The Battalion • Page 3
Manders and Nuevo Tejas
find inspiration in life's labors M
Mark David Manders and
the Nuevos Tejas Band
By Amber Clark
\ The Battalion
e digs ditches by
day and is a coun
try singer by night.
But Mark David Man
ders, who is performing
tomorrow at 3rd Floor
Cantina, says his heart is
always in his music.
Manders began writing
songs when he was 15
and two years ago he
made his first attempt at
forming his own band. He
met bass player Russ
Sherefield and fiddle player
David Bennett, and the Nue
vo Tejas band was born.Man
ders and Nuevo Tejas have per
formed at small clubs around the
state, Manders said, usually in
towns few people have ever heard of.
“There’s a place called Egypt down
near Wharton that’s really cool,” he said.
I love those clubs down there. It’s like
walking back into the 1800’s, into some of
those old, old dance halls.”
Manders and the band have never played in
Bryan-College Station, although Manders said
the area is not new territory.
As a student at Texas Tech University, Man
ders said he heard Aggies were weird, unpre
dictable people.
“Everyone said, ‘They’re all strange down there’,”
Manders said. “But when I went down, I went to the
Chicken and had a blast. The people were really
friendly and loved music.”
Manders and Nuevo Tejas have taken several oth
er long roadtrips to small towns. The singer said he
develops ideas from these experiences and likes to
share the events with people through his music.
The band is currently working on a festival called
“Roadtrip from Hell Weekend” that will be held in
Luckenbach in June.
“Roadtrips are hell,” Manders said. “We like to
have a lot of fun when we play and that’s what this is
all about.”
Manders said the crowds always seem to enjoy the
music, which he describes as “shock country.”
He said he tries to create songs that are truth
ful and meaningful, detailing every aspect of the
band’s lives.
Manders sings about everything from getting a
DWI to childhood memories of his father.
Manders said the music reflects his feelings
and that listeners can relate to the rough times in
his life.
“This is definitely not Top 40,” he said. “I don’t be
lieve in rhyming ‘moon’ and ‘June’ and all that bub
ble-gum Nashville crap. This is about screwing up,
working hard, and life.”
Manders said the band prefers playing small
venues where the crowd can feel and hear the mu
sic. He said the best way to judge a crowd is to
play a slow song, and if he can hear a pin drop, he
said he knows the audience is really paying atten
tion to the music.
The band plays professionally, Manders said, but
insist on having fun while on stage. They frequently
present surprise players, such as the undisclosed
guest that will appear tomorrow night.
Manders said he likes audience participation and
he often invites people from the crowd up on the
stage.
In one of their songs, titled “I’m So Happy,” Man
ders simply says whatever is on his mind, then en
courages audience members to come up and say any
thing they wish to say.
“I’ll introduce a song and in the middle of it I
might say something like ‘David is a descendant
of the Ookpick tribe,’ and then explain it to the
crowd,” he said. “It’s more fun and the crowd likes
that stuff.”
Manders said the band doesn’t want to become
too popular. He said they enjoy the family atmos
phere and the close ties they’ve created during the
past years.
Although the band has struggled to make a name
for itself, Manders said he wouldn’t change anything.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. “This
is probably the best time of my life.”
sttinj
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OPAS offers students rare chance to see historic symphony
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By Keryl Cryer
[The Battalion
apsodie espagnole and La mer may sound
straight out of foreign language courses, but
hese two phrases will sound completely dif-
as they are spoken by the instruments of a
renown symphony this weekend.
The MSC Opera and Performing Arts Society
ill present the BBC Philharmonic in Rudder Au-
itorium Saturday at 8 p.m.
The Philharmonic is celebrating its 60th an-
iversary this year and will feature the world fa-
ous conductor/composer Sir Maxwell Davies.
Andi Stevenson, chair for OPAS, said the repu-
ation of both the orchestra and its guest conduc-
or will have broad appeal.
“The BBC has a wonderful international repu
tation,” Stevenson said. “And Sir Peter Maxwell
Davies, who will be conducting his pieces, also has
an outstanding reputation, so we knew that they
would play extremely well in the Bryan-College
Station area.”
The symphony, which is based in Manchester,
England, was founded in 1934 as the BBC North
ern Orchestra and was renamed the BBC Philhar
monic in 1982.
Anand Ramaswamy, director of student devel
opment for OPAS, said the philharmonic has also
won many awards for its ability to provide a wide
array of music, including Saturday’s classical
pieces by Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel.
“It’s been known for its upbeat exploration of
20th century British music and for using a differ
ent outlook in the way that they present their mu
sic,” he said.
One way in which it will provide such an out
look is by allowing Sir Peter Maxwell Davies to
conduct two of his more than 200 published
works: “Trumpet Concerto” and “St. Thomas
Wake: Foxtrot for Orchestra.”
Davies, who studied music in Manchester,
Rome and Princeton, has enhanced his interna
tional reputation by conducting the Royal Philhar
monic and holding the title of Composer Laureate
with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Like this season’s previous nine performances,
Ramaswamy thinks the presentation of the Phil
harmonic will provide a unique educational and
artistic opportunity for students and the commu
nity alike.
“I personally feel like orchestra is one art form
that in some ways is the least understood and the
least known about,” he said.
“I think that a lot of people have the mindset
that ‘Oh, it’s boring. There’s nothing to see and
you just sit there listening,’” he said. “But the im
pact of having a live symphonic production is
something that I think people should really take
the opportunity to try out.”
Yan Pascal Tortelier and
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Conductors
Hands
ty hole-
Texas 1 :
lick np' :
Friday
Live Music
Blue pepper, a blues band out of Austin, will be
performing at Sweet Eugene's House of Java.
Cheyenne will be playing at the Texas Hall of Fame.
Deep Blue Something, an alternative rock band from
Dallas, will be playing at 3rd Floor Cantina. Black Pearl,
an Austin rock band, will be the opening act.
Peeping Tom, a local cover band with a few original
songs, will be playing at The Tap.
A rave, a techno-dance party with DJ's playing constant
music will be hosted by Stafford Opera House.
Soma, Mudshow, and The Blue Valentines, three local
rock bands will be playing at Northgate Cafe.
Other Events
Freudian Slip, an improv comedy show, will be held in
Rudder Forum. Doors will open at 8:30.
MSC Cepheid Variable will be hosting AggieCon XXVI, a
science-fiction convention, starting at 4 p.m. at the MSC.
Rocky Horror Picture Show will be shown at the Grove
at midnight.
Star Trek: Generations will be shown by the MSC Film
Society at 9:30.
Saturday
Live Music
Last Call, a local rock band, will be playing at Northgate
Cafe.
Mark David Manders, a country singer, will be playing at
the 3rd Floor Cantina. See related story.
Mother's Monkey, a local alternative band, will be
playing at Sweet Eugene's House of Java.
Ray Price will be playing at the Texas Hall of Fame.
Sincola, an alternative band, will be playing at Stafford
Opera House to promote their new album.
Other Events
Rocky Horror Picture Show will be shown at the Grove
at midnight.
Star Trek: Generations will be shown by MSC Film
Society at 7:00 and 9:30.
Sunday
Warrant will be at 3rd Floor Cantina. See related story,
page 4.
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FRIDAY MARCH 24
SATURDAY MARCH 25
MIDNIGHT
At the Grove
Admission $3.00
Fun Packs $2.50
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lo celebrate the 40th anniversary of their namesake,
the Newport Jazz Festival All Stars are touring
America, featuring such artists as Jon Faddis and
Red Holloway. From swing to bebop, YOU will see
why The Newport Jazz Festival* On Tour is more
than just a concert - it's an event!
MSC OPERA ft PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY
Tickets are on sale at the
MSC Box Office -TAMU, or charge
by phone at 845-1234
Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to inform us of your
special needs. We request notification three (3) working days prior
' to the event to enable us to assist you to the best of our ability.
Join us for a special Buffet at 5:30 p.m. - Call 775-7776 for reservations.
Also, be sure to attend the Patricia S. Peters Lagniappe Lecture at 7 p.m. in
Room #212 of the MSC - Lecture admission is free.
BUSINESS IS BACK!
Italy Spring Semester 1996
Students will select a minimum of 12 hours:
jfel
Italy
Interested?
Attend any one of these
informational meetings in
25 1 Bizzell Hall West:
Mon., Mar. 27
Mon., Mar. 27
Mon., Mar. 27
2 - 2:45
3 - 3:45
4 - 4:45
Wed., Mar. 29
Wed., Mar. 29
Wed., Mar. 29
2 - 2:45
3 - 3:45
4 - 4:45
Mon., Apr. 3
Mon., Apr. 3
Mon., Apr. 3
2 - 2:45
3 - 3:45
4 - 4:45
Wed., Apr. 5
Wed., Apr. 5
Wed., Apr. 5
2 - 2:45
3 - 3:45
4 - 4:45
ECON 489/:
BUAD 489
LBAR 332/:
MGMT 489
ARTS 350:
ANTH 201:
ANTH 205:
PSYC 405:
PSYC 306:
Economics of the Eur. Comm.
Prof. Pier Luigi Sacco
Culture of Mgmt. in the Eur. Comm.
Prof. Pier Luigi Sacco
Arts and Civilization*
Prof. Paolo Barrucchieri
Introduction to Anthropology
Dr. Sylvia Grider
Peoples and Cultures of the World
Dr. Sylvia Grider
Psychology of Religion
Dr. David Rosen
Abnormal Psychology
Dr. David Rosen
^Mandatory for all students
Study Abroad Programs
161 Bizzell Hall West
845-0544