Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 28, 1993 TAG: 9305270135
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Donna Alvis-Banks
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Just put him in front of a crowd and watch him go.
Hicks began his musical career in 1965 as a drummer for the underground rock band The Charlatans. His fame came between 1969 and 1978 with a new band, Dan Hicks and The Hot Licks.
In those days, Hicks entertained audiences with tunes like "I Scare Myself" and "Milk Shakin' Mama."
Dan Hicks still does some oldies but now he's doing them with his group, The Acoustic Warriors.
"Well, you got to be some kind of warrior just not to plug in these days," he explains. "It's acoustic but our style is somewhat aggressive at times."
Calling his band's style "folk-swing music," Hicks says The Acoustic Warriors play tunes that are easy on the ears and stimulating to the brain.
Hicks plays an upbeat rhythm guitar and sings some clever original songs, such as "How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away?" and "Hell, I'd Go," a song about space travel.
His band is an interesting mix of guitars, violin, mandolin, string bass and jazz-flavored vocal harmonies.
Dan Hicks and The Acoustic Warriors will play at Buddy's in Blacksburg tonight, beginning at 9:30. Tickets, available at the restaurant at 130 Jackson St., are $10.
\ WHODUNIT? Join the jury and find out!
C.B. Gilford's "The Jury Room" is Playmakers & Company's latest production. It's a courtroom potboiler about a jury's deliberations in a murder trial. Playmaker Ron Dayle says the play promises a few whammies:
"It has a surprise ending . . . and the butler didn't do it."
Dayle said the drama requires audience participation, too.
"After each act, the audience will vote on the verdict," he noted.
The cast of local actors and actresses includes Tonya Hall, Maureen Crumpton, Shelby Dickerson, Mary Mainous, Terry Hoffman, Barbara Lloyd, Dean Bear, Steve Brown, Jerry Bowyer Jr., Andy Bowyer, Jaime Davidson and Ken Marshall. Dearl Kniskern is the stage manager.
Veteran director Anna Dalton is running the show.
Performances are tonight and Saturday evening at 7:30 in the Playmakers & Company Playhouse at Blacksburg's University Mall. There's also a matinee at 2 on Sunday.
The production continues Thursday and runs through June 6.
Admission is $5 for adults or $3 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available at the door.
\ POETRY IN FLOYD: Mary McKenzie, who calls herself "Spider Woman," has performed in New York and Connecticut but she's never performed in Floyd . . . until tonight.
McKenzie, who recently moved to Radford, is trying to wake us up to the joy of poetry.
"I have a dream of reviving poetry in America and I have been encouraged by folks I've met here that this is a place open to the idea," she says.
Spider Woman is named after the great goddess of the Queres Indians.
"She weaves the web that connects everything in the world," McKenzie explains.
In her performance, McKenzie tells of talking to Spider Woman and being inspired to write narrative poems. Many of her works are tales related to the role of women in current events.
"All of the news of poetry this year has been made by women," McKenzie says. "Maya Angelou at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton, Louise Gluck winning the Pulitzer Prize . . . Rita Dove being named poet laureate of the United States."
"I want to be one of the women creating a revival of poetry appreciation."
McKenzie will present "Spider Woman Loves Poetry" tonight at the Pine Tavern Inn on U.S. 221 in Floyd. Her show starts at 9. For reservations, call 745-4482.
\ LITTLE BUT LIVELY: No one is exactly sure just when The Little Symphony was organized.
"It's been a good many years," said Jett Pearce, the 65-year-old director of the group. "It started before my time and I've been with it about 20 years."
Sponsored by The Pulaski Music Club, The Little Symphony is composed of volunteer musicians from Radford, Blacksburg and Pulaski.
The youngest member is 10-year-old Denise Lew. Pearce says she's the "grandmother" of the group.
The miniature orchestra (currently with 13 performing musicians) features woodwinds and stringed instruments. In addition to its annual spring and winter concerts, the orchestra also plays for local drama and dance productions, as well as religious programs.
Lavelva Stevens has served as conductor for the past three years. Stevens earned her master's degree at Wittenburg University in Ohio where she studied sacred music with a concentration in organ.
Stevens will lead the orchestra in its spring concert Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Woman's Club Annex of the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley. The annex is at 44 Fourth St. in Pulaski.
The program features works by Jarre, Beethoven, Marchetti, Tchaikowsky and others. Styles range from an Irish gigue, "The Pulse of An Irishman," to "Spanish Serenade" by Leut Wiler.
Stevens will join Linda Poore in a piano duet, Rondo from Sonata No. 1 by Clemente.
Other special numbers include a Bizet minuet performed by Carter Edmondson, flute, and a performance of Bach's "Arioso," featuring Jamie Ousley on bass, Kathy Webb on clarinet and Bobbie White on synthesizer.
Admission to Sunday's concert is free.
Musicians in the community (particularly string players) who are interested in joining The Little Symphony should call Pearce at 980-4131.
by CNB