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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 1997)
\ J 7 iy> t • t Goldfinger digs Omaha venue By Patrick Miner Music Critic Sorry Ferris, but the guitarist needs a day off, too. Save Ferris - the rock ‘n’ ska band named after the catch phrase from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” - canceled from the Ranch Bowl bill tonight, because of a hand injury suf fered by guitarist Brian Mashburn. The show - sans Save Ferris - still begins at 9*, and tickets remain $12. The incident happened in Albuquerque, N.M., at the band’s last performance. The band’s tour man ager said Mashburn cut his hand opening a beer bottle. Because a physician told Mashburn he had to let it heal for two days, the band was forced to sit out on tonight’s Ranch Bowl show, but it probably will play Thursday’s show in Lawrence, Kan. Tiare Cyphers, a Ranch Bowl publicity representative, said the venue was attempting to get reunited Omaha ska band Jimmy Skaffa to fill the vacant spot on the bill. If that happens, it will open the show, fol lowed by Kara’s Flowers and Goldfinger. On a brighter note, Goldfinger makes its first return to Omaha since January, bringing with it a brand new album, “Hang-Ups,” which was released Sept. 9. At first glance, the record is noticeably poppier than Goldfinger’s self-titled debut release. It features several instruments atypical of ska/punk bands, including a man dolin, clarinet and flute, among oth ers being played throughout the album. Because of the additional horns used on “Hang-ups” - in songs like “Superman,” “200 Goodbye” and “Carlita” - the b^ncKpcruited two horn players, a trumpeter and trom bonist, to tour with them for the first time.Goldfinger has been supporting the album on the road since mid August, and the shows have exhibit ed a balanced attack, said drummer Darrin Pfeiffer. + “The sets have been about 50 per cent with a lot of horns and 50 per cent of the faster songs,” Pfeiffer said. The band is incorporating about six or seven of the mfcw songs into its sets, he said. Also, listen tonight for the remake of the Duran Duran hit “Rio,” which is on the “The Duran Duran Tribute Album,” released today. Kara’s Flowers will move up into the slot before Goldfinger, and will display a positive attitude, refreshing sound and incredible talent destined to turn the heads of attendees. The band is the formation of four friends who have been playing local gigs and dances for about three years. Its name, Kara’s Flowers, is an interesting one, hailing from the date Feb. 6, 1994, when the band mem bers each gave flowers to Kara, a mutual friend, on her birthday. The band’s Sound is “melodic power-pop,” a mik of influences from bands such as Weezer, Supergrass and Blur, said bassist Mickey Madden. Unlike Weezer, however, Kara’s Flowers’ lyrics are much less tongue-in-cheek. Lead vocalist and gpitarist Adam Levine writes songs fusing hard rock and pop into the group’s 11-song debut joyride “The Fourth World.” The album’s diverse tracks include the reunion-centered “The Never Saga,” the nostalgic “Soap Disco,” the pop lullaby “To Her, With Love” and the hard-hitting “Myself,” which is set to be the band’s next sin gle. The band’s message throughout the record is unmistakable. An adopt ed motto by their fans, “Doom is Dead,*1 portrays the band’s positive attitude tha*t opposes fiuch of the whining of several current bands. “Our music is a counter to that,” Madden said. “We have a positive mindset instead of a lot of the wal lowing and misery in music today.” The band’s Midwest to East Coast tour with Goldfinger and Save Ferris Will carry it into uncharted territory. The young band has never touredln this portion of the country. “I’m excited,” Madden said. “It’ll be fun to play in front of kids who’ve never heard us.” While Kara’s Flowers will be rel atively unknown to several in atten dance, with the enthusiasm Goldfinger’s Pfeiffer has about Omaha, it should leave towrf on a high note. “Omaha is one of my personal favorites,” Pfeiffer said. “A lot of bands overlook the Midwest, but the kids there really get into it.” i ■ .. i } Photo courtesy of Goldfinger G0LDFIN6ER kicks off its tour tonight in support of the new album, “Hang-Ups,” at Omaha’s Ranch Bowl. Dancer leaps into global influences By Liza Holtmeier • Senior Reporter In high school, Dorian Williams Byrd had a choice between braces and dance classes. “Let’s just say I never got braces,” Byrd said. Byrd’s career in dance spans from modern to Afro-ethnic dance. Tonight, she brings her expertise to the University of Nebraska Lincoln, teaching a workshop at 7 in Mabel Lee Hall 304. Byrd will use Afro-ethnic dance as a base for the workshop. She will teach a Liberian Welcome Dance and some of her own chore ography. “It’s a very mind-opening experience,” explained Judy Boohar, a member of the Lincoln International Folk Dance group, which saw Byrd perform in Iowa two years ago. “Not only do you learn the dances of other cultures, you also learn about the cos tumes and the history.” Charlotte Adams, director of the UNL [y dance department, said the workshop will enhance attendees’ knowledge about less recognized dance forms. v “Sometimes as dancers we get a little closed off as to what dance is,” Adams said. “This workshop can broaden our perspective. Dance is an expression present in all cultures around the world.” Byrd said site was looking forward to the workshop because it will be a learning expe rience for her. “I like to see students grow and to see them make their own movements,” Byrd said. a ... I want to continue to provide people with the opportunities to learn about another culture, to > cultivate a love for dance ...” Dorian Williams Byrd : professional dancer “My students always teach me. They show me how they can take the movement farther than I did.” \ Byrd first took dance class in high school as an alternative to physical education. She then decided to continue the pursuit outside of school by taking modern and creative dance classes. She also searched for opportu nities to learn about and perform ethnic dance. Byrd received her bachelor’s of fine arts degree from The Julliard School and her mas ter’s from the University of Iowa. She danced with two New York dance companies - Elizabeth Keen and Sounds in Motion. Byrd said the most important thing she learned from working with Sounds in Motion was the use of pedestrian, or everyday, move ment in dance. “I learned how to use real movement as opposed to a more stylized jazz or ballet vocabulary,” Byrd said. “I learned that when you fall, you really fall.” Byrd cited her influences as modern choreographers like Jose Timdn, Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey and Merce Cunningham. Byrd now is a Davenport, Iowa, freelance performer and choreographer. Byrd said she was moving toward a more storytelling style of dance. “I’m interested in what I call dance telling,” Byrd explained. “I tell African tales and other stories through my movement. “In one of my most recent pieces, ‘Daughters of the King,’ I told the story of historical women like Joan of Arc and Sojourner Truth through a suite of solos.” While Byrd finds herself moving away from her previous dance experiences, she says she will continue to teach ethnic dance. “I don’t consider myself an ethnic dancer,” Byrd said. “In the Midwest though, it’s something unique and new. I want to con tinue to provide people with the opportunities to learn about another culture, to cultivate a love for dance, and to increase the desire to y maybe join an international dance group.” Admission to the workshop is $2 for stu dents and $3 for the general public. Those who attend should dress to move and be bare foot. ^_ Stone’s ‘U-Turn’ undertakes , conventional . film-rioir genre By Jeff Randall Film Critic t As one of America’s most simultane ously revered and despised directors, Oliver Stone has carved out a niche for himself in Hollywood. And this niche has tended to focus more on Stone’s own theories about con spiracy and corruption than on the usual film subjects. The now-legendary “JFK” almost singlehandedly revived the debate over John F. Kennedy’s assassina tion, “Nixon” instigated a less resound ing but equally controversial public dis cussion on Richard Nixon’s role in Watergate and - just <&jnake sure we were paying attention LXtone released the hyper-violent media-bashing of “Natural Born Killers.” Perhaps it was about time that Stone settled down a little and tackled some thing a little more conventional. Like Please see STONE on 10 _ S