Arts & Entertainment
Thursday, October 15, 1992
The Battalion
Page 3
Austin band brings 'true
groove' to B-CS tonight
Soul Hat returns with "roots rock' blend of musical styles
By WILLIAM HARRISON
Staff Writer of THE BATTALION
Splicing funk, folk, country, classic rock,
blues and groove, Austin band Soul Hat will
perform their own unique concoction of music
at the Stafford Opera House Thursday night at
9 pm.
"We've coined the phrase 'true groove' for the
music," said Soul Hat manager Peter Raspler.
Psychedelic, retrospective yet eclectic and pro
gressive, Soul Hat offers promise for all sorts of
tastes.
' It's roots rock, up to date with funk-groove
rhythm," Raspler said.
Soul Hat recently finished a two-month tour
and arrives at Stafford to support their latest re
lease "Outdebox."
The band gained regional acclaim on the
Austin music scene and their first release "Live
at the Black Cat," recorded at their regular
Thursday night gigs at the local Austin night
club, was named Cassette of the Year at the 1991
Austin Music Awards.
The cassette captures the band's free-flowing
live musical chemistry which has made it a
crowd favorite and cult attraction.
Although the music is highly creative and im-
provisational, Raspler emphasizes that it all
comes together.
"It's based on improv, but not entirely free
form," Raspler said.
The group was formed two and a half years
ago by singers/guitarists Bill Cassis and Kevin
McKinney while attending Southwestern Univer
sity in Georgetown, Texas.
After getting started backing up Austin R&B
artist E.R. Shorts, the two went out on their own,
adding Brian Walsh, a fellow South westerner, on
bass and landing Barry "Frosty" Smith, a veteran
percussionist, to form the current unit.
Before hooking up with Soul Hat, Smith
played as a Motown session drummer, and
recorded and/or performed with Rare Earth, Sly
and the Family Stone, Delbert McClinton and a
host of others.
The band will visit Marooned Records at 5
p.m. for a record release party.
Soul Hat plays at Stafford Opera House tonight.
Bob Dobbes, a worker at Marooned and
Stafford, saw Soul Hat when they opened up for
the Neville Brothers in Rudder Auditorium last
Spring, and compares their style to Global Vil
lage and Retarted Elf.
"They've got good stage presence; it's an en
tertaining show," said Dobbes. "They've been
waiting to come to Stafford and this is the first
time they've had a chance to."
Beside opening for the Neville Brothers last
Spring, Soul Hat has toured with John Lee Hook
er, Blues Traveller and Wide Spread Panic.
Gingerbread Man and the Levis will open the
show. Stafford's doors will open at 8 p.m.
Columbus film trium 1
Gerard Depardieu stars in the new Christopher Columbus movie, “1492-
By ANAS BEN-MUSA
Reviewer of THE BATTALION '
"1492: Conquest of Paradise"
Starring Gerard Depardieu,
Sigourney Weaver
Directed by Ridley Scott
Rated PG-13
Playing at Manor East III
"1492: Conquest of Paradise" is
a grand voyage through Christo
pher Columbus' accomplishments
and tribulations.
"1492" exhibits wonderful act
ing, majestic cinematography and
a fabulous musical score. Vet, like
the recent "Christopher Colum
bus: The Discovery," the film
deals lightly with the political and
economic implications of Colum
bus' voyage.
The film never mentions the
Spanish persecution of the Jews at
the time and only briefly describes
the fall of the last Muslim kingdom,
Granada, in southern Spain.
However, the detailed costume
designs and sets overshadowed the
lack of some important historical de
tails by creating a very realistic look.
In addition to the fine cos
tumes and sets, the actors lent au
thenticity to their characters.
Gerard Depardieu's perfor
mance as Columbus is fascinating
to see. Although Depardieu's
French accent can be heard, it
does not lessen the commanding
presence he is able to display on
the screen.
His portrayal shows Colum-.
bus' fiery passion for exploration.
Depardieu paints a picture of a
man who is ready to risk his life in
pursuit of the truth.
Columbus was also a deeply re
ligious man. Depardieu depicts the
sincerity of Columbus trying to
peacefully convert the natives.
Unfortunately, Columbus be
comes obsessed trying to find gold
and the special relationship with
the native population deteriorates.
The film depicts the vast cul
tural differences and prejudices
between the native population
and Europeans as the mam reason
for what happened, not Colum
bus' inability to govern.
Sigourney Weaver turns in an
other wonderful performance
with her portrayal of Queen Is
personality £
But tm
abella. It was a royal treat to see
such a graceful, soft spoken depic
tion of a monarch.
Weaver presents an intelligent
businesswoman with a deterrmned
and inner strength,
le most breatntaking
scenes are those in which director
Ridley Scott captures the innocent
and untouched characteristics of
the New World.
An example is the scene in
which Columbus and his crew
sight land. The mist rises and
slowly the audience sees through
Columbus' eyes the immensity of
the New World.
With lush foliage, towering
landscapes and foamy waves as a
backdrop, composer Vangelis' di
verse score captures the Catholic
chants of the Old World and the
rhythmic songs of the New
World.
It is not surprising to hear such a
marvelous score from Vangelis,
who won an Academy Award for
his score of "Chariots of Fire."
Go see "1492: Conquest of Par
adise." You will be amazed by the
colorful tapestry of scenery, act
ing, and music.
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$2 Frozen Margaritas 5-11 p.m.
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