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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 1991)
ranqiis s^na a\m nn j soxdixi^s Bouffant Jellyfish crowd with energy By Rob Newberry IlnetiDp act in the Texas funk scene visteet B-CS for an energetic but re strictive show on Thursday night. Aus- tiinte Botifant Jellyfish drove through their first gig in the city for a sold-out croMiiet^ the Front Porch Cafe. Kicking off the show around 10:15, Bouffent took only one song to warm up the audience and get them danc ing. The band tore through songs from their two tape releases, including “G© and Tell Your Mother," a comical “Coach" and “Yeah Ya Don’t.” Vocalist George Mack helped get the crowd going with his stage antics — leaping into the air and bouncing around the stage, often right into other band members. He was tossed over the audience during “Meat and Pow er,” and came out to serenade listen ers in “Whatever.” He led the band into a cowboy-funk squaredance, and do-si-doed out onto the floor. But it didn’t take long before the fans were a little too crazy for security at the Front Porch. By far the most vio lent moshing I’ve seen at the club went on that night (a fact that Bouffant would pride itself on). Fans were tossed around over each other, and one guy even got his foot jammed up into the ceiling fan. Mack said he was pleased with their first performance m College Sta tion. “There's a balance between how well you played, and how well! the people liked fe,” Mack said. “I feel Tike the people here Ike it” But there were problems with: the show, too, according to Mack- “We didn’t experience anything negative about the club, but I think we’ll: try to find a place more suited to our mu sic.” Mack complained that the band couldn’t turn up their sound loud enough to suit his taste: “All I could hear were Pete fLaFond)’s guitar and the drums.” The crowd at the show was defi nitely pleased with the performance. The Front Porch is getting pretty ner vous about the slamming going on during its funk shows, and if the danc ing has to go, the funk bands really do need a new place to play. Funk music is reactionary, and if top acts like Bouffant have to tone down to suit the management’s de sires, the fans aren’t getting what they paid for — a night full of crazy music and wild movement. Bouffant’s show would have been top-rate, but the at mosphere at the Front Porch stifled them. Replacements make up for weak opener By Rob Newberry Last Saturday in Austin, Replace ments' fans were treated to a top-rate show by a band that has been known to disappoint live audiences, but they had to sit through a boring opening set by'tine new rock act the Posies. The Posies began the show at 10 far a half-full Texas Union Ballroom on the UX Campus. Banging through their bland set of straight-forward rock tunes, most of the crowd was ready far them to bring on the ’Mats. Midway through their set, which in cluded their one hit “Golden Blun ders,”’ guitarist-vocalist Rick Roberts ad«ed how many fans thought the Cure’s music was boring. It took a lot of guts to make a statement like that, since the Posies’ style is as trite as rock ’inf rati gets. For the most part, that style in- dudes two rhythm guitars — hardly any lead action, and no melodic riffs. Their djummer threw his sticks in the air a lot, but I wasn’t really impressed with any of his drumming. Ho-hum, hurry up with this set. The Replacements took the stage just before 11, and commenced a set that would have pleased even the pickiest fans. The set included plenty of old and new ’Mats greats, complete with their trademark carefree (care less) attitude. The last time I saw this band, they tore through a drunken 45-minute set opening for Tom Petty. I couldn’t un derstand a single tune during the per formance, so I had some reservations about this one. But following the new release, All Shook Down, the ’Mats seem to have sobered up a little. The performance last Friday was classic. The set included greats like "Kiss Me On the Bus,” "Can’t Hardly Wait” and "I Will Dare,” plus their more suc cessful, more recent songs, “Achin’ To Be” and "I’ll Be You.” They also threw in stuff from the new album, in cluding the current radio-spinner “Merry Go Round.” In the middle of the set, frontman Paul Westerberg slowed things down with a soothing trip through “Skyway." Westerberg also revealed a tittle of his country talent (and a little of his hu mor) for a cover of Hank Wfiams’ “Hey, Good Lookin’." On the humorous side, bassist Tommy Stinson laughed throughout the show, and threw a few jokes at the audience when, he got a chance. “ We know the Posies are better singers than us, but frankly, we have cuter butts.” The ’Mats closed their set with ‘“Un satisfied” from Let It Be, with Wester berg turning around and singing the last verse facing the drums. For an. en core, they ripped through "Bastards of Young,” and when Westerberg an nounced that they couldn't climax the show, they tore through a few bars of guitar jangle, then walked off stage. The fans were no doubt pleased — plenty of moshing, and several fans were carried back and forth over the crowd near the front. But if the ’Mats sounded great, they were looking kind of worn. Wester berg has always looked a little down, but guitarist Slim Dunlap resembled a sick old bullfrog on stage. And the ’Mats’ new drummer (Chris Mars re cently left the band) was still learning his parts; he looked pretty stiff up there behind his kit, and you could see him counting out rhythms. Although the band did look a little urtfit fpr the stage, the sound of the show is all that’s necessary to prove the Replacements are still to be con tended with. If they make it around again, check them out. But if the Pos ies are still opening, go late — you can afford to miss them. JnBnr31,1991 page to 1 feature 3NIQ mo OM1 • % i Sneaky Pete teaches Rock V Roll 101 The upstairs room of the Flying To mato is filled with the sounds of laugh ter, conversation and singing. Friends gather here on Wednesday nights to eat, drink, relax and listen to the music of Sneaky Pete. Sneaky Pete, better known as Dr. Peter Rizzo to the students in Cell Bi ology 413, has been performing clas sic rock hits and novelty music in the Bryan-College Station area for 13 years. Rizzo said he started playing music with a band in the 1960s while in col lege. “I bought my first guitar in 1958, when I was 18 years old," he said. “There was a song out by Chuck Berry called ’Johnny B. Goode’ and it made me want to learn how to play the guitar.” Rizzo said his first band was called Sneaky Pete and the Sequents. “We had two guitars and drums, and we did only instrumentals for a longtime,” he said.. the name, Sneaky Pete, was origi nally a nickname,. Rizzo said “1! was: an avid; bowler and would watch the techniques: of other bowlers, at the lanes while talking to my friends, ” he said, “I would keep my head, straight while my eyes shifted toward the bowlers. So, a guy sitting next to me called me Sneaky Pete and the name stuck." Rizzo’s interest in music continued, through his college days M Indiana Univeraty. Rizzo said he usually played music got weekends and in his spare time: while working got a bachelor’s degree im biology and a master’s degree inn The sporadic: music playing came to a halt id 1968 when Rizzo began working on a doctorate degree m plant physiology at the University of Michigan and a post-doctorate de gree in plant physiology' a Purdue University ,, he sad “When I! went to get my doctorate degree and postrdoctorate degree I didn’t play muae a alii,”’ he sad. “11 was so. bu^ with research and school there was just no. time for mu sic.” Music again became a part of Riz zo’s life when he made the decision to move to College Station. Rizz©, who is originally tom Gary, Indiana,, decided to move to College Station after talking with a representa tive ton Texas A&M. “1! decided Texas A&M was the best choice fair me because of the size of the Univosity and also the size of the town,"'he said “The good research opportunities, r^her than teaching opportunities, brought me to Texas A&M,” Rizzo Rizzo became a member of the A&M: faculty in September 1975. “I started playing music at Mr. Gat- ti’s in 1976 and taught freshman biolo gy,” he said. Rizzo also performed at many other places like the Cowhop, Pelican’s Wharf and the Sunset Grill. His solo act is now a regular perfor mance at the Flying Tomato. He believes people prefer the solo act over the band for several reasons. “A band is noisy and there is more freedom with a solo act,” he said. “My following like to keep the mood loose and less structured.” A big part of the solo act is audi ence participation, Rizzo said. “I try to make them part of the show,” he said. Although Rizzo is dedicated to his music, he considers playing music a hobby and a part of recreation. “My music can’t be anything more than a hobby because of teaching, re search and my family,” Rizzo said. “I play music because I love it.” page 3 Lite Style magazine