Cultural Connection
Outside In
/
Dillon Fence takes a step in the right direction
Erick Gill
The Pendulum
It has been more than a year since the
Chapel Hill pop/alternative quartet Dillon
Fence released a full length album.
Tuesday, April 20, Dillon Fence came
through with their second Mammoth
Records release. Outside In.
Outside In sums up the new sound
and style Dillon Fence has taken. Their
latest 14 tracks are a far cry from the
Dillon Fence that recorded Rosemary.
Outside In carries a rough edged
sound throughout the album. There is no
over-producing on this record. It captures
the true sound of a real rock 'n' roll band.
This time around lead vocalist Greg
Humphreys shies away from the high-
pitched girlish screams he has been known
for. Songs like Safety Net and Black
Eyed Susan, however, let the "(j^ld"
Dillon Fence slip out;
Guitarist Kent Alphin even gets to
speak his mind on the songs One Bad
Habit and Hold Me Down. Alphin not
only wrote these two tracks, but he also
does the vocals. His voice, mellow but
solid, is a soothing change from
Humphrey's.
Dillon Fence has a lot to offer with Lofty guitar riffs combined with a
their new album, everything from upbeat hard driving bass produce some of the
rock songs like Waking Up to soft album's best tracks. Remember and
spoken ballads like Hard to Please. Headache are the type of songs that will
stick in your head.
Even though Outside In is a step in a
new direction for Dillon Fence, it sounds
like a step in the right direction.
Pop singer of ‘60s brings new message to audiences
In 1966 the Swinging Medallions
Soared to the top of the musical charts
"^ith their million-selling record, Double
^hot of My Baby's Love.
Ken Helser, keyboardist and soulful
lead singer, went right along with them.
Into the spotlight for gigs with Dick
Clark, Neil Diamond, performing in front
of sell-out crowds, Ken was living a
dream. Then it turned into a nightmare of
drugs, alcohol, and the result was a
'Crumbling marriage and a desperate
'I'lusician.
Helser’s life was turned around alter
niccting his maker,”
“I had an incrediblc encounter with
^esus Christ and left the band; 1 gave
^hcm my notice that very day,” Helser said
'*11 he Tarboro Telegram.
On his last night with the group,
ret’all.s standing ^e
siJrtdaf^ac&’-by-aMliob'saA*^ intbxicat&d
icens, singing Steppenwolfs song The
er Man, from the movie Easy
Rider.
The lyrics of the song from Easy
Rider were ‘God damn the pusher man ’
meaning God sent him to hell forever,” he
^ d All of a sudden when I was singing
thought, I don’t want that to happen ”
i>ince that night in 1970, Ken Helser
as been playing his music for a different
audience. He has thrilled the young and
the young at heart with his music, his
storytelling, and his artistry (he does
pa.nting and pen and ink drawings)
usually drawing crowds of teenagers and
colle^ students as well as older adults.
hat thrills me because 1 was
brought up in a church that I hated ”
Helser said “u was the most boring
w2” '^hole
That’s not why Jesus Christ came
a box, TO Hme t6 let us’
Elon students will have the
opportunity to meet Helser and enjoy his
music and storytelling on Sunday, May 2.
He will sing at ELON CELEBRATION!
in Whitley Auditorium at 11 a.m., and
then he will perform a full concert at the
Lodge after the morning service
(approximately 1:15). Lunch will be
provided free for all those who reserve a
space, beginning at 12:30 at the Lodge.
Briefs
Elon Dancers’ spring concert
Under the direction of Rosemary
Howard, this select group of performers
will dance to a variety of works by faculty
and guest cjioreggraphefs on Frid^'9pd
•Saturday-at 8 in -McCrary Theatrer - • •
On The
Scene
Our Choice
■ Measure for Measure will be
performed at 8 p.m. tonight through
Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday in the
Taylor Building at UNCG. For more
information call 334-5546.
Hgadirni To Concerls
■ Toyz will be playing Friday
night at the Lighthouse.
■ Sidecar Jones and Perusing the
Bukowski will play Thursday night at
The Cave in Chapel Hill. Gravity's Pull
plays Friday night, Joe Bell Stinging
Blades plays Saturday night and Bloom
plays Sunday night.
■ Yo La Tengo and Basehead
play Thursday night at the Cat’s Cradle in
Chapel Hill. Bad Check and 8 I
Mulberry play Friday night. Belly and
Velocity Girl play Saturday night.
Musicals/Plays
■ Into the Woods will be
performed at 8 p.m. tonight through
Saturday at the Carolina Theatre in
Greensboro. For more information call
333-2605.
■ Marvin's Room will be
performed at 8 p.m. tonight through
Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the
Broach Theatre.
At The Movies
■ Terrace Theatre- Who's the
Man, Indecent Proposal, The Dark Half,
The Sand Lot and Street Night.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Life is extinct on other planets because
their scientists were more advanced than
ours.
Unknown
Compiled by Ashley Stone