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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1996)
Arts ^Entertainment Monday, April 1, 1996 Page 6 Cliff Hicks Apparition brings back ’80s glitz Last night as I sat on the eouch in my room with the lights off, gazing up at the stars outside, I had a vision, or perhaps just a fever dream influenced by caffeine, pepperoni pizza, chcddarwurst and writer’s block. In this vision, a spirit, tall and lean, appeared to me and spoke to me per haps the most terrifying thing 1 have ever heard. “The ’80s are coming back, Cliff,” it told me. “I’m in Hell, aren’t I?” I asked it. “Music and fashion move in cycles, and the ’70s are starting to fade away. That means the ’80s will have their turn again.” “Are you the Ghost of Music Fu ture?” “Yeah,” the spirit clothed in all black said to me, as he struck a match on my ceiling and lighted a stogie, “and let me tell you, kid, it ain’t pretty.” “Dropping the schliek, are we?” “Eh, I don’t need to impress you with cheap theatrics. You know how serious this is.” “Yeah ... I shudder just thinking about it. Gold lame pants, bright neon colors, everything a veritable night mare o f si gilt, not to n lent i on t he musi cal aspects.” “Hell, you’re just lucky I’m not the Ghost of Fashion Future. I’d be too bright to even look at.” “They’re going to do glow-in-thc dark shirts this time, aren’t they?” “I’m afraid so.” “It’s worse than I feared.” “Oh, this sob story gets even more depressing. Soon you ’ 11 be seeing trib ute albums to people like ABBA and the Bangles,” the apparition said, tak ing a puff from his stogie. He continued, extending my fears even further, “Bands like A-ha will have reunion tours. Debbie Gibson will return in full force.” “Spirit, stop! I’m not sure I can handle this!” “New bands will start all over the country with people using cheap drum machines and $40 Casio synthesizers. The No. 1 song on the charts will consist of live notes.” “It’s going to be social catastrophe of epic proportions! The people will revolt, won’t they?” “Lcxik around you, Cliff. People are already starting to listen to diseo I ike material, dressing in polyester and the late ’70s style. What more do you need?” Someone s got to stop this before it goes any deeper into this tasteless abyss of culture!” “I don’t think you can stop it now.” “Why not?” “It may just be me, but T think I heard in passing that the Bangles, Devo and Kraft werk arc considering getting back together again.” “Leave me, spirit!” I screamed as I closed my eyes in fear. “I can change this! I know I can!” When 1 opened my eyes, the spirit was gone, but the smell of cigar smoke lingered in the air, and I knew what had passed that night was real. I have seen the future, and Cyndi ^ Laupcrisitstorchbcarcr.Fcarilscom \ ing. I do. s Hicks is a freshman news-editorial and English major and a Dally Nebraskan staff reporter. I - i : % .. ._I Photo courtesy of Gramercy Pictures Frances McDormand stars as Police Chief Marge Gunderson, a law enforcement officer who finds herself involved in a murder investigation that is anything but normal, in “Fargo,” the new film from Joel and Ethan Coen. Comedy ‘Fargo’ a hit for Coen brothers By Jeff Randall Film Critic The northern part of America’s Midwest is usually considered to be a pretty quiet place. Not much crime, pretty docile people, lots of cold weather. So where bet ter to set a really twisted murder flick? In “Fargo,” the filmmaking team of Joel and Ethan Coen expand on the blackest-of black comedy ideal that they dabbled with in “Blood Simple” and brought to a head in “Barton Fink.” The Coen brothers have long been a somewhat underground duo, mak ing small films and having respect able but hardly outstanding success. Their dark senses of humor and pen chant for highly stylized genre films have kept them out of any big spot lights. But if the movie gods arc fair, “Fargo” could prove to be t heir major breakthrough. In this film, the main figure is Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), a Minneapolis car salesman who plans to have his wi fc kidnapped so lie can collect half the ransom money. To do this, he enlists the help of two small-time thugs, the hyperkinetic Carl (Steve Busccmi) and the almost mute Gaear (Peter Stormafc). Unfortunately, things backfire pretty quickly when Carl and Gaear become involved in a triple homi cide, and Lundegaard’s lather-in law gets stubborn about paying the ransom for his daughter’s return. And when Marge Gunderson (Frances MeDormand), a police chief in a neighboring small town, gets involved in the murder investi gation, the situation becomes even more disastrous. Supposedly based on a true story, this film’s main draw is its ability to turn moments of tragedy and horror into Hashes of comic brilliance. Al though the majority of laughs come from the actors’ Minnesotan accents and small-town quirks, the Coen brothers’ use of violent physical comedy and outrageous characters provides a good balance. Although it doesn’t have the comic mastery of a “Raising Ari Film: “Fargo” Stars: Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Busccmi Director: Joel Coen Rating: R (violence, language) Grade: A Five Words: Kidnapping, murder, extortion in... Minnesota zona” or the subtle suspense of a “Miller’s Crossing,” “Fargo” is a step forward for the Coen brothers and well worth the price of admis sion. Ska band to. play in Omaha By Cliff Hicks Staff Reporter Students searching for ska style music need only slide out to Omaha’s Ranch Bowl, 1600 S. -72nd St., to Concert hear Come On Prpvipuii a s^a ■rCVICW band featuring UNL student Jason Flatowiez. “We play sort of a ska/ punk style, with a little bit of reggae, but mostly just ska/punk,” said Flatowiez, the band’s trombone player. Ska music is an eclectic form of reggae that has its roots in Jamaica.! Flatowiez, an undeclared freshman, said the band had gone through many changes since its inception, when it was called Psycho Shrimp. - About twoycarsago, the band changed its name to Come On Jack, which was taken from a poem by Allen Ginsberg. “Before I joined,” Flatowicz said, “there were no horns. The bassist and the drummer were in my Hebrew school class, and the bassist wanted to make a ska band. “One night they asked me to jam out with them, and I just stuck around.” In March of’94 a tenor saxo phone and a trumpet were added to the lineup. “Then we were a rock band with horns. We dropped all of our songs and started taking all kinds of styles,” Flatowicz said. Come On Jack played several shows last summer, but it didn’t take on its current style until last fall. The band replaced its singer, drummer and guitarist before it truly focused on its current style. “With our new singer, we re ally starting consciously going toward the ska style,” Flatowicz said. William Norlcm plays tenor sax, Marty McGuire is on trum pet, Mike Ivers is on bass and Dan Stewart is the singer. But the band also has an un known element to it. “The drummer’s name is Dan,” Flatowicz said. “I don’t know his last name, but we all call him Hessian. The guitarist’s name is Zack. I don’t know his last name either. “It’s kind of sad, but we all just gel together and play music.” In addition to the show with Fishburn tonight, the band also will be playing an Earth Day Benefit at Sokol Hall in Omaha. On April 27, Come On Jack will release a four-song compact disc, entitled “The Stupid EP,” and hold a CD release show at the Cog Factory in Omaha. This summer, Flatowicz said, Come On Jack plans on playing a lot of out-of-state shows. Its first out-of-state show is scheduled for May 4 in Kansas City. Tickets for tonight’s show arc $3 for those 21 and over, $5 for those under 21. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the music starts at 9 p.m. Busy week of music lies ahead From Staff Reports Tin's week’s performance sched ule for the UNL School of Music promises to keep the School of Music’s faculty and students busy —not to mention those who attend. The sound ofwoodwinds will fill the air tonight when several students of assistant professor Diane Cawcin take the stage for a clarinet studio recital. The recital will begin at 8 p.m. On Wednesday, the Women’s Choral Invitational, a festival fea turing regional collegiate and high school women’s choirs, will take place. The performance will start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday will sec the faculty of the School of Music on stage for a chamber music concert. This con cert will begin at 8 p.m. All of the above events will be held at Kimball Recital Hall. Ad mission is free.
