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Show U ( l' f-3 e V 'isGBsav ifsr- J arts & entertainment arts & entertainment editor: Wyatt Brockbank Phone: 626-7624 Jackson Street Junction showcases local talents tr x' u By Brenn Hill guest writer- The Signpost An aspiring singer enters the stage during a take-your-turn, open-mic night. An attentive audience is captured by a group of local musicians picking and grinning an original song. Both scenes might be expected in the folk clubs of Los Angeles or at the Bluebird Cafe in downtown Nashville. However, the Jackson Street Junction right here in Ogden at Jackson and 23rd Street provides audiences with an opportunity to enjoy live performances nightly. Since its opening about a year ago, some of Northern Utah's hottest talents have performed at the Junction. Musicians and singersongwriters representing a broad range of styles and sounds have entertained audiences of all ages. Even regional touring bands coming through town have stopped to play an evening concert at the homey little 200-seat theater. Ted Shupe, manager and father of the acclaimed Shupe family band "String Fever," established the theater so the Ogden community would have a place to showcase its local talent in a professional manner. Shupe's wife, Sandy, discovered Skip the Train, take By Wyatt Brockbank a&e editor-The Signpost Two aspiring young rock 'n' roll bands, Taxiride and Train, enter-1 tained a midsize crowd with their energetic talents at Liquid Joe's in Salt Lake City. Taxiride, a four-piece band from Australia, opened the show. The band's sound was similar to the Eagles, especially when singing a cappella. Because of an airline strike, the group could not bring along their electrical equipment. Despite being "unplugged," they favored the audience with music from their acoustic guitars, four voices singing tight harmonies and a tambourine for percussion. While introducing themselves, the group was apologetic about not having their usual electrical equipment. Ironically, their lack of noise toys proved to be to their distinct advantage over the headlining group, Train. The moving blend of vocal two- and four-part harmonies complemented the rhythms and chords of the acoustic guitars so well that it seemed the vocal and instrumental parts were twice as strong when put together. Members of Taxiride blended Open me Door To ft nOLBLESfrum $ l'lu- de In fUUl r:.!. JL. 1 the empty building on a walk one day and later told Ted of its existence. They visited the then abandoned church and both saw the potential for it to become a theater. Shupe, also a long time real estate broker, decided to turn the upper floors of the building into a dormitory for university students. However, it took nearly a year of renovation before they were able to hold concerts in the ground-level theater. After a year in operation, there is a concert nearly every night. Audience members can enjoy everything from bluegrass to rock, jazz and traditional bagpipe bands. A snack bar provides refreshments in the no-smoking, no alcohol"family-oriented" environment. Though seating is limited, the complete atmosphere has a homemade quality much like the music presented there. The take-your-turn, open-mic night began in fall 1998. It was initially an attempt to give "up-and-coming" singersongwriters and musicians a chance to get some "on stage" exposure through an elaborate sound system. Shupe said the Wednesday night event was quite an attraction until summer began. Since then, the crowds have diminished, causing the Train members, l-r: Jimmy Stafford, Patrick Monahan, Charlie Colin, Scott Underwood and Rob Hotchkiss. their voices together well, and were not afraid to use their upper register, "falsetto," voices to create the harmonies. When asked about their "plugged-in" sound, Taxiride's lead singer said, "We sound just like those guys," gesturing toward Train, who were playing inside. The Australian singers also created a nice audio effect with their arrangements Wherein the lines of guitar and voice seemed to be written in such a way that one was not manufactured Home 29,995 5 ei v .ind -ft up QUALITY WHOLESALE HOMES 1-888-720-0060 Top Quality Homes at "Guaranteed" Lowest Price! Local singers entertain Junction audience with a song from Butt, Christy DeWyze, Marrian Hensley, Alisa McNulty and open-mic nights to be canceled until fall 1999. Shupe believes it will take time before the community becomes fully aware of the theater and its events. Though he does advertise all the bands performing in the theater, he the Taxiride instead to be had without the other. The second group was Train, a five-piece set from San Francisco. This band currently has two songs getting air-time on the radio, "Meet Virginia" and "Free," which sum up the band's talents well. They particularly sound like Los Angeles's Counting Crows, perhaps due to Crows' guitarist David Bryson mixing Train's debut album. In the live show, Train's members had good stage presence and fun guitar grooves. The band's big The Mormon Miracle Pageant Seated under a canopy of stars, refresh your soul as the saga of The Mormon Miracle unfolds before your eves. Free Admission Begins at dusk at the base of historic Manti Temple For more information, call toll free: (888) 255-8860 said his budget is very small. He hopes word-of-mouth advertising will eventually help the theater become a regular attraction in the community.The theater's schedule of events is available at local music stores. It's gest asset was lead singer Monahan, whose emphatic voice is strikingly similar to that of Black Crowes' lead singer, Chris Robinson. Monahan used great dynamics and intlection to express the ideas he was singing contrary to the Beastie Boys technique of shout, shout, shout. For example, he added a harsh quality to his voice when singing a song about fear. Also, his lyrics weren't justsyllable-fillers for the 44 time beat, they were refreshingly creative and intelligent. Unfortunately, Train discarded the complex harmonies for loud electric toys and a more punchy feel of alternative music. The downfall of Train's performance came when Monahan and the two electric guitars competed with each other. The lyrics suddenly became unintelligible, and the shouting singer ended up sounding just like an excess guitar. Eventually, the group's songs began to sound homogeiu.is. However, both groups made it easy and fun for the audience to feel the groove of the music. . They should continue to gain poptdarity, hopefully with more sounds from the acoustic venue. Hercules. (Left to right: Colleen Jeanette Ripplinger.) also posted weekly at the north entrance of the theater. Local talent looking for a chance to play on stage at the Junction may contact the theater directly. Cost of tickets is S3 for weeknight concerts and S5 for weekends. Summer calendar of events Free summer concert series and art at MTC Park on the Ogden River Parkway: June 17 6:30 p.m. Duraje 7 p.m. The Calypsonians June 24 6:30 p.m. Bentleigh 7 p.m. . Ryan Shupe and The Rubberband July 1 6:30 p.m. Pizzicato Strings 7 p.m. The New American Symphony fireworks following performance Tower Theatre June 18 7 p.m. Good Riddance Anti flag No Motive Know it all June 28 7 p.m. AFI 88 Fingers Lotiie Death By Stereo Liquid Joe's June 19 8 p.m. Those Bastard Souls 764-Hero Danielle llowelle |