ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, September 13, 1996 TAG: 9609130130
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Out & About
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS-BANKS
So what if it's Friday?
So what if it's the 13th?
You're not superstitious, are you?
Of course not!
Grab your four-leaf clover, your lucky rabbit's foot, your favorite horseshoe and head for the Cafe at Champs in downtown Blacksburg. Big Blues Beat - that popular local quartet out of Pulaski County - hits the lounge at 9 tonight.
The group features drummer Keith Chinault and guitarist Chuck Dodson with Bill Smith on bass and Charlie Hayes on sax. This fearless foursome plays the blues - even on Friday the 13th.
If you miss tonight's show (in the unlikely event that you step on a crack, break a mirror or trip over a black cat on your way to Blacksburg), you can catch Big Blues Beat in Wytheville Saturday. The musicians will be playing at the Turn One Sports Bar, starting at 9:30 p.m.
There is one thing you don't have to worry about at tonight's gig in Blacksburg - the cover charge. Admission at the cafe is free. Just bring pesos for your favorite potable.
ALTERNATIVE ROCK: He doesn't go with the flow. He doesn't move with the groove. He balks.
And he talks.
And he walks all over Afrocentric nationalists, white supremacists, pompous politicians and a host of other common irritants.
Chris Rock knows that a good joke can sting just like a good left hook.
He admits he's obsessed with Pat Buchanan.
"I always wanna talk to a racist. The other candidates aren't passionate about anything."
He believes women should stop complaining to Oprah that they can't find a man and start cooking dinner.
"You put a pot on the stove every day at 6 o'clock, a man will show up for that pot Anyone can [have sex] but gravy is a whole other story."
Growing up in a tough Brooklyn neighborhood, Rock was the eldest of six kids. His childhood idols were Sugar Ray Leonard and Eddie Murphy.
He chose to follow in the footsteps of the latter for good reason:
"I can't fight."
It was comedian Eddie Murphy who helped boost Rock's career. Murphy saw Rock's act at the Comedy Strip in New York and invited him to perform on his HBO special, "Uptown Comedy Express."
In 1989, Rock won a spot on the cast of "Saturday Night Live" where he remained for three years. He created such characters as Nat X and Onski on the popular late-night TV comedy.
Since then, Rock has acted in such movies as "Beverly Hills Cop II," "CB4," "New Jack City" and "Boomerang." He's also the man behind the voice of "Little Penny Hardaway" in the current Nike advertising campaign.
You can catch Rock doing what he does best at Virginia Tech Monday. He'll do his stand-up comedy routine at 8 p.m. in Burruss Auditorium. The show is sponsored by the Virginia Tech Union.
Marion Joyner opens the show. Tickets, on sale now at the box office in Squires Student Center, are $15 for the public or $10 for Tech students. Call 231-5615 for ticket information.
AN APPLE FOR THE ARTIST: Seventeen artists who teach the children in Montgomery County Public Schools will put their own work on display this month at the Cranwell International Center. The exhibit, sponsored by the Blacksburg Regional Art Association, opens this weekend at Virginia Tech.
You're invited to see the various works in the exhibit and meet the artists Sunday. A reception runs from 3 to 5 p.m. at the center on Clay Street.
The artwork stays through Nov. 15. Cranwell International Center is open weekdays, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
LET'S HEAR IT FOR BEER: Brew connoisseurs will delight in the beer tasting Sunday at Mountain Lake. Beers from a variety of small breweries will be available for sampling at the Giles County resort.
The event is a benefit for local arts projects. Proceeds go to the New River Arts Council and Progress in Narrows Now.
The cost at the door is $10 and it includes the beer tasting, live musical entertainment by the Sauerkraut Band (playing German oompah music) and a complimentary Mountain Lake beer glass.
For more information, call 381-1430.
CLUCK LIKE A CHICKEN: Dance like a ballerina. Imagine you're standing in front of hundreds of people in your birthday suit.
No, they won't be coming to take you away. They'll be watching you on the stage at Radford University's Preston Auditorium Saturday night when Tom Deluca seduces you with the power of suggestion.
Deluca, dubbed "hypnotism's answer to Robin Williams," performs at 8 p.m. Saturday. For the past 10 years, he has visited Radford with his unusual act. As usual, he will be calling for volunteers to carry out his crazy commands.
A former therapist, he has a master's degree in psychology and has been featured on TV shows from "CBS Nightwatch" to "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee."
Admission to the local show is $7 for the public or $5 with Radford University identification. Call 831-5420 for more information.
LENGTH: Medium: 94 linesby CNB