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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 2000)
When picturing rock ‘n’ roll bands with legions of loyal fans flocking to their shows all ' over the coun try, Phish or Dave Matthews usually come to mind, right? probably wouldn’t think of the indie-rock, “emo” band Sunny Day Real Estate. That is unless they’re members of the band’s cult-like following. The much acclaimed Sunny Day Real Estate will be at Knickerbocker’s Bar and Grill on Thursday night to spread its rays over everyone who pays to get in the door. But given the band’s strong following, it might be tough to get in. / Knickerbocker’s owners expect a sold out crowd for the show, which is slated to begin around 8:30 p.m., Knf tkn Hnnrc uri 11 rtHEORIVIANCE “REVIEW SunnyDay Real Estate Knickerbockers, 901 0 St. Tcnigb* doors Open % 7:45 p.m. $17 4: the door or tnrcygn Tlckermaster rw* around 7:45. Nick Harral, singer and guitarist for Pailee, the opening band at the concert, has driven or flown hundreds of miles to see the band on several occasions. He said open F though the music is still good, if a band makes it big, it adds a certain cheapness to the music. “I think fans feel as though (Sunny Day Real Estate's) music is still their own.” Despite the band’s success, it has gone through changes over the years, especially when two of its mem bers joined the Foo Fighters after Sunny Day Real Estate’s controversial breakup in 1995. ing up for Sunny Day Real Estate was fulfilling one of his lifelong dreams. “If I could, I would go anywhere to see them,” he said. Even though some fans may not make long journeys to see the band, they still love the band and listen religiously. Neal Obermeyer, music director at KRNU, said the requests last summer for the band’s new album were constant “We got the new album about a month before it was released, and it was No. 1 on the request list for two weeks and stayed in the Top 30 from May 22 to August 13,” he said. As popular as the new album has been, a lot of the band's long-time fans got hooked because of first full album, Tony Wynn, a for mer UNL student, said he liked the band because its first album was arguably one of the top five albums ever. He said Sunny Day was rec ognized as a great band because of its influence on the music Scott Banks, fan uiuusuy over me lasi rew years. “They are one of those bands that not a lot of people know about, but they have directly influenced many of the bands that people love,” he said. Although Sunny Day Real Estate has had some success commercially, it has not achieved mainstream success like some other bands in the same genre. Nate Reisdorf, a UNL alum, has never seen Sunny Day Real Estate but is excited to see Thursday’s show. Reisdorf said one of the reasons the band had such a loyal following was because it had never sold out for commer cial popularity. “I think that fans feel as though they have lost something when their band becomes mainstream,” he said. “Even Scott Banks, a junior advertising major, said he liked the music because it was so unpredictable, and the band had been a good source of drama through events like the break up. Most fans speculated the breakup was because of the conversion to Christianity by the band’s frontman Jeremy Enigk. But the band salvaged three members, including Enigk, and continued to create new music, while building on its already popular following. All things considered, Banks said listen ing to Sunny Day Real Estate was a special experience. “They are awesome. Listening to Sunny Day Real Estate is like scraping an orange peel into your hand,” he said. “It’s pretty sweet.” FOLLOWING real Estate brings BY CASEY JOHNSON art: Megan cody Sunny Day CULT-LIKE FERVOR TO KNICKERBOCKERS Small orchestra packs big sound BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON Who says bigger is better? Surely, that sentiment isn’t uttered by any of the folks from a Minnesota-based orchestra that are coming to town to per form at die Lied Center for Performing Arts tonight at 7:30. Tickets are $42, $38 and $34, but stu dents with identification can get in for half price. The 33-member Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra doesn't have the typical sym phony size, and that may be its secret weapon for success. “They won't be able to do some of the same things that a symphony can do with their size, but it allows them to be exceptionally precise,” UNL viola pro fessor Clark Potter said. “That’s tough to achieve that preciseness in an 80-person symphony.” lyier White, director of orchestral activities at UNL, said while precision was an important attribute, the orches tra had become famous for other rea sons. “They're so highly regarded because they have a combination of superb interpretation and technical abilities that very few orchestras can totally attain. They have it,” White said. Such skills have landed the orchestra international fame. The chamber orchestra has 56 recordings to its name and has commissioned 81 new works. “They are probably the finest cham ber orchestra in the country,” Potter said. The Independent in London went one better then Potter, calling them "arguably the best orchestra in the world.” The chamber has taken on quite a challenge this concert season, present ing more than 150 concerts in a 38-week season under the directorship of Nicholas McGegan. Bobby McFerrin is the creative chairman of the orchestra. McFerrin is perhaps more famous, however, for his singing of the popular tune, "Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” Tonight, however, those attending can expect to hear McFerrin’s orchestra playing the likes of Ludwig Beethoven, Franz Schubert and a suite from "Nais” by Jean-Philippe Rameau. Performing as a guest j soloist with t h e ^ chamber * orches tra will be tal ented pianist Garrick Ohlsson, who boasts a top notch resume, includ-, ing 1970 Chopin International Piano Competition champion. White said the orchestra chose their music wisely, accentuating their lack of size instead of being hindered by it “They are first-rate because they perfect music for smaller orchestras from the baroque and classical peri Please see CHAMBER on 9 i Presidents latest offering cornucopia of originality BY ANDREW SHAW After burying themselves in the ceme tery that is Top 40 radio in 1995, The Presidents of the United States of America fell into the obscurity of one-hit wonder land. The group’s sophomore album, released the last time we voted for the leader of the free world, lost its momen tum when its single, "Mach 5,” jumped on and off of the fickle radio stations that once raised the band to fame. Like Pat Buchanan, the Presidents are back after a four year hiatus from record ing, and this time, they brought a new bag of tricks to further their original musical ideas. The band, once proud of their two string bass and three-string guitar, has learned to play all of the strings on their instruments as well as a cornucopia of keyboard instruments. The theme behind their hit song “Lump” is still in effect on "Freaked Out and Small” - mindlessly fun lyrics about everyday things paired with uncompro misingly catchy melodies in teenager fueled happy rock. The greatest lyrics on “Freaked Out and Small” are on the Star Wars-inspired song "Death Star.” Sung in a psychedelic lounge style by a vocalist who sounds like Kermit the Frog, this musically sparse song features some of the best rumina tions on the “massive killer orb.” “Destroy it one more time ’cuz it’s so good they built it twice,” are some of the most beautiful lyrics ever written to com IflfMft HI M SHU memorate the “largest weapon ever man ufactured.” “Tiger Bomb” is perhaps the Presidents’ best song to date. The addition of a tremolo keyboard part makes the song memorable, but there are so many subtle manipulations that make this an intelli gent and long-lasting musical journey. The song is a contrast to the past com positions by this threesome, slowly streaming instead of forcing its way into your ears. The solos prove that Chris Ballew and Dave Dederer have talent beyond their grasp of sarcasm. A perfect acoustic-rock guitar solo seems out of place on a Presidents album, but it fits so nicely into "Tiger Bomb.” The greatest surprise comes at the end of the short tune, when the band launches into a groove, which would fit into the famous medley of the Beatles’ “Abbey Road.” Please see PUSA on 9