The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, April 23, 1996, Page 13, Image 13
Bret Gottschall/DN Laundry offers fun alternatives By Patrick Hambrecht Senior Reporter Laundry Land is more than a place for customers to sit around in old sweat pants and watch television while they wait for their clothes to get clean — it’s also a lot of fun, said Laundry Land employee Ben Hewitt. “This is a place with a lot of things to do,” UNL student Hewitt said. “You can go watch TV, or play pool or video games. There's a variety." Hewitt said visiting Laundry Land, 1340 N. 27th St., offered a low-stress alternative to other leisure activities like shopping. “Basically, you can have a lot of fun here," he said. “At the mall you’ve gotta mingle with sales associates and stuff. But here you don’t have to talk to anybody.” Some customers, though, like former UNL student Amy Thomas, don’t find much to enjoy about laun dry. “This is not, by far, an interesting chore and I don’t find it relaxing,” Thomas said. “I think it’s on the same line as grocery shopping.” Thomas’ friend Nicole Mitchell See LAUNDRY on 14 -Music Reviews!^ ^ With the interest in vinyl grow ing, many local bands have found a way to put out their music. -'Records have something that com pact discs will never have — two sides. These two sides provide the perfect discontinuity for allowing bands to share a record. This is how the split record is bom. Here are just some of the many recently released splits by both Lincoln and Omaha bands. Eamon/Grander Split 7" (self-released) Grade: A Both Eamon and Grander are from Omaha, and each has a unique sound. Both tracks were recorded at fabulous Whoopass Studio right here in Lincoln. This 7" also fea tures gray marbled vinyl. A very nice touch. Eamon’s “Fence Jumping” gives the listener the feeling of running through the forest from something, but never knowing quite what it is. The musicianship that is displayed by Eamon in this song is incredible. Weaving basslines are held together by moderate-tempo drumming. All allow for an ambient style of guitar work that builds up pressure until a brilliant ending. Grander attempts to follow its record mates, and does quite well. “88 Cubic Meters” is a drawn-out number, which begins with a quite little melody between bassist and drummer only to be obstructed by an onslaught of guitar harmonies. Eamon and Grander combine to make a very digestible offering. This is the best of the bunch. Sunbrain/Polecat Split 7" Ghostmeat/Lumberjack Records Grade: C+ Lincoln’s recently defunct Pole cat serves up a nice mix of its pop punk blend. While Clemson, S.C.’s, Sunbrain plays a slow little love song. “Make Out Party” is Polecat’s offering ttrthis green-vinyl 7", and is a little story apparently inspired by high school parties. Maintaining Polecat’s style, the drummer takes the listener on many little stints be tween the verses and the chorus. This is one of the best songs that I have heard Polecat do, so it’s a shame they had to go. Sunbrain is a very popular “indie” band that usually plays its own blend of pop-punk. “Happy Valentine’s Day” is not a typical Sunbrain song. But it is still a good song, showing the band’s diversity and giving it an extra dimension. Killdozer/Ritual Device Split 10” Man’s Ruin Records Grade: B+ The dirge known as Killdozer rolls on, seemingly smashing every thing in its path. On the table for this 10" is Led Zeppelin’s “When the Levee Breaks.” Killdozer turns this five-minute song into a 10 minute masterpiece. Like a thunderstorm, the kick drum roars and sets the snail-like pace. True to Killdozer’s form, bassist and vocalist Michael Gerald begins the onslaught with the heavi est bass sound on the planet. After the slide guitar primes it for vocals, Michael Gerald releases a voice that either makes you laugh or cry. Omaha’s Ritual Device takes Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter” and “Hot Dog” and gives it its own touch of darkness. “No Quarter” contains added parts that give it a long running time, not to mention transform it from a Zeppelin song to a wholly Ritual Device song. The added parts showcase the band’s instrumental talent and vo calist Tim Moss’ creative imagina tion in lyrics, which are too violent to print. “Hot Dog” is a fun little num ber, in which Moss and guest vo calist Gary Dean Davis, from Omaha’s Frontier trust, poke fun at almost everything that Led Zeppe lin has ever done. With its grim Frank Kozik cover art and the destruction of classic rock’s most prominent band, this 10" is sure to make the dedicated Zeppelin fan cringe in horror. Revilo/Blenny Split 12" Beehive Records Grade: C+ Revilo is a four-piece from Omaha, and all but one member is still in high school. But don’t tell them that. They begin this split 12" with a little punk ditty entitled “Prick.” It’s just your typical four chord progression with the repeti tive chorus “You’re a prick.” “My Bomb,” the second song on the record, is my personal favorite and features straightforward Minor Threat-like playing, with a touch of funk in the middle. The band often sounds like early Helmet met with a touch of Opera tion Ivy thrown in to lighten things up. Revilo’s last song, however, takes the band in a new direction, as it is reminiscent of some of the great instrumentals put together by Fugazi — loud and noisy, yet re fined. Blenny takes the rest of the record in the exact opposite direc tion. Each of Blenny’s three songs start out ballad-like only to build to a wonderful climax. Its songs are intricate and contain many parts, each reaching new heights. The vocals are especially note worthy, though I wish they were louder. You can hear the vocalist pouring his heart out to whoever will listen. Seeing them live makes this very apparent. “April..” is a great song that leads you down a trail of many different , tempo changes, and shows what the band is capable of doing. Peaceful to serene and back again, this song develops quite a groove. — Brooks Hitt 1-800-USA-NAVY. ■> . ' r. • - -• ■ ; : 1 , Newvid Continued from Page 12 County” (PG-13) — Another Eastwood-directed film in which he stars, but no Oscar nominations for his work, surprisingly. “How To Make An American Quilt” [PG-13) — Winona Ryder playing a :onfused college student; wow, what i stretch. She is spending the summer at her great aunt’s house, preparing to finish icr master’s thesis, when the women In the local quilting bee convince her :o live her life to the fullest. The film has an all-star cast, includ ng Alfre Woodard and Maya Angelou, md is a wonderful overall film well vorth seeing. “The Aristocats” (G) — Finally! rhis Disney classic hasn’t been on the screens or available for public view ing in any way for almost two decades, but that all ends today. We have rich cats, poor cats, cat napping butlers, hilarious dogs and a side-splitting chase scene. It’s Disney, it’s fun, it’s perfect. Rent this one first. PICK OF THE WEEK: With all of the drama this week, the beginning of dead week should have some humor injected as well. Try “Young Frankenstein." Filmed entirely in black and white. Brooks takes a stab at the horror clas sic, and the results are a scream — of laughter. Side-splitting scenes of note: Dr. Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) and the monster (Peter Boyle) singing “Puttin’ On The Ritz," the monster and a little girl playing on a seesaw, and the scene with the blind man (a hilarious Gene Hackman). Check it out. University Program Council summer EVeNtC, June 19 Summer Crossing @ Howell Theater July 17 Lost In Yonkers @ Howell Theater July 31 Table Manners @ Johnny Carson Theater Special UNL Student performances $5 per performance (price available for UNL students only) _ I_ Every Thursday 12-lpm Nebraska Union Plaza Rainsite: Union Lounge May 23 - Gayla Drake Paul May 30 - John Walker June 6 - Tuna Fish Jones Trio June 13 - Dave Moore June 20 - Lighting Bugs June 27 - Toasted Ponies July 11 - Nebraska Brass July 18 - Buena Vida All Stars July 25 - Nebraska Jazz Sextet August 1 - Tom Larson Trio August 8 - Old Time String Band August 15 - Champagne Jerry & the Vegetarians August 22 - Kusitaki June 21 vs. Nashville July 12 vs. Buffalo August 2 vs. Oklahoma City $5 Uni Students $7 Non-UNL Students Includes box dinner, Van Transportation and 3rd baseline ticket! Every Tuesday in June, 7:00 pm UNL Art Quadrangle June 4 The Nebraska Jazz Orchestra w/Karrin Allyson June 11 Group Sax/Jim Williamson & Annette Murrell June 18 Dave Stryker June Jeff Newell Quartet = W Dial M for Murder Blues Brothers Casablanca W Field of Dreams * . _ All movies will start 9 9:00 pm in the green space north of the • A Nebraska Union. 9 :or more information call the UPC Events Hotline at 472-8150 or Student Involvement at 472-2454 w