The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, March 01, 2000, Image 4

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    * Page 4
It's not easy
AGGTELTFE
THE BATTALION
^GREEN
Musician talks about life on the road as he tours behind his new album
BY SCOTT HARRIS
The Battalion
P at Green grasped what it means
to be a Texan musician and has
never let it go.
He can be credited with being one of
‘ the first artists to take advantage of a
musical movement spearheaded by
Robert Earl Keen and has attained a lev-
, el of success usually reserved for hard
ened veterans of the business. He is
. young, full of talent and energy — and
h’e is back headed to College Station.
Playing just over a week after his
third studio release, Carry On, Green
said he is excited about returning to Ag-
gicland for a performance.
“[College Station] has the most
amazing crowds,” he said. “I am never
disappointed. They are a fun crowd.”
It has been over two years since his
last studio release, though he has man
aged to put out two live recordings to
appease his fans. Green said he was a
bit nervous to get back into the studio
to record his latest CD.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” he
said. "You never know what’s going to
happen. We got lucky; we got a full,
complete record.”
Fans who have had a chance to lis
ten to the record have probably noticed
a difference between this album and his
other releases — it has more of a deep,
personal touch.
"It is introspective and interesting,”
Green said. “The fans will get an ac
complished idea of our makeup, they
will get an idea of who we are.”
Of course, part of being a musician
is touring, and Green said keeping his
shows fresh and new is something that
is innate in his personality.
"I don’t do anything consciously,”
he said.
“It’s just part of my persona, it’s dif
ferent. 1 think I’m a little insane anyway.
Part of it is putting out new records,
playing covers, playing favorites. 1 feel
that if I came to my own show. I’d want
to get my money’s worth.”
Trying to keep concerts exciting is
n't the only thing Green worries about
when he is on the road. He said making
a living as a musician can put a strain
on the non-musical aspects of his life.
“It makes my private life hectic,” he
said. “If you want to get a family and
lead a normal life, being on the road
doesn’t lend itself to that lifestyle. I'm
having fun, though. I don’t feel I have
anything to complain about.”
He said his life on the road has also
put a strain on his relationship with his
fiancee.
“She understands. I’ve known her
since before my first album,” he said.
“She’s been around enough, and she
knows what she’s getting herself into.”
However, among the perks of the
job, Green said he enjoys not having to
work too much during the week. And
the weekend, when everybody else is
off, is his time to shine.
Another aspect of being a musician,
a Texas country artist in particular, is
having to take part in the Texas vs.
Nashville debate.
“The Texas vs. Nashville story has
been told about a million times,” Green
said. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it
again: I'll continue to do what I do and
PHOTO COURTESY OF AUSTIN-UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT
Texas musician Pat Green, who is
currently touring behind his new al
bum, Carry On, will make a stop in
College Station tonight,
see what happens. 1 don’t know if they’re
going to cater to the fans and actually get
quality artists—other than that, they are
just digging their own graves.”
Even if the Nashville scene is sput
tering, the Texas scene just seems to
keep growing. More and more talent
ed musicians are being found around
every corner, and Green said he wel
comes the influx of the musicians.
“The more the merrier,” Green said.
“It is not a competition. If more people
come in and continue to do well, then
I’ll do well, and the whole state will do
well, and that’s what it’s all about. In
the music industry you never know
what’s going to happen.
"We’ve been real lucky. We are just
going to keep moving forward and
make this a bigger deal. We’ll just keep
rolling along.”
Green will be performing at 10:30
p.m. at Hurricane Harry’s, and for fans
who can't wait that long, he will be sign
ing autographs at Hastings at 6 p.m.
Wednesday, March 1,2(11)
Wednesday, M
William Orbit
Pieces in a Modem Style
CD courtesy of Maverick
Recording Co.
England's well respected ambient-
house pioneer and artist/writer/pro
ducer William Orbit has released his
solo debut. Pieces in a Modern Style.
The album features electronic inter
pretations of 11 classical pieces includ
ing Baroque-era works of Handel and Vi
valdi. There are also early 20th centun
pieces by Barber, Cage and Mascagni.
Orbit has chosen pieces that have
stood the test of time. He adds his own
personal spin to classical pieces while
keeping artistic integrity in mind.
He modernizes the pieces, giving
the listener a chance to be more ac
cepting of the classical-esque album.
There are no words to any of the
pieces; it is all music that is very
melodious and free flow ing.
The pieces are ideal for setting a
serene but spiritual mood that definite
ly can help a stressful time.
Orbit has previously worked with
Madonna on Ray of Light, co-produc
ing and co-writing the album. He fol
lows that album with something that is
almost equal in depth and power. This
album is perfect for relaxation or medi
tation or to get away from the immedi
ate reality ... for a while. (Grade: B+)
— Jeff Wolfshohl
mindless self indulgence
frankenstein girls will sem
strangely sexy
CD courtesy of Electra Record
This band is one of those freak sho«-
that totally repels you, but you can'tki
away. Mindless self indulgence is more
image than substance. Tlie album con
tains 30 songs filled with a lot of fast
noise, record scratching and screaming.
IfGwar started ripping-off White
Zombie, they would become this band
At least mindless self indulgence tat
they suck. The promotional sticker on
the album reads “Be the first on your
block to throw this new album out!"
They could not be more right.
With songs like “Dicks are form;
friends” and “I hate Jimmy Pagetheal-
bum is meant to shock and rail out
against the oppressive censorship of te
country. Mindless self indulgenceshoi:
leave the social commentary to those
who graduated from high school.
Some of the songs were mixed by
Mario Caldato Jr., who mixes and pro
duces for the Beastie Boys. Whatever
influence he had on the album isn’t
seen, though.
Mindless sdf indulgence picks upo(
the trash of the music world, then throw
it together in an angered frenzy. Maybe
all they really need is a hug. (Grade: D-
— Kyle WhiW
r
>
^CONTRACT RENEWAL
ON THE WORLD-WIDE WEB
For Fall 2000 — Spring 2001
ALL current on-campus residents are
required to renew or cancel their housing
for the
Fall 2000 — Spring 2001 academic year.
March 1 (8:00 a.m.) - March 2 (5:00 p.m.)
@ http://reslife.tamu.edu
2
COME SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
Aggie Baseball vs. Baylor
Friday, March 3rd
Enjoy Bevo BBQ before the game
Olsen Pavilion 3:00 ■ 6:00 p.m.
Student Foundation Members eat FREE
Friends eat for only $ 5
TRACK TEAM SOCIAL
Thursday, March 2nd
Come meet the track team and have fun!
Gattiland 7:00 p.m.
Cost $ 6
WanttoChdllQG
. ... the world and
DU I IQ your internet
credentials this summer?
Careers
yahoo
This summer, spread the goodwill of the web.
Travel, get training at Yahoo!, work for a non
profit, and earn $5,000. For more information
and to apply, click on the Web Corps link on
Yahoo! Careers.
Participating non-profits:
• Habitat for Humanity
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America
• KaBOOM!
• Grand Canyon Association
• Doctors without Borders/
Medecins sans Frontieres
• American Red Cross
• PBS Online
Applications accepted through March 15,2000
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