1993_04 Insight April 1993

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Page A6
April 28,1993
Grunge rock dies out
♦ Term for Seattle
guitar band rock
and its fashion trend
fades from the scene.
By Kym Kilgore	
Staff Writer
Grunge is over.
At least that is what those who arc
close to ihc music industry say since
grungchasbccomcsucccssful in mainstream music.
But wail. Some people haven't even
heard of grunge yet.
Paul Cruikshank,owncrof independent record store Ragin' Records, explained grunge as "guys who used to
be punk rockers started growing their
hair out, started experimenting with
drugs, started maybe listening again
to Led Zcpplin. Black Sabbath and
that stuff and put all those influences
together."
Or, in other words, Cruikshank said,
"Grunge to mc is punk rock mixed
with slowed down '60s and '70s hard
rock."
Grant Alden in a "Spin" magazine
article wrote, "Around 1988, somebody called the music "grunge," now
a term broadly applied to every guitar
band from Seattle (in rough chronological order): the Mclvins, Ten
Minute Warning, Malfunkshun, U-
Mcn, Feast, Bundle of Hiss,
Soundgardcn, Skin Yard, Green River,
Screaming Trees, TAD, Nirvana,
Mudhoney. Blood Circus, Coffin
Break, Trecpeople, Mother Love
Bone, Alice in Chains, Love Battery,
Gruntruck, Hammerbox, Pearl Jam,
Mono Men. 7 Year Bitch..."
Paste is a local Fresno band who has
a sound that some people describe as
grunge but drummer Matt Dunlap
hates that word.
Dunlap said, "If I had to use that
word to get people to recognize mc,
that sucks. But what can you do?"
Music industry people basically say
the same thing. There arc too many
different bands and sounds that fall
under the category of grunge.
Cruikshank said, "Grunge is only a
word. It's just one word. It's hard io
sum up a whole attitude, a whole
feeling, a whole musical style with
that one word."
"I think grunge was a scmi-crcau'on
of the the guys at Sub Pop, [independent record label from Seattle)," he
said. 'There was kind of a Seattle
sound going and somebody came up
with the term grunge and I think the
guys at Sub Pop, being the smart
businessmen that they were, capitalized on it."
Another broad altitude is that this
music and style is anything but new.
Chris Hiatt, A KFSR disc jockey for
four years, said that music like grunge
has been around since the '60s.
In an article in "Spin" magazine,
Jeff Gilbert wrotc,"Honcsily, il was
Jimi Hendrix who first created grunge
when he poured lighter fluid on his
guitar and turned the amp up to 11."
If grunge is nothing new, lhan why
nasi l gotten so big the last few years?
Cruikshank said, "I think grunge
was all fabricated and now it's especially being fabricated in fashion and
music for pcoplejusi to make money."
Hiatt said, "It's a thing to cash in on
suburban kids hopping on ihc next
trend train."
He mentioned how even the deodorant business got into the money
making aspect by naming a deodorant
targeted toward kids 'Teen Spirit."
"Teen Spirit" is the title of a song by
probably the most famotts^grungc
band, "Nirvana."
The grunge fashion scene is something hard lo miss. Flannel shirts,
baggy jeans. Doc Marten boots, stocking caps, and wallet chains make up
the grungy ensemble.
This fashion statement has become
so popular that people can now go to
a specialty store in the mall and pay
ten times the amount for this thrift
store-type clothing. And they do.
Cruikshank said, "The true fashion
is just ihrifi store domes. Now designers are making S300 flannels. It's
ridiculous. You can go get the real
Ihing at a thrift shop for S1.98."
"It was punk rockers who started
playing this type of music so a lot of
ihe punk rock attitudes and styles of
dress still carry over into grunge from
Doc Marten boots and flannels to ihc
oldest pair of Levis you can get and
the holiest sweaters you can gel," he
said.
A person dressed in a full out grunge
get-up may appear to personify a rebellious altitude. People close to the
scene say there really is no altitude.
Dunlap said the attitude is an act of
people who are "wannabees".
"Anyone who tries to act like something is a moron," he said.
Cruikshank said, "I know a lot of the
people up there (in the Northwest)
who play this kind of music and to
them, just the whole word and the
whole idea is a joke and ihcy say there
is no attitude. It's really nothing.
They're just playing rock 'n roll."
As for the Sub Pop record label,
Grant Alden explained its altitude in
"Spin" magazine when he wrote, "Sub
Pop's operating philosophy and ihc
perspective of most of its artists was
ncady captured in a T-shirt slogan
(and later a TAD single): "Loser."
According to Cruikshank, grunge
hasn'i been "cool" since it left ihc
underground.
Hcsaid,"Ithinkalolofthcpcoplein
ihc Northwest now cringe at the term
grunge. I think they created a monster
that they say ihcy don't like anymore
bul Ihcy all made plenty of money off
of it."
So now that grunge is over, what's
next?
Hiatt said thai ihe next scene will be
psychedelic pop noise sounding like
jack hammers mixed with The Beatles.
He further explained it as, "classic
alternative mid '80s rock mixed with
politics, M-TV generation, remote
control holding, generation X reading, fast food loving, microwave
burriioeaung. Converse AHStarwcar-
ing, F*@#ing psychmodccelick mayhem."
Cruikshank said, "Always watch ihe
underground for what's going to be
big in five years."
Brian Maumoynier of Sigma Chi fraternity was "sold" to Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority as part of a Derby Days fundraiser.
Coffeehouses offer coastal
appeal. European ambience
♦ Exotic indulgences
cater to changing
customer appetites.
By Rebecca Boyd	
Staff Writer
The permeating aroma of exotic
blends—Kona Macadamia. robust
Colombian, Swiss Mocha Chocolate— has changed Fresno's coffee
drinkers habits from household
Folgers to European/coastal indulgences.
Fresno coffeehouses aauempt to
offer European and coastal dining
pleasures despite Fresno's central
Califomian location.
Lc Maison Du Cafe, located across
from Fresno State parking lot, offers
French atmosphere and a mix of
French and Greek food.
The menu includes sandwiches, the
Bulldog burger—a 1/3 pound of beef
with fixings and fries for $4.25, salads, vegetarian dishes and fresh pastries.
Coffee prices range from .95 for a
cup of gourmet house to S1.75 for
Cafe Mocha. Refills are .25.
All of Mai son's pastries, croissants,
tarts, biscotti, cookies, pies. Napo
leons and cheesecake arc made in
house every moming.
Maison also offers a 10 percent discount with student I.D.
Owner Milch Hemaidan, 28, '92
CSUF graduate, opened in February
with personal concerns of prior failure at the location.
Hcmidan hopes to expand the patio
outside and build a side entrance.
Java Cafe in the Tower District radiates a relaxed, casual European atmosphere.
Clients lend to linger on stools and
patio chairs; smoking, drinking and
passing ihc lime.
Owner
Kelly
Crossc.3l,
considers
Java mod-
erately
friendly
and targets
lo paying
"It was a risk I had to take,"
Hemaidan said. Hemaidan hopes offering ihc student discouniand nearby
location will draw student interest
and stabilize business.
Hemaidan doesn't mind the lingering onc-cup-of-coffee customer, until he gets loo popular and busy.
mosdycol-
lege age
through
35.
"They
can hang
out as long
as they buy
s o m e -
thing," said Crosse.
Java offers a light eating menu, with
coffee prices ranging from Sl toS2.75.
George Flynn, 55, CSUF instructor
feels ihcy cater to a younger crowd.
"I enjoy coffee houses but it seems
Java Cafe doesn't care aboul service
or my needs," said Flynn.
"I said my coffee was too cold and
they asked if I had pul loo much cream
in il."
Lc Croissant, with numerous local
locations, offers French chain atmosphere, friendly service and reasonable prices.
French sandwiches, croissants,
soups, salads and desserts round the
varied menu.
David Rooney. 24. CSUF student
and avid coffee drinker said "I've
never had a problem and I linger for
hours. The coffee's good too."
House coffee starts at S.80 to S1.10
and up to S 1.85 for Cafe Mocha.
Counterpoint, on Fresno and Alluvial, while not a real coffeehouse offers great gourmet coffee, espresso
and cappuccino from S.90 to S2.25
and a coastal feel.
Owner Brian Hamada, 32. feels
there's no better coffee in town.
For more upscale coastal refresh-
menu The City Cafe on Blackstone
and Shaw offers a menuof "cafe food."
Manager Breni Paich. 30, refers to
the selections as "fairly expensive."
The Cafe serves sandwiches, croissants and pastries from Boulangcric
in Fig Garden Villiage.
Twelve kinds of muffins and coffee
milkshakes are the Cafe's specialties.
Coffee prices range from $1.65 lo
$2.10.
Living Colour's fourth outing, if you
count ihc Biscuits EP, is an ambitious
one. The record, overall, is harder
than their previous efforts. This is due
to primarily two reasons.
First, after the experience of the
Lalapolloza Tour, ihc band has matured and recognized their notch in
rock and ihcy arc exploring the possibilities within it.
Second, the addition of Doug
Wimbish, cx-Tackhead bassist, has
solidified the loud and heavy sound of
the band. It has further strengthened
the rhythm section of ihc band.
Except for the few sugar-coated
songs, like "Leave It Alone", the rest
of the album rocks without apology.
The album's strength lies in heavy
riffs and harmonic songs, like "Bi",
"Auslander" and "WTFF". In addition, "Postman" achieves great sonic
levels without compromising the mes
sage or ihc intensity that is required
in such a great tt
Overall, ihc album benefits from
the band's maturity in ihc hard rock
department,as well as their improved
song structures.
If Living Colourcvcr gets to record
an album of all out and honest songs
wiihoui trying to make them radio
friendly and conservative, ihey can
rest assured it will be a classic album, not unlike the rcccnisucccss of
Red Hot Chili Peppers or Ministry.
As it is, STAIN remains a consistent and promising effort. In addition, it stands up fairly well to repeated listening. Most important of
all, it rocks harder and with more
consistency when compared to their
previous efforts.
STAIN is highly recommended for
heavy rock value with good attitude.
Check out the cool hidden gem song
(a la Nirvana?!) at the end of the
limited edition CD. It isa good cover
of Prince's "17 Days" and it rocks.
KFSR benefit show
By Edward Bove	
Staff Writer
Together, for the first time.
That's the way non-profit stations
KFCF (88.1 FM) and CSUF student-run KFSR (90.7 FM) are billing their upcoming benefit show
and live broadcast.
The show which is this Friday at
the WildBlue, will feature local acts
Una Kabuka, The Neanderthals and
Kenneth—What's the Frequency in
addition to Bakersfield's Spike
1,000.
This show b a benefit for KFSR
which has received several cutbacks
from (he current state budget crisis.
"Our budget has been cut and
we're using this show to help raise
money for operating expenses," said
Kym Kilgore, promotions director
for KFSR.
Operating expenses for the station includes items such as equipment and monthly bills.
This is the first event to involve the
two stations and will be broadcast
over-the-air on both stations.
KFCF DJ and programmer, Suzi
Arnold, believes that this pairing is
a necessity with today's crowded
radio airwaves.
"It's public radio and this benefit
is something we at KFCF feel is a
great idea," Arnold said.
"It's a situation where we decided
we had to hang together or we'd
wind up hanging separately,"
Arnold said.
The show will be hosted by KFCF
personality Rych Withers, KFSR
sports director Kevin Adler in addition to Kilgore and Arnold.
KFCF will place an FM antennae
on the roof of the Wild Blue which
will shoot microwave signals to the
KFCF station antennae which will
then relay the signal to KFSR allowing for the show to be simulcast
on both stations.
Showtime for the show is 9 p.m.
and tickets are $5.
The Wild Blue is located at 1145
N. Fulton in the Tower District.
%
Upcoming Events
April 30 Non-profit stations KFCF,
(88.1 FM) and KFSR (90.7 FM) benefit
and live broadcast. Featuring Spike 1000;
the Neanderthals; Kenneth, What's the
Frequency?; and Una Kabuka, 9 p.m. at
the Wild Blue. Tickets $5 at the door.
Presented by KFSR.
April 30 -May 9 "The Dybbuk." John
Wright Theatre, Speech Arts Building.
S4 students with current student ID, $6
faculty/staff, $8 general. For more information, call: 278-2216.
GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY
May 18-20 "Jesus Christ Superstar,"
at the Wamors Theater, 1400 Fulton
Street, S32.50-$37.50. For more information, call: 264-2848.
June 18 World Figure Skating Champions at the Selland Arena, 700 M Street,
S30-$40. For more information, call:
498-4000.
r-