Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / Feb. 23, 1996, edition 1 / Page 10
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6 Inside the heads of Guilford's musicians Feel the fury Furious George jams bluesy rock BEN THORNE staff writer Furious George, Guilford's newest band, is on the rampage and for your own sake, don't ask about the name. Especially if you're a man wearing a yellow hat. Prowling about the north wing of Milner's first floor, you may hear odd noises escaping from their lair: twangs, squawks, squeaks, and throngs. These are the blood-curdling sounds of.. .blues filled rock 4 n' roll. "It definitely has a blues base," said Jesse "Caveman" Koplowitz, the band's harpist. "It's just rock 'n' roll," replied the band's frontman, "Uncle" Jack Shuler. "American rock 'n' roll," added guitarist "Phat" Matt Smith. "None of that British bull shit," Caveman explained. Despite the dissension in the ranks, the scene did not develop into another classic brawl within the band. "We're going to hire a trainer to teach us how to do that," said Smith. For right now, Furious George seem to be above that, more inter ested in making good music than breaking good furniture. That's a fairly mature attitude for a band that's been around for only a few weeks. The Guilfordian fQQfUfQQ February 23, 1996 The band started with Smith, Shuler, and Koplowitz jamming on the side steps of Milner last semes ter, and bassist "Big" Chris Cirrone completed the cast when he joined a month ago. Listening to a practice session, however, you'd swear they grew up playing together, with the mu sic of each player flowing seamlessly together, creating more than just a song, but a mood. Furious George is also strong lyrically, thanks to Shuler's words and voice. "What I write is about things that happen to me. Some are just random thoughts that come to me," he mused. But why read about it when you can experience it for yourself? The band will be playing in the Under ground Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 9 p.m. "We're coming to your home whether you like it or not. Don't say we didn't warn you," Smith proclaimed. The band tells the public to expect a lot of jams, be cause they improvise well. They also promise it will be an express train to hell. Don't say they didn't warn you. To be fair, some of them. From the practice rooms of Dana to Milner S first floor, the sounds of music being written, strummed, wailed, crooned, belted out, and other wise produced are undeniably important to the musicians and listeners alike. Here, our investigation into a little bit of what music means to us all. Raw emotion of jazz enthralls musicians, fans CORY BIRDWHISTELL editor in chief I've grown up fascinated by my great aunt Myra's wild tales of Raleigh during World War 11. She and her friends worked for the war effort during the day, and then met their boys and swung all night— as though there were no tomorrow. Jazz reigned as king, and they served as its loyal subjects. Their spirit lives on, I sense, in the passions of Guilford's jazz musicians. Members of the two jazz com bos and the new Dave Limburg's Dixieland Orchestra demonstrate during every performance their adoration for the freedom and soul of their music. "You have the freedom to ex press yourself in improvisation, not just read what's on the pages," explains pianist Andy Peachey. This benefits the jazz fan as well. During Dave's band's perfor mance at the recent Mardi Gras dance, Anna Newell said, "Jazz has so much to do with improvi sation and emotion.. .raw emotion, the key to human nature." On the stage, Dave and clari netist Jeff Johnson crooned into one mike, "Please don't be angry, cause I was only. . .teasin' you." This song, "Angry," is the band's favorite. They debuted at the February 15 student coffeehouse, and they think this gig in Sternberger will be their last time playing Dixieland together. "These guys are amaz ing," Dave exclaimed, in reference to the other four band members— Jeff, Janina Smith (trombone), Drew Hammond (piano), Jason Brenner (bass guitar) and Fernando Alva (drums). All but Janina also play in one of the two jazz combos. Drew, Jeff, Fernando, Jason, and David Smith compose one, and Andy, Wyatt Patterson, Jorge Mesfin, Allison Mowrer and Chris Murray make up the other. Piano professor Mark Freundt leads the groups. Drew contends that while jazz is getting more popular, it still lacks major support on campus. Jason mentions that jazz albums only make up 8 percent of all al bum sales in America. Janina, who has the ability to see the jazz combos as a fan, not a member, says, "There is a small following they are unaware of." From my observations at the Mardi Gras dance, I see this following as small but diverse—cognizant of not only the value of the musician's freedom, but of their own..
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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