Thursday, November 5, 1998
Barenaked Ladies reveal blemishes with charm
MUSIC: Band creatively entertains crowd through spells of
uninspired tunes
By Michelle Zubiate
Daily Bruin Staff
It’s all about the juice. When a beefy security guard named
Juice steals the show to a sold-out crowd by simply strumming Van
Halen’s "You Really Got Me Now," it means one of two things: the
band needs some juice itself or they know how to work a moment. For
the Barenaked Ladies at the Universal Amphitheater on Tuesday
night, it was a little of both.
In 1988, Steven Page and Ed Robertson started the Barenaked
Ladies while attending college in Toronto, Canada. An immediate
success within their Canadian borders, they had not received much
attention in the United States until recently, despite their
reputation for high energy and amusing performances.
Taking their sound from a poppy mix of folk, alternative,
country and a little white-boy rapping, the Barenaked Ladies
usually rely on their charm and stage antics to sell out shows.
Otherwise, the decent yet often uninspiring tunes would only rock
for middle-aged couples on Sunday nights.
As catchy as their simple tunes may be, their act wins the prize
for creativity, not musical mastery. It’s not unusual for Page or
Robertson to give a small show between songs, making fun of other
tunes, actors or fellow musicians. At one point in the performance
they alluded to Ben Stiller’s ignoring them at the MTV Music Awards
this year by running out into the crowd and reenacting the mock
scene for the audience.
They also couldn’t help but make jokes at Puff Daddy’s expense.
Poking fun at hip-hop dancing, they referred to Combs’ dancing as
"puffy" in itself and lacking the old-school style which they claim
to emulate.
The band also has a knack for impromptu rap ditties that crack
up every member of the crowd through their self-deprecating humor
and refreshing candor.
Their music itself remains light and folksy at times. The recent
hit "One Week" had the same exciting effect on the crowd through
the rapping style and catchy chorus, while songs like "Who Needs
Sleep?" inspired head-bopping but little else. The music didn’t do
much for crowd members from this generation of ADD teenagers, but
elements of a distinctly older audience dug every tune.
The Barenaked Ladies definitely knew how to utilize their
instrumental talents as well. Using everything from flutes to an
upright bass, the solos and the more folksy of the songs lent their
fresh appeal where the song writing lacked compelling drives.
A lot of praise should also be given to their opening band,
Getaway People, who jazzed up the crowd rightly after only a few
songs. They used fun and energy as well to warm up the audience
with songs such as "Oh, How She Gave Me Love." The songs of the
first band almost outshone the musical talents of their
headliners.
The evening’s entertainment depended upon the loyalties of its
fans to pull off a winner. Unfortunately, those unfamiliar with the
bland side of Barenaked Ladies were sure to be disappointed, forced
to sit through stale musical interludes to catch those few moments
of humor and true showmanship.MICHAEL ROSS WACHT/Daily Bruin
Country blues licks and a down-home rock feel help the Barenaked
Ladies jazz up the crowd with their witty antics.
MICHAEL ROSS WACHT/Daily Bruin
The Barenaked Ladies performed for a sold-out crowd at the
Universal Amphitheater.
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