THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508130298
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Long : 104 lines
Will the real Jim Lampos please stand up?
Is he the soul-searching poet who writes about Native American legends and cities dying of decay? Or is he the passionate rock 'n' roller who delivers highly danceable music?
On his first album, ``Dreamland In Flames,'' the New York City-based Lampos is both. His lyrics are poetry in songs such as ``Inherit The Wind,'' where he writes, ``dancing with your shadow silhouetted in the firelight of souls.''
His ode to a dying city, ``City of Stone,'' offers ``eight million stories up in your private skyscraper, you watch the dawn break and catch the word floating up from the morning paper.''
Thoughtful lyrics are easy for Lampos; he's been writing poetry since he was 12. A number of his poems have been published in national journals.
All of the songs on ``Dreamland In Flames'' are delivered with tasty arrangements featuring Lampos on lead vocals, acoustic and electric rhythm guitar; Robert Montemarano on bass; Mike Brooks on electric lead guitar; Jeff Cadwallader on drums and Mark Ferranti on saxophone.
Lampos is out on tour promoting his first album, and he is making two stops on the Outer Banks. First up is a two-night engagement Friday and Saturday at Barrier Island Inn in Duck. Then, Lampos and his touring band hit Howard's Pub on Ocracoke Island Aug. 21 and 22.
Lampos' four-piece touring band consists of longtime sidemen Cadwallader and Montemarano, as well as newcomer Chris Tedesco, a widely renowned violinist who brings with him exceptional musical and touring credentials.
The live show is a lot like the album: some early acoustic numbers followed by outright rockers.
``The album is a lot mellower than the live show,'' Lampos told me in a telephone interview from his mid-Manhattan apartment. ``Our first set is contemplative. But as the night goes on, we rock.''
His 4-year-old band plays eight of the album's songs in the live shows.
``We leave out the quieter numbers,'' he says. ``Although we start quiet, once you rock you can't go back.''
Lampos and his band play about 150 dates a year, mostly in the Northeast. But this year, in support of the album, the band will tour Western states such as Colorado and California.
So how does Lampos view himself? Poet or rocker?
``I'm a little of both,'' he says. ``Although I'm a songwriter first.''
Lampos, who has written 125 songs, names Bob Dylan as a major influence.
``He goes a little deeper,'' Lampos says. ``Dylan is a genuine original.''
Lampos the rocker likes The Police and Bruce Springsteen.
``Dreamland In Flames'' is receiving airplay on about 100 stations nationwide. Lampos and his band are already working on a follow-up album, which he says will be tougher.
``There will be a few artsy songs,'' he says. ``But I feel freer to express things now.''
Don't miss this guy and his band when they hit the beach. But be prepared to sweat. It's tough work to dance - and think. Outer Banks performer to go on national TV
Outer Banks funnyman R. Bruce is one of several comedians invited to appear on the Comedy Channel's ``Stand Up, Stand Up'' program. Bruce and the others will shoot the special in October at the Headliners Comedy Club in Bethesda, Md.
The program will be shown several times during the winter months on the Comedy Channel. Bruce says his routine will also be in the rotation of bits the channel uses throughout its programming.
Bruce is winding up his summer tour at The Comedy Room at the Holiday Inn in Kill Devil Hills. As soon as he closes on Labor Day, Bruce hits the road. He'll take his comedy/music act to South Carolina, Florida, Indiana and Tennessee.
His tour will also take him to Grand Cayman Island in the British West Indies.
Bruce's current show is a mix of stand-up comedy and music. Some of his original songs include: ``It Must Be Love or We'd Have Killed Each Other by Now,'' ``I Hope that They Have Time Share up in Heaven'' (Cause I've Sinned too Much to Get to Stay Year-Round)'' and ``Women in Prison in Cut-Off Blue Jeans.''
Bruce considers his show a work in progress.
``I'm always exploring and expanding on stage,'' he says. ``Every night I feed off something or someone in the audience.''
The comedian got a late start this summer. He had emergency surgery for a stomach ailment on opening night. Like most comedic observers, he finds humor in that.
``Humor just comes out when you least expect it,'' Bruce says. ``I surprised myself one night when the surgery thing came out.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Jim Lampos is making two stops at Outer Banks nightclubs.
Graphic
JIM LAMPOS BAND
Who: Jim Lampos Band.
Where: Barrier Island Inn in Duck.
When: Friday and Saturday.
The band is also playing at Howard's Pub on Ocracoke Island Aug.
21-22.
R. BRUCE
Where: Comedy Room at the Holiday Inn in Kill Devil Hills.
When: Monday through Saturday, 9 p.m.
by CNB