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Show 3 -- fH. 1 . mmilmmmmmmmimmmmmKmmmmmma by luciano marzuili vargas The Nothing Yean The New Evils Soundco Records m (ot ffi) 0000 mm (ol ust in case you forgot that rock if and roll could be the baddest- ass thing to listen to in the whole world, The New Evils is here to remind you with the I I g-- sk Peter Koelsch fter a seemingly endless tour from coast to koast, through the moun tains and valleys of North America, the members of the touring sensation known as Topaz show no sign of slowing down their travels. Instead, this particular band has consistently thrived off venturing through distant and foreign lands. Its intense, groovy edge both sparks the audience's attention and guides its listeners through a unique musical journey that is seldom heard in the two-yea- r Inter-moun-tai- West. After opening for the town and therefore has considerable musical significance for the band leader. The town's unique music scene had a profound effect on the saxophonist, a reformed high school band alumnus. The unique settings for many of the performances during SXSW is very important to musicians, and Topaz is no different. The proof is evident in its ability to get the crowd excited and moving while building off the crowd's intensity. "That is my biggest value in live performance," says McGarrigle, "just to channel some kind of tangible energy and make the crowd happy ...The crowd makes all the difference." He even thinks that the Salt Lake City audiences are "off the hook." Unfortunately, shortly after saying this, my Radio Shack tape recorder broke down on me, but not before members of the band mentioned their appreciation of the Salt Lake City music scene and the audience support. Be sure to check out Topaz often, as it is always on the move spreading its groovy voice to eager listeners. sified under an urban groove or vibe style, though the band will not endorse such encroaching classifications. "We're out there just doing our thing," says band leader and saxophonist Topaz McGarrigle. "We tour about half of the year. We are really excited because we are doing Jazz Fest in New Orleans, La.J in the spring...and we are performing at the South by Southwest Competition Showcase in Austin, Texas." The SXSW performances in Austin are significant for two reasons. This year, Topaz's record label, Velour Records, is showcasing their most prominent acts, including Boston Soulive, and many others, in an attempt to aggrandize their already highly regarded yet outspoken indie label among giants. Over the past two decades, Austin has established itself as one of the substantial U.S. music epicenters, sharing a spotlight with New Orleans, Nashville, Seattle and Los Angeles. Because of such high regard, the annual competition attracts people from around the globe. Austin is McGarrigle 's home n leg- endary reggae ensemble The Wallers at Park City's Harry O's, musicians from the bright-eyeNew York groovejam band took time out from their evening to talk about the tour, music and values that keep this unique organization of groove musicians constantly touring and always d growing. Topaz's sound can only be clas g ever-growin- petered-mag.co- release of The Nathdng Years, The band's version of rock and roll involves reverberating guitars and a signature style that saturates the listeners' ears with sound but little instrumentation, straightforward dramming and honest and intense vocals. These guys don't rely on anything but th e music to convey their a Ititude. The New Evils are Denny Morrison, (vocab, harmonica, lead guitar), Steve Morrison (lead, tremolo and acoustic guitars) and Mike Kirkland (rhythm, ekctric and acoustic guitars), Morrison and Kir Hand trade off ca drums throughout th? album. Kirkland happens to be the nan behind the bcal I ibel Soundco Records an i a farmer tcit ml er of Fro r. :h w U from dep in "The Drifter" is a dark t alLid with the caverns cf a man's scul. An acoustic guitux accompanies the a repetitive sstcf chord? to a country folk rhythm vocas whife muting thf'ftrings i?ithWhr register for added effect IIA'ihort and fun instrumental tune on the stim is "Drunk feci that truly embcc:s its title. Walk, with a stride-H- l The pounding drums, straightforward vocab and heavily reverberated guitar on "The Ancisr.t Teens demonstrates the sound.? create cool band's ability to ?ni deliver true grit that can't be faked. This is th? band's gjys are the real deal. While young whippersr.5p7-.r- s lie k- 2 sometimes go -ate out of our W3y to be these guys with their musical pressrvce. While all the songs are cool, "Go Go Eyond" stands out for its boisterous sound of distorted and warns, guitars and Kirkland on drums with machineliie timing hanunerins cut the beats. With 10 songs, the album, approaches the mark, delivering gritty rock and roll and leaving the listener wanting more. s" strirththss bad-sise- s, ss 40-minu- te . m Turn In Your Friends St Neighbors SKG Music if .4 e ." . it ii "All r ii ii Can r-- " . . . . V ! o rv": n r ; T. . L fii. , x rith their debut 1 EP, Living Things attempts to rein- J t political commen- while riding the tary and ; si iraay and roll. The title alone takes a sarcastic stab at the recent call by the administration to rat out your neighbors for activities rock JfJ n. The three brothers that form th band all grev up in St. louis, defying local school administrators, getting in trouble with cops " ! i ! I and fighting with each other, which pis sed off their parents. Apparently the only way they avoided punchi each others' lights out was by picking up instruments and playing music-- be it heavy rock and roll. Lillian Berlin, age 24, plays guitar and sings, Eve, age 20, mans the bass and Bosh, 18, plays drums oddly enough two of the members aren't even old enough to play in bars, but that ain't stopping them. The four-sonEP rounds out at about n minutes with three political tunes and one about a really fucked-u- ? relationship. "Bombs Away" opens the E? with a nicely timed anti-wa- r theme the tempo is fast, the guitars snd basi heavy and the drums boom. The oddity is that it sours ii V.Yi lillian is trying to fake an accent on the vocals either that or he just enunciates too much. Either way, it sound; v;eir;l "Pick Out the Meat," a song about trkir..i the mill and not conforming to the rat race, folbvvs in suit with fast and heavy sound. "Standard Oil," about our ft? imiiy I c LI people slows the tempo down while maintainir.?; a lr---f rnd on the bsss and complimentary chords on the guitar. The fucked-u- p relationship son?. TlooJ riose," wraps up the alburn with more of the same sound but wth a repetitive chorus that tires after a while. The boys are working on a full album. esiU Your !;r;th due out some time this Rights, tut in tl-- a iuarvti:.ie Turn In Your Friends &c Neighbors offers up scms stn'.jhtf.-snvar-i rock and roll demanding the Ustsai'r to pay attention and see all the horrible things going cn aroun I us. g e I -- r J - J 7 (' I v. I guitar-saturate- R4 I march 13, 2003 I HED Matfazine d |