slim@drutx.UUCP (MauroP) (06/04/85)
A few months ago, I picked up some rumors of some unusual occurences going on
in the mountains west of Denver Co. A new underground fusion group- music
consisting of a mixture of blues, funk, jazz, fusion, and good ol' English hard
rock, with lyrics tuned to philosophy, politics, comedy, and outer space. They
are a group that never played under the same name twice(yet), and had used such
names as: Scream in the dark, Cartoon, The sci-fi-funkers, Super-sype, and Heads
up to name a few. Lead guitar, Bass, drums, with a lead singer made up the
context of the band. They played only originals, performed to minimal crowds
in concert style, usually for free. Hoooo-Hummm I thought to myself and blew it
off. Butt the rumors persisted- A rock group by the name of Animated Suspension
had been kicked out of a club in Evergreen Co.for having an underage Bassist...
Some band by the name of Critical Mass had been kicked out of a club in a club
just outside of Evergreen for playing off the wall music. Well, I said, this
must be the same band I've been hearing about, and if they can't make it in
clubs, then they must be good, so I thought I'd better try and check it out.
One day, while I was wasting some time in my new car, I wound up in a small
unheard community called Harris Park. I stopped at the local store for something
to drink and while I was rapping with the owner, I heard a trace of music in the
air..."What's that?", I asked the owner. "Got me", he said. "Maybe a stereo, I
dunno". I got back in the car and started driving around, in hope of finding
the rumor I'd heard. Zeroing in on the source, the closer I got. the more I
realized that the rumor probably was true. Finally I found the source. At the
most unlikely spot imaginable- the back porch of a small house with a pond for
a backdrop. They were rehearsing their tunes, and I caught about half of it.
Rumors confirmed! They were a class act and the music totally unique...sounds
I'd never heard before...strong, hard driving passages, to soft, strange
whispers. Funked out bottoms, with incredible leads. Lyrics that were totally
out of this world, to basic world issues. All the while, they made fun of you,
me, and themselves.
It started snowing(something that happens quite often in Colorado)...the
Bass player looked up with a grin and started popping out beautiful harmon-
ics, the guitarist added ethreal chords(great effects) that overlapped each
other in such a way that I couldn't tell where one finished and the other began,
while the drummer walked around his set, milking light effects off his cymbals.
The singer left the porch and started talking to me.
"What's the name of that song?" I asked. "They're just jamming.' he said.
"You're kidding!" He shook his head and laghed. "Where's is your next gig?" I
asked. He shrugged. "I don't know for sure...probably in Salida, maybe at an
art gallery in Denver...hard saying". He said.
The snow started to pile up on the equipment, but the jam was still going,
gaining intensity. After a bit,the sun came out, the brief storm dwindled, and
the band called it quits. I asked the drummer while they were moving equipment
if they rehearsed here often...no he said. They liked to keep moving. I asked
him why- he replied that they were keeping the myth alive(for the meantime).
They didn't say much more, and were soon gone.
As I drove to Evergreen with the music still playing in my head, a few of the
lyrical lines drifted out...if I can remember correctly, they went something
like this:
Sister video, burn if you will
Leave your flame standing tall
Lectra' Nancy, make it on through
If any make it at all
chorus:
But there's too many clowns on the stage
that's all
Too many clowns on the stage....
What I interpretted from this song was that they were talking about the wild
music business. All I can say is: If sister video and Lectra' Nancy don't
make it, this band certainly does deserve to!
Pat Mauro