Vol. 13, Ed. 6 February 12 - February 18 2004
Vol. 13, Ed. 6 February 12 - February 18 2004 |
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Live Music in Anchorage
Not born yesterday By Scott Christiansen
Somehow (perhaps through the bottom of my glass) I realized that I'd heard these women play in various bands ever since I was old enough to buy a drink within earshot of a stage. I can't say that my listening skills have benefited one iota from all the smoke and alcohol, but I should let you know that the Aquanets' live sound is the real deal. They are a cover band, but they're not hacks. At last week's jam, the Aquanets seemed equally comfortable playing The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, and K.C. and Sunshine Band. Their version of “Funk #49” by the James Gang had heads bobbing in the mostly empty club. Greene, who grew up in Kodiak and is old enough to have cut her musical teeth on Led Zeppelin riffs, played down the Aquanets' femininity. “Is Soul Man Sam an all boy band? I don't know. I didn't notice,” she said. Women get to hear various requests from club owners, patrons and other band members, she said, and most requests don't amount to much. “It's always, 'Hey, why don't you wear dresses?' or 'Hey, why don't you sing?'” she said. I've got just one request. Play “Funk #49” again. Until last week, I thought I had to drive to the Valley and slide a dollar into a jukebox to hear that song. The Aquanets played Fairbanks and Dawson City , Yukon , last weekend. Anchorage listeners with affections for skilled musicians can hear the band at Blues Central beginning in March, Greene said. A venue reborn One inevitability of college life is the constant revolving door of student leadership. If a student (or a group of them) makes something happen, they're sure to matriculate into the “real world” and leave a gaping hole behind. That appears to be the case at the University of Alaska Anchorage . Last week, the campus center's non-alcoholic Pub emerged as a “new venue” for all-ages rock shows under a new band of students. The plucky kids at UAA's KRUA 88.1 FM secured the Pub as a local music venue and are now planning monthly shows. About 250 people showed up Friday February 6, for a show featuring The Brothers Contra, JEB and Delmag. KRUA could do worse than having post-punk power trio JEB, (Jordan Cash, Erik Braund and Beau Bodnar trading instruments) at every show. JEB's Nirvana influence is unmistakable, especially on the shorter pop tunes such as “Baby Love” and “Binge.” Audience favorites about love and alcohol respectively, the songs had people singing (or screaming) along with JEB. The band members are all between the ages of 17 and 20, so maybe we should expect songs about cars next. The JEB set featured wacky theatrical antics. During “The Many Faces,” Bodnar donned a green Stetson and played a barking drill sergeant while Cash wore an army helmet, marched and took orders. The tune pokes fun at homophobia and pretty much every authority figure JEB can think of. “But especially the homophobes,” Braund said. “The Many Faces” lead character is Dan, who also phoned in from Hell during the set's last song, “If Dan Were Here Right Now.” The performance might have sophomoric lyrics a la Frank Zappa, and freaky harmonies reminiscent of Queen, but it's built on the same wall of guitar sound that Hüssker Dü perfected and Nirvana distilled into pop. Band members said they are working on a recorded version of “The Many Faces” that could end up between seven and nine minutes long. I hate to point this out, but wasn't punk rock supposed to kill rock opera? Apparently JEB's fans aren't old enough to have gotten that memo. They were delighted. A new, new venue Catering to the mature end of the rock-and-roll age spectrum is Europa's Studio 68, located between a convenience store and an automotive repair shop at Lake Otis Parkway and 68th Avenue. The joint is in the former location of Chris' Mixed Grill and is owned by Ed Christensen and Todd Harris, business partners who took over the Europa Bakery three years ago. To create Studio 68 they tore out a banquet room and built a stage space, added sound and lights, and designed menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Music with dinner is nightly from eight to midnight. The Son Henry Band played medium-loud electric blues at Studio 68's inaugural night on Friday, February 6. Long, mellow notes from Henry's lap guitar wove through the air while servers delivered pastries for dessert to a dinner crowd that lingered. Christensen said the restaurant complements the bakery and café and is “a way to promote the bread.” But he's a guitar player himself and admits he also “wanted a place to play.” Studio 68 is upscale, smoke-free, and the music ends at midnight, so parents might get home before the babysitter starts charging double. Because there's nothing worse than being held up by a 15-year-old girl, even if she don't have a gun.F Contact scott@anchoragepress.com or (907) 644-5411 |
I caught Lulu Small's band, Lulu and the Aquanets, at a jam session at the Alley on Tuesday, February 3. The Aquanets featured Frannie Romick on Saxophone, Melissa Bledsoe Fischer on keyboards, Patti Greene on bass, and Sandy Heikes on drums.