Show REM Fascinates Again By Suzanne Aubry Contributing Writer A loud buzz penetrated the air Anxious fans waited impatiently for lights to dim and a spotlight to shine down on Athens Georgias Georgia's REM Blackness Spotlights The crowd roars as Michael Stipe barefoot and dressed in several layers to be re removed removed removed re- re moved throughout the performance begins singing in his distinct sounding sounding sounding sound sound- ing voice the Frequency Kenneth Tuesday May 23 REM along with guests Sonic Youth appeared at atthe atthe atthe the Delta Center as part of their 1991 Monster tour REM started as an underground band in their hometown hometown hometown home home- town of Athens which is also home to The The Indigo Girls and Natalie Merchant who was formerly with Maniacs In the past five years REM has released three multimillion selling albums Out of Time Automatic For the People and Monster The band consisting of singer Michael Stipe guitarist Peter Buck bass player Mike Mills and drummer drummer drummer drum drum- mer Bill B ill Berry took a five fi ve year break from touring while they concentrated concentrated concentrated con con- on making albums Upon their return they had two additional musicians Scott McCaughey and Nathan December The big picture screen dropped in inthe inthe inthe the background which has become one of their trademarks and displayed displayed displayed dis dis- dis- dis played images ranging from bouncing bouncing bouncing ing beach balls to fish suspended in inthe inthe inthe the air The images combined with intense lighting created an energized atmosphere conducive to the music They played Drive Bang and Blame and Strange Currencies Currencies Currencies Curren Curren- cies along with the majority of the other songs they played from recent albums However they didn't forget their longtime followers follow follow- ers and included some older music like Fall On Me and World Leader Pretender Fans of REM are a diverse group People of all ages and styles turned up for the exceptional exceptional exceptional performance They remained remained remained re re- re- re captivated for the entire two hours Vibes grew stronger and stronger as the show progressed The encore including Everybody Hurts Hurts Pop Song 89 and Its the End of the World as We Know It It was a perfect climax |