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Notes From the Underground
By Michael Mechanic
Musical Madness
Underground multimedia music-theater weirdness comes to the Vet's Hall on Friday and Saturday courtesy of a group of locals calling themselves Work in Progress Productions. Brothers Jason and Aaron Arredondo have written a play called Electronic Elation that follows a character coming to grips with the semi-tragic realities of modern life. It includes original live music ("unique rock," Jason calls it), video, film, theater, singing and dancing, as well as pre-recorded tapes of improvised sounds utilizing stuff from kitchens and living rooms. The production is led by a core of about five people, including Matt Embry of E is for Elephant, a local band that specializes in eclectic jazz, fusion and noise.
As for the plot, maybe you'll go home and weep, maybe not. "It has some comedic elements," Jason says. "Living in this society is almost a constant barrage of nonstop nonsense." The show starts at 7:58pm at the downtown Vet's Hall (Room 23) and benefits Free Radio Santa Cruz 96.3FM (donation requested).
Bring 'em Home
Speaking of benefits, the Vet's Hall went off last Saturday as local bands raised more than $2,500 to help create a shelter for local homeless teens. With an unforeseen late start and six bands on the bill, Good Riddance didn't get to play their full set, but still put on a good show. They probably needed the sleep anyway, since they were jet-lagging from what one bandmember says was a very successful tour of Europe. There was some dialogue between Fury 66, who are more or less straight-edge, and Stench, whose "fuck straight-edge!" attitude raised a few pierced eyebrows (that naughty Guerin--such the provocateur). Stench stepped in at the last minute for the Champs, who canceled after their van broke down in Portland. Considering most of the crowd was there for the punk stuff, they seemed to like Berkeley's Say Uncle, who do convoluted hard rock. You'll have to tell me about Junk Sick Dawn (I was kinda busy during their set). Openers Dajima sounded pretty good, though their mid-tempo, punk-influenced rock was a bit slow for the soda-crazed grommets. I guess the kids'll just have to open their minds, eh?
Video Review: Cold Heaven
This video from local producer Mark Matovich, who did Monster Mavericks, has one thing going: excellent footage of local surfers at Santa Cruz breaks. Besides that, Matovich blew it on this one. In Mavericks, he stoked SC by putting some killer local bands on the soundtrack. In Cold Heaven, he uses mainly death metal from wherever and it doesn't really fit. There also is a soft-core gangsta rap, which works about as well with surf footage as ice cream with anchovies or maybe a tuna colada. But the worst were these two women clad in leather corsets writhing suggestively on the screen between surfing scenes, sending the distinct message that the waves are for the boys and the role of the girls is to service the boys. That's a message young surfers can do without.
No Use for a Column
That bit about No Use for a Name last week was pretty unfair. I don't know whether that stuff is even true, although one reader just emailed me that he heard No Use's song "Justified Black Eye" on a commercial for a sporting-goods chain (I wonder if No Use knows about it). Anyway, I say stupid things sometimes, so I hereby rescind every stupid thing I've ever written in this column. ... (Poof! The column disappears.) However, I reserve the right to make fun of that bitchin' band Chappy and the Stiles Twins.
Upcoming
Check out Grey Zone's 16-and-over show on Monday (9pm) at SC Hotel with Automatic 7, the Cavities and Stench (pee-eew!)
This page was designed and created by the Boulevards team.
Mask and Ye Shall Receive: These and other local weirdos create a theatrical spectacle for Free Radio on Friday and Saturday.
Local artists and musicians put on a full-fledged show
From the Dec. 7-13, 1995 issue of Metro Santa Cruz
Copyright © 1995 Metro Publishing and Virtual Valley, Inc.