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Friday, July 05, 2002

Power of the Ox

Ed Masley got it right ("John Entwistle's writing, vocals, humor shaped The Who," June 29). As a longtime Who fan (my parents actually thought something was wrong with me in my devotion way back in high school and after), I can tell you I have never laid eyes upon a better bass player than John Entwistle.

Any bass player worth his strings knows that he was simply the best. I am 36 now, and, with his passing, a little more of the 17-year-old crazed Who fan went too. I truly feel a loss. And when I see them again at Hershey, I know it will be a great show, but something very important will be missing both on stage and in me.

JIM GARLENA
Frederick, Md.

Pittsburgh clubs are a long way from 'hip'

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I am writing in disgust of Pittsburgh's new elite clubs. I am very excited that we have these new night spots to liven up the social scene in the 'Burgh, but they lack the true grasp of pop culture and managerial know-how to be truly "hip" like they claim to be.

In particular, Matrix and the Sanctuary. My problem with each of these clubs differs. First, Sanctuary has a blanket dress code intended to keep the club "elite." Sure, there is no reason to let someone into the club in street clothing, but there is also no reason to leave someone out who is wearing something that is not button-down shirt, khaki pants and leather shoes. They do not allow tennis shoes, but what exactly are tennis shoes? There are many new designer shoes that are modeled after sports apparel. They are not intended for actual sport use -- they are, rather, intended for dressing up, and dressing to impress. You can look good and presentable without looking like a cookie cut-out.

The managers and bouncers should make a judgment at the door about appearance, not use an archaic system that doesn't work for today's eclectic array of "dressed-up" personal style. To be truly "hip and trendy," they must understand fashion and create a club that is truly unique.

Sanctuary is modeled after the first church-club "Limelight" in New York City. This club was truly cutting edge. It did not play Top 40 music. This brings me to my next point -- the music. For a club to really stand alone and be hip, it must be on the edge of music. Playing Enrique Eglesias and Top 40 remixes doesn't qualify as cutting-edge music. One can go anywhere to hear music like this. Why go to Sanctuary and be forced to dress "trendy" to hear music you can hear anywhere?

Matrix on the other hand has the right idea -- they offer club music such as trance and house. The club and dance scene revolves around the cutting edge in dance music. Matrix does play club music, but it is maybe five years behind. I have been there numerous times, and I hear the same "trance" and "house" tracks every time I go. They may be new to many, but they get old after hearing them every week at the same time.

These clubs have a lot to learn. They can pretend to be trendy and hip, but they don't fool those of us who truly understand the club and dance scene. I would recommend they look at "Groove" once at Club Laga, now at M. This club night is truly the cutting edge in Pittsburgh. Rather than focus on a ridiculous dress code, "Groove" focuses on the music. Every week a world-famous DJ comes and spins dance tracks that are new and unique, creating an atmosphere that is hip and cutting edge without trying too hard.

I am excited about these clubs because of what they are doing for Pittsburgh, but for them to draw attention to the city, they have to stop convincing themselves that they are anything special. They may be able to fool the masses, but those of us who truly understand the club and dance culture only laugh at the pathetic attempts of the Matrix and Sanctuary in trying to copy our culture. It is good for the city, but if you are going to create a club, at least do it right so that your elitist attitude can actually come off as genuine.

RICHARD L. MENCKEN
South Side

Nirvana didn't kill metal

I didn't go see the Korn show on Saturday, but my nephew did, and because of that, I was interested to see Ed Masley's review in the PG. The one comment that struck me as sad was the reviewer comparing the sound of the opening act, Puddle of Mudd, to Nirvana.

I think Elvis Costello put it best when he likened everyone in music to a "thief and a magpie," meaning, everybody gets their "sound" and inspiration from others before them. Saying that Puddle of Mudd sounds like Nirvana is akin to saying that Creed, Collective Soul and any other band that has a lead singer with a deep mellow voice sounds like Pearl Jam.

Pearl Jam, of course, still has to fight to escape the critics who are unwilling to take "Nevermind" out of their CD player long enough to see that writing them off as a Nirvana wannabe is kind of narrow-minded.

My beef with this reviewer isn't so much over Puddle of Mudd as it is over the relentless worship at the altar of Nirvana, especially as the killer of the "hair bands." I was into those very "hair bands," and let me tell you, it wasn't Nirvana that dealt them the death blow, not by a long shot.

The end of big hair and flashy costumes came in the form of a metal band from Hollywood that shot to legend status, then disappeared. When I saw Guns N' Roses appear onstage as glorified bums or bikers, two words entered my head: "It's over." As big as GNR was, any Poison, Cinderella or other hair band would have looked silly next to them. So give Puddle of Mudd a break. As a musician myself, I know you cannot be passionate about your music if you're only selling yourself as a discount-rate Nirvana.

RAY JACOBS
Aliquippa

Dining review leaves bland taste

I am writing in response to David Templeton's review of the Coal Baron Restaurant (June 21). Normally, I eagerly anticipate your reviews each Friday morning, however I do not think I'll be able to read them in the same way again.

The restaurant Mr. Templeton described sounds like a jazzed-up Eat'n Park. There is nothing wrong with that, but, please, to describe it for what it is and to give it three stars? The appetizers sound like they were served at a bad wedding on Mount Washington, and to say the French onion soup was the best he's ever had? Please, can we be a little more melodramatic?

Since the retirement of your previous restaurant critic, Sarah Billingsley's reviews have been more informative in my view. While I may not agree with everything she writes, at least she'll call a dog a dog. It really doesn't help to hear about what a great dressing Italian with a dollop of bleu cheese is.

SCOTT KRASIK
Squirrel Hill

Ratpack radio on Web

In the recent article "Clear Channel: It's crystal-clear who controls the nation's radio markets," Paul Farhi of The Washington Post begins with an anecdote of exec Bennett Zier's "fine idea for a new radio format ... Vegas Radio!"

In fact, that is such a fine idea that it already has been done. Web site www.cyberradio2002.com runs a 24-hour stream audio channel -- virtually commercial-free -- called Ratpack Plus, which features all of the hits from classic Vegas crooners that Zier just dreams about. On the heels of the federal government's decision on rates for Internet music broadcasts, here is yet another example of how valuable the benefits of Internet broadcast (freedom from the market confines of Clear Channel, for example) can be!

For now, Sinatra fans everywhere can breath a sigh of relief that the Internet broadcasting rates were set low enough for organizations like Cyberradio to continue.

CRISANNE CAMPUS
Squirrel Hill

Councilman for the arts

Ampersand Dance Theatre would like to take a few moments to add its thoughts to Caroline Abels' fine article on Councilman Bill Peduto ("Stumping for the Arts," June 20).

Mr. Peduto was among the many supporters of our recent event "Pulse." He took the time to listen to our concept, help out behind the scenes with information and support, emcee our event and even declare a day in our honor. Our thanks also go out to fellow Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle, who jumped on board to make our event possible.

These two have a vision for the East Side of Pittsburgh and the emerging arts scene that has grown there. Ampersand Dance Theatre is very thankful for their support and looks forward to being part of that scene. We also want to thank the many fellow artists who made our event possible.

TAMMY FAULL and LAURA HODGE
Ampersand Dance Theatre

Spinning 'The LP Show'

Regarding Scott Mervis' coverage of "The LP Show" at the Warhol (June 21), it seems to me that there was a ritual of playing an LP for the very first time. I've spoken with scores of people who all seemed to have listened to a new album sitting on the floor, back to a bed or sofa, communing with the album by staring at the cover or reading the liner notes.

People who, like me, have passed that age when glasses become necessary, are delighted with the sound quality and convenience of CDs, but bemoan the loss of album cover art and the illegibility of the CD inserts.

About "The LP Show," I saw it at Exit Art and wondered if indeed the exhibit was curated. The absence of any guide was frustrating to say the least.

Unless you had known beforehand, you wouldn't have realized that the show included two famous/notorious albums: the plain tan album cover that was actually the sandpaper covered Buzzcocks album, and the rare album listing "Blind Boy Grunt" (Bob Dylan) as a session musician.

DAVID A KLEIN
Hicksville, N.Y.

On Scooby and Satan

Are Philip Vickery's comments about Scooby Doo serious ("You'll love Scooby -- if you're a Satanist!" June 28). How can he compare a children's movie to something that could only be appreciated by Satanists?

As a lover of all movies and one who is very open minded towards different religions, I found it very offensive that the PG would actually print a letter bashing a legitimate (albeit stereotyped) religion due to demons and out-of-body experiences.

Would Mr. Vick's comments have been published if he had compared [the movie] to another religion? Maybe if he had condemned/labeled another movie blasphemous and compared it to Catholicism or Judaism the PG would have thought twice before publishing his letter.

JAMES McMILLEN
South Side