundstone is out of touch. According to her, it’s impossible not to be out of touc h in “the business” — seeing America from the perspec tives of a hotel room or an airplane window. For the past 12 years she has trav eled a part of each week. But there is nothing in her manner that supports her conclusion. No one seems more like someone you might like to know. This week Poundstone travels to Lincoln and the Lied Center for Per forming Arts where she will perform Monday at 8 p.m.thanks to the University Program Council’s Major Concerts committee. But all that traveling gets a come dian nowhere when it comes to find ing common ground with an an audi ence made up of un-famous people, some of whom never even ride on airplanes. yJ “I do tell airplane jokes and tragi cally I could think of more,” Poundstone said. “But I’ve got to try to stop myself. I try to avoid talking about the job itself.” It’s a problem for all successful traveling comics: It’s easy to forget what it’s like to stay home and grow . roots. But Poundstone exudes genuine ness, something lacking in the slick comedy of this generation. Her man ner is refreshing; she respects her audience. Poundstone remains connected to the common folk because, in a way, she’s still one of them. “Anyone can do it,” she said, speak ing of her profession. “Making a liv ing and being good don’t have noth ing to do with one another.” She said some of the comics out there — comedians doing quite well for themselves—make her skin crawl because of their presumptuous atti tudes toward people in the audience. ’ being on television is no measure of talent,” she said. But it takes something special to be Paula Poundstone, the friendly comic. In an atmosphere where vi ciousness seems to be the formula for success, listening to her talk serves as a reminder that one can be fresh and funny and not out to draw blood. And she is very funny, although her material isn’t so different from anyone clsc’s. And really, it can’t be. “Sometimes I lie awake at night and think, ‘There are only three jokes,”’ she said. But her energy and delivery arc all her own and have to be experienced. She has been compared to great com ics such as Robin Williams and Jay Lcno — but she’s like no one else. After listening to her for just a few moments, one gels the feeling of hav ing known her for a long time and that there is more to her to know. And therein lies her genius. Be cause she is nice to know and funny as hell on top of that. Courtesy of Michelle Marx, Inc. The Lied Center for Performing Arts will be the site of Paula Poundstone’s comedy act Monday at 8 p.m. Illinois band may attract ' fans in droves to The Edge By Stacey McKenzi^ Senior Reporter __ The alternative experimentalist band They Came in Droves will roll into Lincoln Saturday to play at The Edge, 227 N. 9th St. This band from Springfield, 111., isn’t willing to test out self-fulfill ing prophesy on its name. They Came in Droves leaves no room for chance in its music. It is cleanly put together, but still sounds tough and guitar-driven. For those fans disenchanted by U2’s latest endeavors, including the Zoo TV extravaganza, the sec ond and latest release by this band could be a remedy. “Hundred Acre Wood .’’released on the band’s independent label, Cardboard Town, sounds a lot like early U2. Glenn Dillman — credited on the release as “The Voice and Gui tars” — has early Bono qualities, long howls and melodic but lyricless vocal passages. “Hundred Acre Wood,” a title gleaned from Winnie the Pooh lore, is filled with 13 tracks of great tunes. “S trings” and “Wonder,” the first two yacks on the release, are meaty with the skilled guitar work of Ted Brannon. Bassist Mark Finney and drummer Gary Hawthome keepcv See DROVES on 13 Jamaica’s Shabba Ranks rocks all styles with “X-tra Naked Shabba Ranks “X-tra Naked” Epic Coming from Jamaica, “X-tra Naked” is the latest album from Shabba Ranks. The album goes beyond one single style to offer something for everyone. Shabba Ranks could be called the LL Cool J of the dancchall reggae scene. The different sides of Shabba’s music can be compared toaspcctsof LL,as well asa similar charisma that draws in the listener. Some listeners might remember .the Shabba Ranks/KRS-One team up on “The Jam” from Shabba’s 1991 album “As Raw As Ever,” an album that broke a lot of ground for dancchall reggae. Queen Latifah is recruited on the new album to rap on “What ‘Cha Gonna Do?” Hip-hop is merely one of the facets of Shabba. An R & B flavor shows up on “Slow and Sexy,” a song that features Johnny Gill. The song is produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who add smooth bass grooves with a jazz piano beneath alternating verses of the two. Unfortunately, Gill’s vo cals really overshadow Shabba in this song. This isn’t Shabba’s best style. An underground rap flavor is brought by Chubb Rock on “Two Bredderens.” As Chubb says, “Here’s a story/of two roughnecks who’ve come to glory.” Shabba’s voice complements the background well. It may seem that Shabba needs other artists to excel, but actually, the rest of the album is all Shabba. Courtesy of Epic Records Shabba Ranks gets some help from Johnny Gill and Queen Latifah on his debut album, “X-tra Naked.” Using both hip-hop and reggae beats, Shabba “toasts” his way through nine other tracks. One track that stands out is “Ready-Ready, Goody-Goody.” Using a familiar sample as back ground (also used by Terminator X in “Homey Don’t Play That” and most recently by En Vogue in “My Lovin’”), this song is high pow'ered and dance-oriented. Here Shabba claims, “Shabba the greatest of them all/the girls call the king of the dancehall.” And king he is. This song rocks! In the thick of dancehall, listen ers might find it hard to understand the Jamaican accent. Shabba has an almost perfect balance of accent and clarity. That’s one of his best qualities, along with his charisma. Even though this album jumps around and samples pieces of many styles, Shabba can make them all work. Shabba’s voice is dancehall candy for the ears. —~— Greg Schick Big Bub album has appeal above, beyond funny name “Cornin' At Cha” Big Bub East/West Records America With a name like Big Bub, there has to be some kind of appeal that would make a potential buyer want to buy this singer’s album. It might help the listener to know that Big Bub was the lead singer of the group Today, and he has gone solo so nc can do his own thing. If that still does not have them convinced, then they should give Big Bub a chance and a listen. “Cornin’ At Cha” opens up with “Head Bangin which is more like a prelude for what is to follow. “Head Bangin’” smoothly switches into the next cut, “I Don’t Mind,” a funky cut with the synthesizers heavy at work to make this tunc a winner. “I WantYou4 Me”isacut that will feature the familiar “B to the I to the G” rap that Big Bub often incorpo rated when he was with the group Today. Big Bub has a distinct voice that will, capture the listening audience and make “Cornin’ At Cha” appeal ing. Big Bub also is able to use that new jack style to his advantage and make it work. “I Want You 4 Me,” “Touch Me,” featuring rapper YoYo, and “Hillin’ i Skin/.” arc all cuts that include some new jack sw'ing. While the first half of “Cornin’ At Cha” will get your attention, the last half of this LP will keep it. Big Bub, slaying with the Today formula, has a number of ballads that finish out the album. “Tellin’ Me Stories” isonc of those ballads that start to put the listener at ease. This is one of the better songs on the LP, not because of the style of the song, but because of the way it is sung. Big Bub comes through and shows the torque of his voice. “Take My Heart” and “Simon Sez” are other examples of the singing ability of Big Bub with which he is able to capture the listening audience with his distinct voice. Overall, this is a very nice LP. “Cornin’ At Cha” is like the tale of two different albums, the first half slamming and up-tempo and the last half slowing to a nice relaxing pilch. Big Bub is successfully able to make the transition from group mem ber to soloist using the same formula that seems to work for him. The appeal of “Cornin’ At Cha” is not in the name of Big Bub, but the music that he sings. — Anthony D. Speights fmtes^igmenl UNL musicians to sing operas riv/tn sJian nvfAJrlS The University of Ncbraska-Lin coln School of Music will present “Opera Showcase” today and Sat urdayin Kimball Hall. “Opera Showcase” is a compi lation of excerpts from seven fa mous operas: “Fidelio," “Abduc tion from Seraglio,” “Cosi fan tulle,” “A Month in the Country,” Lucia di Lammermoor,” ‘‘Madama Butterfly” and “Albert Herring.” Visiting stage director David Bartholomew, 23 UNL students, Lincoln citizens and a member of the UNL voice faculty will perform the various scenes. Michael Cotton will accompany on the piano. Tickets for the 8 p.m. shows are $5 for adults and S3 for students.