By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
September 20, 1991
With Jesus Jones, what you hear isn’t always what you get.
Spearheaded by songwriter-vocalist Mike Edwards, Jesus Jones is a band that uses sampling as an art form rather than an easy way out. The sound snippets Edwards selects to sample are rarely left in their original state. Rather, he creates new sounds by elongating sighs, changing pitches and distorting voices.
Jesus Jones, which picked up the best new artist award at MTV’s video awards show earlier this month, will perform a sold-out show at 7:30 tonight at the Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence (559-1212). Opening will be Ned’s Atomic Dustbin.
“In general terms, I am very critical about the state of rock music in the ’90s,” Edwards said. “Most of it is very retrogressive and tries to pass itself off as being new. Paradoxically, sampling can make something old sound very new, if you give it a little thought.”
Their samples almost never sound like the original recording. For instance, some of the sampling on “International Bright Young Thing” has the same moody feel as George Harrison’s sitar playing on the Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows.” After the band’s last tour, one critic claimed the band appropriated a chunk of that song, a claim Edwards said is ridiculous.
“That critic was daft to say something like that in print because unless he has an incredible memory, he can’t possibly have memorized every single chord change in rock ‘n’ roll,” Edwards said. “We never sampled `Tomorrow Never Knows’ for any of our songs. It’s kind of funny, because sampling is such a commonplace thing now that whenever a piece of music sounds familiar, people point their fingers and say, `Sample.’ In actuality, it could be a guitarist playing that fragment or even a coincidence.”
If the LPs “Doubt” and “Liquidizer” show off a slick, well-rehearsed sound, the band’s live concerts show off the five musicians’ aggressive performing style. Dreadlocked bassist Al Jaworski’s head swinging looks whiplash-inducing, and Barry D.’s keyboards get a nightly licking, but surprisingly keep on ticking. When EMF toured earlier this summer, its members looked like they copped a good portion of their stage moves from Jesus Jones.
“One of our aims has always been to be influential and inspire legions of acts to be just like us, and EMF has been very successful at it,” Edwards said, joking. “I find their emulation very complimentary. They’ve done their job well, and despite the controversy some people try to stir up, we get along fine. Their keyboard player and ours are very particularly good friends. They think up new ways to destroy their instruments.”
YES, HE THINKS HE’S SEXY: These days, Del Amitri sings a better live version of Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May” than the strutting one himself. But when it comes to turning in a rock ‘n’ roll show where the primary objective is having a good time, few can touch the Mod one. Stewart’s hopelessly outdated cockatoo hairstyle and revolving series of blonds haven’t helped him garner much serious credibility in recent years, but as the cliche goes, he’s laughing all the way to the bank. Currently on his “Vagabond Heart” tour, the congenial rocker will close his two-night stint at Poplar Creek Music Theatre with a show at 8 tonight. The outdoor venue is located at Illinois 59 and 72, Hoffman Estates (559-1212).
WEEKEND JAM: If David Cassidy had played in a nightclub during the ’70s, the place probably would have been empty, beause the majority of his underage fans wouldn’t have been able to get into the venue. Those fans are old enough now. Cassidy will perform at 7:30 tonight at the Park West, which is located at 322 W. Armitage (559-1212). Opening with a comedy routine will be Danny Bonaduce, who played Cassidy’s little brother on the TV series “The Partridge Family.” There’ll be a full weekend of rock ‘n’ roll this weekend at the Cabaret Metro, 3730 N. Clark (559-1212). Touring to promote its latest LP, “Wanderlust,” Chicago’s TAMI Show will make a hometown appearance at 9:30 tonight. Also on the bill will be Pale Divine, Michael on Fire and Storytown.
Making its Chicago debut at 11:30 p.m. tomorrow, England’s Candy Skins can be expected to perform psychedically influenced, groovy guitar pop.
And at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, a pared down Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark will make its first Chicago appearance in three years. “Pop Goes the Weasel” proved to be a surprise crossover hit for the hip-hop band 3rd Bass. The trio will perform at 8 tonight at the Riviera, 4746 N. Broadway (559-1212). Opening will be Nikki D.
Meshing together island rhythms with Southern boogie and tossing in a little medieval French, Cajun rockers Beausoleil’s sweet sounds got some prominent musical play in Dennis Quaid’s film “The Big Easy.” The 16-year-old group will perform at 8 tonight at the College of Du Page’s Art Center, 22nd and Lambert, Glen Ellyn (708-858-3110). Named after poet laureate Robert Tannahill, Scotland’s Tannahill Weavers have created Celtic music with a definitive rock ‘n’ roll edge over the last decade. The group will perform two shows at 5 and 8 p.m. Sunday at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 909 W. Armitage (312-525-7793).
