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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 25, 1996)
October 21 i Aggielife Friday Page 5 October 25, 1996 riving in the Fresh Lane e Refreshments ride the jjmmercial music highway in larch of a roaring good time. By John LeBas The Battalion j^udden success for a rock band can bring about a refreshing change of pace. P.H. Naffah, drummer for the Refresh ments, said he and his bandmates played foi ls in various Tempe, Ariz., bars. They never ught much about making it big, he said, ? fellow Tempe artists the Gin Blossoms *^^!nt national. "Once we saw the Gin Blossoms on David terman, we thought, ‘Maybe we can do ” Naffah said. * d they did. he Refreshments, which formed in , signed with Mercury Records after a npany executive saw them play at the uth by Southwest music showcase in jstin. But success caught the band by sur- ise, Naffah said. “We pretty much just got together, and re happened to be drums and guitars lying und,” Naffah said. “We didn’t have any ex- tations, we were just having fun.” Fun” soon turned into a full-time job. The Ifreshments has toured for about the last r, Naffah said, taking its “drunken de- chery” throughout the country in support fizzy Fuzzy Big and Buzzy, the band’s first RcUmgton,iwBwlease. Naffah said constant touring has eads studentsN irrec f ^ l ast y eai > but playing music makes :band’s hectic schedule worth the effort. “It’s tiring, but you know after you’ve trav- pursareta ;d 1,000 miles, you get to play,” he said, m has to tare'ihat’s the fruit of the labor.” And though the Refreshments works hard entertain, Naffa said its main priority is iving fun. “We’re there just to have fun and play some od music,” he said. “When you go to a show ag pushups, irs are consiii because they in r e to wear i d Doggett I don’t min jch.” >hmen horrible," outfit G- er togetyoursa dsee a band having a blast, you can’t help tii it be infected by that. That’s what we aim for weaifery night.” So fans can expect to have fun at a Refresh- ents show, but what do these guys really Hind like? the Refreshments “It’s not quite breakfast, it’s not quite lunch, but it comes with a fruit cup,” Naffah said. He said he does not want to put a label ■ When & Where Dishwalla, Chalk FarM and the Refreshments will be play ing at Rudder Auditorium Sun day, starting at 6 p.m. The loca tion was changed from Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater due to bad weather reports. For in formation call MSC Town Hall at 845-1515. on the Refreshments’ sound because the band’s influences are so diverse. “We take a lot of influence from our sur roundings and the experiences we’ve had,” he said. “We’re influenced by the past couple of years, if not our whole life.” Living in Arizona, close to Mexico, he said, melds a southwestern flavor in the music, but doesn’t dominate it. “If I could wear a sombrero every night, I would,” Naffah said. “But everybody in the band grew up in different places.” Naffah said he also listened to Thin Lizzy, Rush, AC/DC and other rock bands while growing up. On the other hand, he said, singer Roger Clyne draws from bands like Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker and They Might be Giants. The Refreshments’ formula has been working commercially. The band has re leased two singles from Fizzy Fuzzy, “Bandi- tos” and “Down Together,” which have been played over the radio and on MTV. “The first time I saw myself on MTV, it was the coolest thing,” Naffah said. “It’s ex citing seeing something you’ve worked that hard on come to fruition.” But success can be a little tough to get used to, he said. He said people react strangely when they recognize him on the street. “It’s hard to explain — they look at you all weird,” he said. “I think it’s mostly because we’re as nervous to meet them as they are to meet us. It’s the whole stranger thing.” Despite the weirdness, he said, success has its perks. “What I like most about it is, I’m doing what I’ve always been doing, but now I’m making money doing it,” he said. “And we get to ride in a tour bus. It’s like a dream come true.” few uppeicta hated diem’ 1 links fish spuiii* d points, e way they sou really messifl'j ina said, e meaning of vade some pet is ion, Foster i«!| ; a lasting one, rs are one of .. might be liaiij but it’s one ofl you'll look bad er,” Foster said Dishwalla , a Santa [Sarbara, Calif., alternative band with a socialiy-conscious edge, is [playing Sunday at Rudder lAuditorium at 6 p.m. The show was moved from its originally scheduled venue of Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater due to pre- [ dictions of bad weather. Formed in 1992, Dishwalla has attained success melding its music around social commentary. “As a band, our first obligation is to make good music,” Dishwalla [wrote for Swing magazine. “But | we understand the influence popu lar musicians can have today, and we feel a responsibility to go be- |yond ‘do me’ lyrics and irresponsi- ] ble lifestyles.” But Dishwalla is not strictly a Dishwalla political band, drummer George Pendergrass said. “There’s a serious angle to the whole thing we do, but we don’t want people to get overly dramat ic,” he said. “It’s just music.” Dishwalla is touring in support of its debut album, Pet Your Friends. The album spawned “Counting Blue Cars,” which was number one for four weeks on Bill board’s modern rock chart earlier this year. Chalk FarM, anai- ternative band from Los Angeles, is playing Sunday at Rudder Audi torium at 6 p.m. According to a press release, the band’s debut album, Notwithstanding, urges the listener to rise above the current trend of apathy in the world. “The biggest difference be tween them and other bands is that their dreams came to fruition intact, without having been com promised, lobotomized or convo luted,” the release said. Singer and guitarist Michael Duff said Chalk FarM aims for originality. “We’re always looking to make a song of our own, so that a couple of chords you know it’s Chalk FarM,” he said. “All along, we’ve just wanted to make mu sic that makes us happy.” Chalk FarM LONDON OINEMARK THEATRES Paris Frankfurt Madrid Amsterdam Rome $225 $265 $275 $275 $295 fwres ARE EACH WAV FROM HOUSION RASED OH A ROUFOIW PUR CHASE. Fares do not now* federae tares or PFCs totaunc RETWEEN S3-S45. DEPENDING ON DESTINATION OR DEPARTURE CHARGES PAIODWECTIY TO FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS. FARES ABOVE ARE VAUO FROM Nov. 1 TO OEC. 1S AND YOU CAN STAY FOB A YEAR. Travel to Europe for Thanksgiving! We have Student/Youth tickets FOR $375 ROUNDTRIP TO ANYWHERE IN THE U.S.A! We CAN GET A Eurajlpass TO YOU IN ONE DAY VIA FED Ex. Call Us Today! We have gbeat car rental RATES FOR EUROPE. Travel Council 2000 Guadmupe St. * Austin, TX 78705 512-472-4931 http://www.ciee.org/travel.htm EURAI BRASSES AVAIL.ABLE BY PHONE! MOVIES 16' HRYAF4-COLLEOE STATION | Hwy 6 Bypass ® Hwy 30 764-7592 | MOVIES BELOW ARE FIRST-RUN $3.50 MATINEES EVERY DAY BEFORE 0PM * THE ASSOCIATE (PG-13) 11:15 2:00 4:45 7:30 10:15 * HIGH SCHOOL HIGH (PG-13) 12:20 2:45 4:55 7:15 9:45 * MICHAEL COLUNS (R) 1:00 3:50 7:15 10:35 •THINNER (R) 12:30 2:50 5:15 7:25 9:55 * TO GILLIAN ON HER 37TH (PG-13) 12:15 2:40 5:00 7:10 9:50 * SLEEPERS(R) 12:05 3:30 7:00 10:30 THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT (R) 1:45 4:50 7:40 10:45 LAST MAN STANDING (R) 2:40 8:00 TWO DAYS IN THE VALLEY (R) 12:00 5:15 10:20 THAT THING YOU DO (PG) 11:00 1:50 5:00 7:25 10:30 EXTREME MEASURES (R) 11:00 1:35 4:05 7:05 9:50 FIRST KID (PG) 11:05 1:30 4:00 6:45 9:35 THE MIGHTY DUCKS 3 (PG) 11:05 1:45 4:15 7:20 9:55 FLY AWAY HOME (PG) 11:20 1:40 4:00 6:45 BULLETPROOF (R) 9:30 FIRST WIVES CLUB (PG) 11:20 1:50 4:15 (6:45 9:35)* TIN CUP (R) 11:00 1:45 4:20 7:40'l0:40 GET ON THE BUS (R) 11:10 1:40 4:10 7:20 10:10 ()* “Dear God” at 7:30 on Sat. ONLY * NO PASSES OR SUPERSAVER ACCEPTED http://www.ipt.com TIAL VISIT INCLUDES; CUN sultation •DOCTOR OMMENTS REE INITIAL EXAM ► 2 X-RAYS INDICATED) /ALUEUP TO $145) FICE ACCEPTS: r Medical • Auto Acci- • Workers Compensa- Sports Injuries • Pay- nt Plans • Military nts • Police & Firemen Discounts INTRODUCING TEXAS A&M™ 14K JEWELRY i ■‘96 toriurt ice certs MOCK GRE SATURDAY NOVEMBER 2, 1996 BLOCKER ROOM 102 10:00 am - 1:30 pm Includes score evaluation and follow-up session Tickets on sale October 29-31 from 10-2pm in MSC $5 for members/ $7 for non-members or At the door of room 102 Blocker on November 2 $10 for everyone Given by The Psychology Club and The Princeton Review On Monday October 14th, Step Back in Time... (From the Past Vintap Tojs Hollectililes JOLLEGE STATION'S ONLY VINTAGE TOY STORE WILL BE OPEN! We Buy, Sell,Trade: Star Wars, Star Trek, G.l. Joes, Johnny West, Barbies, Lunchboxes, Board Games, Models, Hot Wheels, [Matchbox, Corgi, Pee Wee Herman, Monsters, Robots, \ction Figures, Cartoon & T.V. Memorabilia, Advertising Characters, Tin Toys, & More! We will be closed today, Oct. 25th Open tomorrow, Oct. 26th and Sunday, Oct. 27th 403C University Dr. West At Northgate above Campus Photo Mon. - Sat. 11 am - 7pm 846-4004 PROFITABLE NUMBER! 845-0569 THE BATTALION CLASSIFIEDS tiiiiiiiiiiiiHiikiiiiiiiiHi I *u**mumu.um***m*m**mwM.**w*mMt III IIIIIIIIIIIIN'HIIMHH 11 f a-r i TVlinlr tin of ^ Trunk Showing of Designer Dian Malouf Friday, October 25 & Saturday, October 26 846-0832 108 North Ave. Bryan Mon-Sat 10-6 V 694-9357 Post Oak Mall Mon-Sat 10-6 Sun 12-6 ATTENTION Medical and Dental School APPLICANTS If you are a student wanting to enter Medical or Dental School in the Fall 1998, you must begin the Application process NOW by attending a BASICS Workshop! You MUST attend one of these workshops in order to start a file in the Office of Professional School Advising. BASICS Workshops are being offered: Monday, October 28 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 14 noon Please contact OPSA at 847-8938 or come by room 205 of the Academic Building to register ASAP as seating is limited. TAM001 14K $128 TAM003 $124 TAM007 $159 TAM002 14K $64 TAM002ERD 14K $124 TAM005 $119 TAM006 $124 Now Available TAM004 Helmet $159 TAM013 Football $124 TAM008 Large ATM $33 TAM010 Small ATM $54 TAM009 Gig ‘em Thumb $121 TAM011 Aggies™ Mom $83 TAM012 “The 12th Man” $88 All items available in 10k. Call for pricing. logoArt™ The Broadest and Most Elegant Line of Aggies™ Jewelry is Available at: John D. Huntley, Inc. Very Personal Investments 313-B South College Ave. College Station, TX 77840 (409)846-8916 -a- vj