THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 23, 1995 TAG: 9507210098
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICKEY WRIGHT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
IN MUSIC, styles come and go and come again. That's been the case with country rock, which has seen a resurgence due in large part to three very distinctive bands. Each will play Hampton Roads in the coming week. Each denies it's part of a trend.
``As far as that goes, that's people subdividing things,'' says Mark Olson, singer, guitarist and songwriter with the Jayhawks. The Minneapolis band, whose ``Tomorrow the Green Grass'' is their fourth and perhaps most highly acclaimed album, visits the Boathouse on Saturday with Wilco.
Does Olson, though, feel some kinship with Wilco, whose roots-flavored sound makes them a smart choice for a tour partner?
``Oh, sure. I mean, we're both from the Midwest, and we both played the same bars.''
The bottom line with these outfits, however, is substance.
``We don't have a manifesto,'' says Charles Walston of the Vidalias, whose first major tour begins at the Jewish Mother in Norfolk on Monday. He notes the members' varying influences - from country to R&B. ``We never said, `This is our style.' It's more like `Here's a song. Let's see what we can do with it.' ''
Wilco bassist John Stirratt agrees.
``We really don't think in terms of that at all. But people need touchstones. I think our bands might be more worried about being lumped with contemporary country.''
The Vidalias' debut, ``Melodyland,'' appeared earlier this year on the independent Upstart label, which also issued Nick Lowe's ``Impossible Bird'' to critical applause in 1994.
With Upstart's support, ``the people who will appreciate a record like this will hear about it,'' says Walston.
``When you talk to a person who heard it and not only liked it, but you can tell they really loved it, that's the best. This is why we were sittin' there in the studio at 2 a.m. trying to get it right. We weren't really thinkin' then about sellin' records.''
The Jayhawks and Wilco also have been lucky enough to record for artist-oriented companies, the larger American and Reprise, respectively.
Wilco, which consists of most of the members of the late Uncle Tupelo, remained on Reprise after one of Tupelo's two leaders, Jay Farrar, left the band. ``A.M.,'' their debut, follows the eclectic mix of Tupelo's last record, ``Anodyne,'' twanging here, burning there. It also showcases some of the year's best songwriting, mostly by singer Jeff Tweedy. In fact, the mordantly funny ``Passenger Side,'' sung from the viewpoint of a man with a suspended driver's license, may well be 1995's finest tune.
``It's been a real favorite since we've played it, for a lot of people,'' Stirratt says. ``I think a lot of people can really relate to it lyrically,'' he adds, chuckling.
``Tomorrow the Green Grass'' reflects and builds upon the Jayhawks' equally varied sound. Paul Buckmaster, known for his work with the Stones, Elton John and Miles Davis, adds evocative string arrangements to several numbers. And the group wanders far enough afield to include a reverent cover of Grand Funk's 1975 hit ``Bad Time.''
The 'Hawks' struggle to break into the mainstream rock market after nearly a decade on the fringes has been chronicled in Entertainment Weekly and other magazines recently. They toured with Tom Petty last winter, as the video for their single ``Blue'' made waves at MTV. Olson seems happy with the mid-level popularity the band has reached.
``It's great to think that now we have a following, that we're national. I don't have a sense of what it means to break through. We do what we do, and that other stuff works itself out.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
The Jayhawks, from Minneapolis, will play at the Boathouse on
Saturday. Their latest album is ``Tomorrow the Green Grass.''
Photo
UPSTART RECORDS
The Vidalias perform at the Jewish Mother in Norfolk on Monday.
by CNB