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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 1992)
t Page 8 The Battalion Tuesday, March 3,1992 MSC<¥AH Night Fair Committee hosts the 1992 Fair Saturday March 7 8pm - 2am @ MSC Admission Review Redbone's cool style spans generations Leon Redbone proves he can do a lot more than sell beer on ‘Up a Lazy River.’ By Chris Eklof The Battalion Leon Redbone "Up A Lazy River" Private Music Leon Redbone, master of post-ragtime blues and jazz, is probably best known to college students from a beer commercial. His trademark hat, sunglasses and moustache are almost as instantly recognizable as his voice. The man can do a lot more than sell beer though, and it would be worth your time to check out what Redbone and his music are all about. "Up A Lazy River" is Redbone's ninth and latest album. The slow crooning, deep vocal delivery of Redbone stands alone in the music world. His sound is retrospective, going back to an earlier music time. Redbone remakes a few early jazz tunes but also writes many of his own songs in the same ragtime style. Redbone specializes in fanciful tunes that paint interesting mental paintings like "At The Chocolate Bon Bon Ball" and "Mr. Jelly Roll Baker." "At The Chocolate Bon Bon Ball" describes the late- night activities in a candy store. "A little jelly bean / And Mr. Walnut Cream Acted as though they were daffy / Fast asleep Td like to fall / Just to dream about that ball." Watching and hearing the man perform brings one word to mind —cool. The man looks cool, totally in control of his environment, extremely content and with a mellow, laid-back attitude. His baritone voice is cool because of its sound quality and the fact that it oozes Redbone's low-key attitude. The title track is the perfect example of Redbone's cool. The song is also the perfect song for Redbone's style. One can almost picture him floating down a river on a raft with his guitar on his lap and slowly singing his song. There was some pressure applied from Redbone's fans to record "Bittersweet Waltz." Redbone performed the song on an episode of ABC's "Life Goes On," where he played Corky's magical friend, a sort of guardian angel. The response from his fans made him include the song on this album. Redbone also plays some harder rocking roll songs. Redbone shows some versatility with his version of "You're a Heartbreaker," a song that was once covered by Elvis Presley. Redbone has few peers in his musical style. He stands alone as a practitioner of the old style music with some new twists thrown in. His slow, bluesy, Dixieland style probably appeals more to an older generation. However, there is music on this album that will attract younger people as well. When the music is as good as it is on "Up A Lazy River," it can stretch over generation gaps and be appreciated by everyone. This album is definitely worth a listen because the least it can do is expand your listening horizons. Leon Redbone is much more than just another pretty face selling beer, he's a nigh class musician. Aggieland Mardi Gras celebrates first year By Terri Welch The Battalion While New Orleans and Galveston held their celebrations, Aggieland got a taste of a famed tradition right in its own backyard on Saturday night. The first annual "Leap into Mardi Gras," sponsored by Off- Campus Aggies (OCA), took Northgate by storm and has local merchants claiming they are ready for the party to return. "We had the place packed from the beginning to end," said Bob Deam, manager of Two Pesos. "It was a lot of fun and we are already looking forward to next year." Two Pesos, Dudley's Draw, the Dixie Chicken, Equinox, Spanky's and Double Dave's joined in the celebration by selling the traditional Blackened Voodoo beer, displaying purple, green and yellow colors, and hanging up Bourbon Street Signs. KTSR began broadcasting live at 6:30 p.m. from Two I^esos, and by 9:30 p.m. the crowds were taking up a lane and a half of University Drive, said Teri Heimer, a junior marketing major from San Antonio and OCA's Director of Social Affairs. "People wanted to do everything there was to do that night," she said. "We gave out over 2,000 beads, kazoos and masks, which everyone wore all night long. But the beads seemed to be the number one thing to have." OCA also sold pieces of a "King and Queen's" cake for 25 cents and with each piece came a number. The two winning numbers drawn were crowned King and Queen of Mardi Gras. "People were dressed in Mardi Gras costumes, wearing tinsel wigs, and I even saw people come out after Military Ball in their uniforms and formals," said Heimer. Heimer, who came up with the street party idea for this year, said when she approached the Northgate merchants with the proposal, they jumped at it. "I found out that about ten years ago, there used to be a party like this in the parking lots behind Northgate, but that it had died down," Heimer said. "Next year we hope to bring a big name band to play behind the establishments, but there is the problem of noise control." She says OCA hopes to hold a Mardi Gras parade next year if the city approves. The celebration was not a money maker for OCA, Heimer says, but more of a publicity thing and a safe alternative. "If people couldn't go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans or Galveston, they could come here," she said. "It is a safe alternative, being right across from campus and in town where a friend could drive them home." Heimer says this year's first annual celebration went over really well with the businesses, and the crowd and admits it added something different to Northgate. In Advance OPAS plans 'Tosca' lecture 1 MSC OPAS will present "Appreciating Your Night at the Opera," an introduction to and explanation of Puccini's opera "Tosca" tonight at 8 p.m. in Rudder 301. Ira Black will discuss the music, history, production and; performance of the opera which is coming to Colleger Station Friday and Saturday I nighU. Tosca is a beautiful singer whose love for Cavaradossi, a painter, is tormented by a corrupt police chief who lusts for her. The opera is tragically romantic, filled with jealousy, passion and betrayal. "Tosca," performed by the New York City Opera National Company, is in Italian with English supertitles. Two pairs of tickets to the opera will be given away to attendants. One More Time... This is your TV This is your TV with AggieVision Buy AggieVision. Texas A&M’s only 60 minute VHS video yearbook. Only $29.95 + tax. Order in Room 230 Reed McDonald today. 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Bryan, TX 77801 HURRY FOR BEST SELECTION Open 9-6 Mon.-Sat. 846-1947 Across from Chicken Oil Co. 4JU ^Tr M INEMAX J.L IS CUKRENTLY UNDERGOING MAJOR U E N O V A T I O N THIS FALL, MSC STUDENT PROGRAMS WILL UNVEIL A MODERN VERSION OF A TIME-H0NDRE CAMPUS TRADITION. □UR COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO PROGRAM FILMS FOR CAMPUS EXHIBITION AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST, BUT THAT WILL BE ONLY PART OF A LARGER FILM SOCIETY WHICH WILL HOLD AN ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL, AND MUCH MORE OFFICER APPLICTyVriOIVfi now available IN THE DEPARTMENTS OF PROGRAMMING, OPERATIONS, FINANCE, EXTERNAL RELATIONS) PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, AND PRODUCTION GET INVOLVED IN THE NATION’S LARGEST STUDENT-RUN FILM PROGRAMMING ORGANIZATION, AND ITS NEWEST FILM SOCIETY GOME BY OUR CUBICLli: IN THE STUDENT PROGRAMS OFFICE (ROOM 21G MSC) EOII AN APPLICATION AND MORE INFO, OK CALL PAUL AT R47-1435. (APPLICATIONS DUE MONDAY MARCH 9 BY 5:00 P.M. FOR FIRST ROUND SELECTION.]