High Country talent to appear during this weekend's North Carolina Dance Festival

Kara Hodge Entertainment Beat

Two different dance concerts will be presented this week at Appalachian State University.

The first is presented by the Office of Cultural Affairs as a part of the 2000-01 Performing Arts Series. The nationally acclaimed North Carolina Dance Theatre will perform tonight in Farthing Auditorium at 8 p.m.

The company, which has historically stood at the forefront of the national dance scene, is known for its breathtakingly beautiful performances.

The first dance of the evening will be the family classic "Snow White," choreographed by Mark Diamond. The ballet will feature music by Delibes, Greig, Rimsky-Korsakov and Rossini.

The professional dancers will be joined by the High CountryÕs own local talent from the Studio K dance school Ñ Chandler Butler, Mary Clements, Ariel Franklin, Ashley Harkins and Sarah Mixter.

The second performance of the evening will be "Chants," choreographed by world-renowned Alonzo King, who has created several pieces specifically for North Carolina Dance Theatre. This piece features nine dancers and is set to traditional African music from Zaire, Guinea, Senegal and Kenya.

The last performance of the night is "Company B," developed by Paul Taylor and reconstructed by Constance Dinapoli. The Houston Ballet and the Paul Taylor Dance Company first performed the piece in 1991.

Tickets for the North Carolina Dance Theatre can be purchased at the Farthing Box Office and are $6 for students and children, $14 for Appalachian faculty and staff, and $16 for the general public. For more information call the Farthing Box Office at 262-4046.

The second dance concert of the week will be presented by Appalachian State's own Department of Theatre and Dance. The North Carolina Dance Festival will be in Valborg Theatre at 8 p.m. Oct. 26-28.

Dances range from classical ballet to authentic Indian dance, creating a diverse selection for audience members to enjoy. "These concerts provide an opportunity to honor our own while getting to know dance artists whose works draw from life in the North Carolina community," said Jan Van Dyke of the Jan Van Dyke Dance Group.

Performers include Clay Taliaferro from Durham, the Jan Van Dyke Dance Group from Greensboro, Robin Harris, Tiffany Rhynard and Even Exchange Dance Theatre from Raleigh, B.J. Sullivan from Winston-Salem, the North Carolina Dance Theatre Apprentice Company and the Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre.

Appalachian Department of Theatre and Dance faculty members and dance students will present several dances. Faculty members Marianne Adams, Susan Lutz, Regina James and Holly Roark have choreographed dances for the festival.

Students Hope Brawley, Erin Johndrow and Debdatta Dey will also present choreography. Former Appalachian faculty member Chase Angier will present a piece danced by faculty members Marianne Adams, Susan Lutz and Regina James.

Students will also provide technical support. Beth Goldfisher is the stage manager and Randy Davis, Rachel Sherman and Kevin Kirk designed the lighting for the show.

Tickets for the North Carolina Dance Festival are $4 for students and $6 for the general public. For tickets call the Valborg Box Office at 262-3063.

For more information about the concert contact the Department of Theatre and Dance at 262-3028.

Ian Hutchinson Entertainment Beat

If you were a writer and someone asked you to compile a selection of your best work, you might have great difficulty picking out your favorites. When the Indigo Girls decided to release a career retrospective fittingly titled, "Retrospective," they surprisingly had little difficulty picking favorites.

The career-spanning album offers old favorites, radio hits and two new tracks. Songs such as "Shame on you," "Galileo" and "Closer to fine" are among the Indigo Girls passionate and political songs. The issues addressed in their music range from sexuality to spirituality to immigration.

While many of the songs address political issues, there are also many universal themes that everyone can relate to. You may not always agree with them, but you can see their perspective on the issues. What may come as a surprise to many is that some of the band's past shows have actually been protested and even banned.

Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls recently spoke with The Appalachian about their upcoming show at Appalachian State University's Farthing Auditorium this Thursday, as well as a few other things.

A couple of years ago, the Indigo Girls were playing free concerts at various high schools. However, it wasn't their political views that prevented them from doing shsow, but rather their sexuality. Certain school officials got wind that the Indigo Girls were lesbians and some of the shows were subsequently cancelled.

"There's still a lot of homophobia (in America)," said Saliers regarding the cancellations. Fortunately, not all students took the cancellation of the free concert sitting down and raised their voices when the school moved to stop the shows. "A lot of the kids thought it was an unjust move, "said Saliers.

Saliers also mentioned her appreciation for youth activists today. While the Indigo Girls don't personally endorse political parties, Saliers respected the stands that students in groups such as the Green Party are taking. "We've seen youth become a strong force for change," commented Saliers.

n addition to the current tour and the "Retrospective" album, the Indigo Girls have some other recent musical contributions. On their website, www.indigogirls.com, there is a previously unreleased track available for purchase and download called "Point Hope." Proceeds from the song go to the "Honor the Earth," an environmental organization.

Also, the Indigo Girls appear on Woodie Guthrie tribute album titled, "'Til We Outnumber 'Em "which as recorded in 1996. The album also featured artists such as Ani Difranco and Billy Bragg. "Woodie was an outstanding force," said Saliers.

The Indigo Girls make their next stop at Appalachian this Thursday at Farthing Auditorium. Tickets for the show are currently available at the Farthing box office at $25 for students and $30 for the general public. The show is sponsored by A.P.P.S. Concerts and is a non-alcohol show. Doors open for the show at 7 p.m.

Reggae group helps everyone 'forget their troubles'

Kara Hodge Entertainment Beat

The word "Selah" means "to chant together a moment for the group to become one." The reggae group Selah does just what its title describes. "Music for us in Selah is just that Ñ a moment for everyone to forget their troubles and just have fun together," said Mark Evangelist, the group's creator and lead guitarist and vocalist.

As part of a CD-release party sponsored by A.P.P.S., Selah will play with Leisure McCorkle on Friday, Oct. 27 at Legends. The event, "Hometown Favorites," celebrates two artists that are from or have worked in the High Country.

Selah originated in Boone when EvangelistÕs band, "Sloppy Joe," broke up after a five-year stint doing funk in Charlotte. In 1991, Evangelist spent the next three years at Appalachian State University getting a degree but focused on learning reggae music.

Selah toured a lot and recorded a few underground albums, but because of different interests, the band's line-up constantly changed. By the late 1990s, Evangelist solidified the group with Kevin Freeman on bass, Ras Will Hanna on guitar, David Miller on keyboards and Dream on drums.

The band's early influences were mostly roots reggae like Bob Marley, but after almost ten years of touring, Selah's sound progressed to include influences like funk, ska, hip-hop and house fusions. "In any given night we can sound like anyone, from James Brown to Bob Marley to the Police sometimes,Ó said Evangelist.

At the turn of the millennium, the group decided to reinvent their style by adding new songs and taking that sound on the road. Selah just finished their rock-umentary "Night and Day" this past weekend at Mojo's in Charlotte and will release a live CD with it. ÒOur band evolved into what we became on stage. These two mediums will show that,Ó Evangelist said.

Their third release, "Hoo Danna," is an 11-song CD that blends intense guitar work and intricate drumbeats. "Hoo Danna" was an attempt to break out of the roots stereotype created by their first two releases, "Jah Life MusicÓ and "Chant On."

Songs like "One Horse Town," "Liv Song" and "The Plan" are of the typical roots-reggae mix, but it's songs like "Generalle de Conquistador" and "Be Here NowÓ that show Selah's talent. Hard bass lines and strong rhythm guitar are featured, plus the song "Youth," which pulls a blues-based sound lyrically, showing that the band doesn't just sing about the prototype reggae subjects. "Irie" is the most progressive song on the CD. It starts as a slow ballad and moves to a fast hip-hop sound.

The good stuff: Selah definitely has a distinct sound and a distinct style to add to the reggae mix. The band is fun, high-energy and good as a live band.

The not-so-good-stuff: Most of the songs on the album "Hoo Donna" start off on the same guitar rift. It's repetitive, which can make the listener a little bored. And better as a live band than a studio-based one, you have to see them to appreciate them.

Selah will play Friday at Legends. Doors open at 9 p.m. and tickets are $3 in advance and $4 at the door. It's BYOB, 6-pack limit with a valid I.D. For more information call Legends at 262-3032.

For more information about Selah call 263-9430 or visit their web site at www.selah.indiegroup.com.

Squirrel Nut Zippers has a unique 'hot jazz' music blend

Ian Hutchinson Entertainment Beat

Try as you might, the Squirrel Nut Zippers will never be pigeonholed as a swing band. Even though they have been one of the bands linked to the swing revival, and even though you can swing dance to their music, the Zippers have never actually been a swing band.

The Zippers' sound has been an eccentric blend of New Orleans jazz, ragtime, calypso and the blues, which they've described as "hot jazz." They've played with punk rock groups and Latin-flavored bands such as Bio Ritmo. You may have even seen Zipper frontman Jimbo Mathus play with the Countdown Quartet or drummer Chris Phillips working with The Pinetops.

If that weren't enough, there are Zippers side projects galore: Katherine Whalen's Jazz Squad, Jas. Mathus and his Knockdown Society, and Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire.

Since the Zippers hit it big with their sophomore effort, "Hot," many things have changed. Their label, Mammoth, was bought up by Disney in the midst of the swing revival hype, even though the Zippers weren't swing music. The opportunities for solo- and side-projects soon arose.

Following the release of their third album "Perennial Favorites," more changes arose which have since impacted the band's lineup. Zipper Stacy Guess, who played the trumpet, passed away in late 1998, and later, fellow songwriter Tom Maxwell left the band to pursue a solo career.

Perhaps this is why the Zipper's latest effort, "Bedlam Ballroom," feels a tad different. The Zippers do retain most of their eccentric elements and the album is very good. However, "Bedlam Ballroom" isn't as focused on the Zippers' self-styled "hot jazz" and is more geared toward blues, boogie, Latin influences and slow ballads. There are frenzied hot jazz moments, but not many. Fair-weather swing kids looking for a frantic, pulsing dance beat will certainly be let down.

"Bedbugs" has a devilish calypso groove which holds faithful to the Zippers past work, as does "Do it this Way" and the late Stacy Guess's reworking of the classic "Bedlam Ballroom."

Be warned: aside from those tracks, there is no hot jazz or swing sets. There are some other great tracks, though. "Baby wants a Diamond Ring" is an excellent bouncing boogie showcasing the Billie Holiday flavored vocals of Katherine Whalen. "Say What?" is a bluesy tale of an apathetic lover. ÒWell, I asked her 'Do you love me?'/ All she ever says is ÔSay whaaaat?'"

"Stop, Drop and Roll" is a bluesy ragtime stomp, "Just This Side of BlueÓ is excellent, classic jazz, and "Don't Fix It" is straight-ahead ragtime.

Katherine WhalenÕs vocals get more time on "Bedlam Ballroom" than on previous Zipper albums, which is a pleasant change. Jimbo Mathus also lends more of his talents this time around. Zippers newcomer Tim Smith turns in solid performances on tenor, alto and baritone saxophones as well as flute, adding a new element to the band's line-up.

The only thing that is painfully obvious about the album is the absence of Tom Maxwell. Maxwell certainly added to the eccentricity of the group. Often on the album, it seems as though the Zippers are trying to figure out what to do without him. The album certainly turns the Squirrel Nut Zippers in a new direction. Where they go from here remains to be seen, but wherever they go, they'll avoid being associated with swing.

If you like the eclectic music of the Squirrel Nut Zippers, be sure to check out these other albums: Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire Ñ "Oh, The Grandeur!" Jas. Mathus and his Knockdown Society Ñ "Play Songs for Rosetta" Tom Maxwell Ñ "Samsara"