Louisiana State University - Gumbo Yearbook (Baton Rouge, LA)

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7i while others are had by actively pursuing their management. It is indeed a method that has work- ed well for The Chimes for sever- al years. Although The Chimes caters mainly to a roots, blues, and cowpunk taste, near-stellar acts such as Leon Redbone. Jerry Jeff Walker, and the maniacal folkie Mojo Nixon have all used The Chimes as a venue while on tour. One of the newest additions to the number of local enclaves who boast live decibels is the Dougout (previously Doc ' s). Confound- ing some in the beginning of the fall promising The Smithereens and other prominent acts, the Dougout has nonetheless pro- vided a surprisingly active sche- dule of musical events. ' The problem with the Smithereens was that we had everything but a signed contract and we were out- bid by about $2,000 by some bar in Memphis. said assistant manager Mike Lamendola. attesting to the ephemeral nature of the industrv. Addina to some of the early difficulties experi- enced by a new establishment trying to edge into the local music circuit is the circulation of a com- munity petition by homeowners residing directly behind the Dougout and their acclaimed patio. This petition has thus far forced the fun associated with a live performance inside the bar. resulting in a few cancellations by otherwise-accessable bands. If we had access to the patio. said Lamendola. we ' dbekillin em right now! Another local bar that has al- ways featured simultaneous rock n roll is everyone ' s favorite pledge tank. Murphy ' s. Although Murphy ' s has only re- cently began to vigorously adver- tise and promote their reputation as a viable live music source, according to manager Mark Brown, Murphy ' s has always featured live music ever since it ' s opening in 1980. Even with such a history, one rather im- pressive coup that the bar has scored were the shows both Will (Sexton) and the Kill, and Guadalcanal Diary played there last year. Those were had almost by pure luck, com- mented Brown. We found out that Guadalcanal Diary was in town visiting the guys in Dash Rip Rock and were willing to do a gig. while Will simply had a free date, and there we were. Despite the various monetary principles that are involved in the reasonable healthy local rock n ' roll environment we sometimes take for granted, the enthusiasm local bars express in attracting ta- lent has indeed sparked an in- terest in the local music scene. Because of this, the appeal that a living, breathing, chord- thumping ensemble enjoys over pre-recorded sounds will, hope- fully, always prove to be more profitable to bar owners and en- joyable to patrons. Besides, it just isn ' t any fun to throw a beer bottle at a tape deck. J. Steve Zaffuto POPULAR BANDS IN LOCAL BARS 27

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BIG BANDS One thing (besides perhaps free beer) that definitely en- hances the overall lure of any loc- al establishment is the appear- ance of a real live band. Or. bet- ter yet. a really good live band. Besides possessing the ability to take requests and provide a temp- ting target for certain aluminum or glass projectiles, a live band can and will always give that fes- tive impetus that a tape deck just can ' t provide. Obviously, any profit-minded bar would much rather hire a competent, wel recieved act than the dubious alternative. Perhaps due to this factor, in recent years the amount of live music featured at local establishments has increased sig- nificantly, leading many, parti- culary nosy yearbook-folk. to wonder about the local bar band scene, particularly book- ing methods and the competition. Boasting a whole host of local, rahid en- thusiasts, rockabilly mavens Dash Rip Rock make it a violent habit to play local establishments Popular Bands Find LSU Following if any, that is involved. I really don ' t see the increase in live entertaiment at local bars entailing any sort of competition; actually it ' s good for the local music scene. Such is the civi- cally-oriented attitude of Tim long considered to be the Whis- ky A Go-Go of Baton Rouge. ■ The acts that play at The Chimes are booked by various means. continued Tim. refer- ring to the large amount of live music that The Chimes is known Hood, co-owner and manager of for hosting. Some newer bands The Chimes, a restaurant bar approach us asking for dates 26 Popular Bands in I ocai Bars

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Audience Lends Hand in Deciding WHODUNNIT h was a dark arui shrrmy night. . . Well, not actually, the weather on February 1 st was fair with just a slight touch of chill in the even- ing air, but it was an evening of mystery nonetheless. The national tour of The Mys- tery of Edwin Drood made an appearance in the Union Theatre at 8;00 p.m. and entertained a near-capacity audience with bawdy humor, slap-stick com- edy, and a twist ending to its ever changing story line. The reason the story line is ever changing is that the audience of each show gets a chance to vote on the outcome by a show of raisc ' ' ■inrts. !■ The story was originally pen- ned by Charles Dickens, but due to the untimely demise of Dick- ens the story was never ci m- pleted. Pop music star Rupert Holmes ( Escape The Pina Col- ada Song ) worked the story into a musical which would go on to earn a Tony Award during its s ' ay on Broadway. Pictured here, young edwin Drood ha disappeared and Princess Puffer (front left) and Dick Dalchery (a disguised de- tective who could end up being any one of a number of Ihe story ' s characters, front right) are each waging their own private investigations. iCtOSli fellkai i; DOI I HcltlH I ' holos by George Whitney 28 Mystery of Edwin drood