Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Oct. 26, 1989, edition 1 / Page 20
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Page 10 DTH Omnibus Thursday October 26, 1989 INI $T Ad El Just ask: They'll do V V': 4 ' II' ' ; J? 1 - - - ,-' " r 1 t x .X ) T The Transactors (from top): Allison Heartinger, Peri Hope, Dan Sipp, Tim Johnston, and Greg Hone He's still alive? Oh, I Camper Van Beethoven Wednesday, Nov. 1,10 p.m. Cat's Cradle Tickets $9 The unpredictable, unprece dented Camper Van Beethoven is coming to Chapel Hill in a "bittersweet" mood. To experience their eclectic sound and own views of reality, and to get an early taste of their newly-released Key lime Vie, grab nine dollars, get a ticket, and be at the Cradle. With this tour, Camper Van Beethoven is promoting their Key Lime Pie creation. Through the title and the key-lime color of the album, the band continues to show the un ceasing sense of humor that has made it famous. But the music underneath that humorous exterior is no joke. In the words of lead singer David Low ery, the band's newest release is "not gloomy, but moody appreciating the richness of life, the ripening, the humor, the ironies, but also seeing the decay that goes right along with it." However, this new direction does not signal an end to Camper Van Beethoven's early style, which pro- Melinda Bogardus duced songs like "Take the Skinheads Bowling" and "Where the Hell is Bill?" Not at all. With a little help from Virgin Records, the 5-year-old band has merely achieved a better, more mature quality in its music. This improvement is a continu ation from Camper Van Beethoven's first Virgin release, the critically acclaimed Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart. On both albums the band managed to maintain its alternative and original style without resorting to shallow modifications of earlier music. Lowery attributes the band's im provement in sound without com promising integrity to the flexible and innovative producing of Dennis Herring. Lowery describes Herring as "real down to earth, and honest, and he has lots of good ideas. He gener ally comes up with stuff that's weirder than what I would come up with." The cooperation between Virgin Records, Camper Van Beethoven and Herring has allowed the individual ity and incredible wit of the band join with the rich and elaborate sound of a big label to bring Camper Van Beethoven to a new level of quality. Not only has Camper Van anythin$ Transactors Improv Company Tonight, 8 p.m. Union Cabaret Also every Friday night at 9 p.m.at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro until Dec. 8 M any people think it would be hard to be a stand-up comic, and it probably is. But imagine trying to be just as funny while improvising the material in stead of just repeating rehearsed jokes. Such is the routine of the Transac tors Improv Company. The group formed seven years ago as a children's theater act, but they've evolved into a comedy group that fits whatever audience is present. The Transactors' material is based directly on audience participation and is done totally, as the members like to stress, "without a script." The need for a special rapport with the audience limits the Transactors to small rooms. They usually perform in local establishments, such as Char lie Goodnights' and the Hardback Cafe, or at universities across the state. They also perform regularly at the Carrboro ArtsCenter, where the group got its start. The group has tried bigger audi ences, opening for such performers get it. Camper Vm Beethoven! This is Beethoven changed its sound, it has made a change in membership, al though four of the five original members remain. The latest addition to the band is violinist Morgan Ficher, who replaced Jonathan Segel. Ficher last played in a Bay-Area band called Harm Farm, and she is now the only female and non-California native in the group. Lowery continues to sing lead vocals and play rhythm guitar; Greg Lisher remains at lead guitar; Victor Krummenacher contributes some vocals and plays the bass and Chris Pedersen still adds vocals and drums. Together these five musicians form you want Bryan Burns as Dionne Warwick and Leon Red bone, and they've also had a few other unique experiences. Once they per formed at a Medieval Festival where they did their usual act, but with a slight twist: All the dialogue was spo ken in Olde English (with lots of Thou's, Thy's and Prithee's), and they wore full medieval costume. The Transactors consist of Alli son Heartinger, Greg Hone, Peri Hope, Tim Johnston and Dan Sipp. Although the members of the group have changed over time, this lineup has become truly dedicated; for the first time, the Transactors have be-' come a full-time operation. As Heartinger said, "It's not just a hobby anymore.. .These guys are se rious about humor." The group has various premises to enact, but the situations and specif ics are based on the audience. In one sketch, the audience provides 10 emotions, such as jealousy, insane madness or lust, and a location. Two characters are placed in the location. As they begin whatever dialogue comes to them, an emotion is called out and one of the characters is struck with that feeling. (It comes out like the Warner Bros cartoon where Bugs Camper Van Beethoven, but 'Where the Hell quite a unique and unclassifiable band. lb remain true to such attributes, Camper Van Beethoven utilizes dif ferent themes, philosophies, stories and observations in its music. The humor that permeates these satisfies the most wit-hungry senses. Some of the new songs go further than to make you laugh; they make you wonder if you really should be laughing as they stab at some bitter truths. Besides using many ideas and lev els of humor in the lyrics, Camper Van Beethoven produces a broad spectrum of sound. The group offers many styles, including punk, coun try, surf, classical, mid-eastern, and rn I 21 1 r them to Bunny and Elmer Fudd change per sonalities depending on what hat falls upon their heads.) There's more to improvisation than just quick thinking and good humor, however. According to Johnston, "there's a solid technique and strong rules to follow, but it's easier than working with a script." The other members agree. Having seen a group that performs part of their act impro vised and part scripted, Heartinger prefers the spontaneous humor. It's understandable when improv fails, but like she says, "scripted lines should be funny; there's no excuse." Sipp compares their preparation to basketball practice. "It's like a sports team there are basic building blocks you use, and you have to learn these." Another big part of their rehearsals is spent talking about cur rent happenings and building trust as they get to know each other. But when it comes to actually per forming, Heartinger says, "It's a ter rifying thing to do. You have to trust the person you're with, hoping they're not going to let you down." But it's obvious that a special bond has formed quickly between the group's mem bers. As they said, "It's a love thing." The Transactors' unique type of comedy is something that has to be seen. No matter what type of humor the audience would like to see, they can just yell it out loud and the group will do it. is Bill?' carnival. Plus, they always have a Camper Van-patented instrumental ready which will please any distinc tive taste. The band that says, "Some people say bowling alley's got big lanes," "I had a dream, I wanted to lick your knees," and "Take the skinheads bowling, take them bowling " truly understands what's going on in the world. Camper Van Beethoven can be a window to a richer, more excit ing version of reality that is never more apparent than in concert. Such live interaction between the band and the audience is to David Lowery "the main act of music."
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Oct. 26, 1989, edition 1
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