Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 149

I Chicago Tribune, Friday, September 30, 1994 0 Friday One-man band Dave Edmunds charts the history of rock Sri vJ Luscious Jackson brings a natural feel to acid jazz. a stir in hard rock circles, ITTl rends come and go in rock music with the fre-II quency of passing CTA buses, but artists who stay true to the very essence and spirit of early rock 'n' roll are especially rare. One of the finest exponents of the Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran and Buddy Holly school is Dave Edmunds, who will be appearing at the Vic Theatre on Saturday. From his very first hit, 1971's "I Hear You Knocking," to his work with kindred spirit Nick Lowe in Rockpile and his new "Plugged In" album, Edmunds has specialized in timeless bang-it-out, chugging rock 'n' roll. That's not to say he's resistent Concert line Dan Kening to new ideas.

In fact, his Jeff Lynne-produced 1983 album "Information" added synthesizers and drum machines to the Edmunds mix without sacrificing an iota of passion. Edmunds' new album, his first since 1990's "Closer to the Flame," was a total do-it-yourself project Working from the 24-track studio in his Los Angeles home, the Welsh-born rocker played and sang every note on the album. "Plugged In" includes everything from the "Pet Beach Boys tribute "Beach Boy Blood" to a cover of the Jerry Reed instrumental fret-burner "The Claw," Otis Redding's "I Got the Will" and NRBQ's "Better Word for Love." Amazingly, listening to it you'd never know the album wasn't recorded with a full band. Speaking by phone from a tour stop in Pittsburgh, Edmunds says that's the ultimate compliment. "The whole idea was to make it not sound like I'm playing everything, and to make it sound like a band," he said.

"I wasn't very pleased with the outcome i Zl'ni sonic landscapes. pointment for Edmunds. "It wasn't a particularly fun experience," he said. "It certainly wasn't a party. It was more like being in the Army.

A lot of the people involved were in 12-step recovery programs, and it was just a weird mixture of people. Ringo didn't have enough songs of his own to do, so he had to pad it out with other people singing their songs, hence the weirdness. I'm glad I did it, but I don't think I would do it again. I can guarantee you that this tour is a lot more fun." Other concerts of note L7, the MeMns and Wool, Friday at the Vic Theatre: The punk-ish L7, which features former Chicagoans Donita Sparks and Dee Plakas, has in-your-face attitude to bum. Their well-received "Hungry for Stink" album is getting plenty of airplay on modem rock stations like WKQX, especially the track "Andres," a rock 'n' roll sexual dysfunction song in the tradition of the Stones "Satisfaction." Also appearing are grunge-rock forefathers the Melvins, whose new "-Stoner Witch" album sounds like it was recorded through a thick layer of sludge In Music charts 2.

Endless Love Luther Vandross Marian Carey 3. AH I Wanna Do Sheryl Crow 4. Stay (I Missed You) Lisa Loeb Nine Stories 5. When Can I See You Babyface 6. Wild Night John Mellencamp Me'SheH NdegeOcello 7.

Stroke You Up Changing Faces 8. At Your Best (You Are Love) Aaliyah 9. Never Ue Immature 10. This DJ. Warren L7's "Hungry for Stink" has caused of my last album, which was recorded in the traditional way in a traditional recording studio.

I felt I could do better doing it on my own. I like to do the engineering myself, and I can play most of the instruments adequately enough for what I need. Why get other musicians in and tell them what to play when I can do it myself? Working that way is something I've always been drawn to." In concert, Edmunds will be playing with a basic quartet in a show that he says will mix new material with such classic Edmunds fare as "Trouble Boys," "I Hear You Knocking," "Girls Talk" and "Information." He says he's looking forward to playing Chicago, where he last played in 1992 as a member of Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band, which featured an odd assemblage of musicians including Joe Walsh, Nils Lofgren, Todd Rundgren and Burton Cum-mings. As it turned out, the Starr tour was a bit of a disap Sheryl Crow 9. Purple Stone Temple Pilots 10.

The Sign Ace of Base 11. Candlebox Candlebox 12. August Everything After Counting Crows 13. The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994 Carreras-Domingo-Pavarotti with Mehta 14. Ready to Die The Notorious B.I.G.

15. Creepin on Ah Come Up (Ep) Bone Thugs Harmony 16. Voodoo Lounge The Rolling Stones 17. Regulate Funk Era Warren 18. Superunknown Soundgarden 19.

Groove On Gerald Levert 20. Not a Moment Too Soon Tim McGraw Top singles II Make Love to You Boyz Men Guided By Voices creates swirling other words, it sounds Just like the band does live. Jim Lauderdale, Friday at Schubas: Singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale's music blurs the lines between country, rock, and folk while still managing to find a cohesive sound of its own. His songs have been covered by everyone from country artists George Strait and Mark Chesnutt to rocker Dave Edmunds, but if you need a label for the sharply etched tunes showcased on his new "Pretty Close to the Truth" album, Just call It plain oT "American Music." Dennis DeYoung, Friday at Park West Dennis DeYoung' current "10 on Broadway' album of standards and show tunes has caused a few snickers among local rock critics who have always used Styx as a punching bag. But let's face It, DeYoung's operatic voice, which fueled so many Styx hits Is tailor-made for the stuff, so why not? Expect a mix of standards, solo material and Styx hits.

Tribal Tech, Friday and Saturday at the Jazz Buffet Jazz-rock fusion has become 9. XXX's and OOO's (An American Girl) Trisha Yearwood 10. Hard to Say Sawyer Brown singles 1. I'll Make Love to You Boyz II Men 2. At Your Best Aaliyah 3.

Stroke You Up Changing Faces 4. Body ft Soul Anita Baker 5. Never Ue Immature 6. I'd Give Anything Gerald Levert 7. Endless Love Luther Vandross Mariah Carey 8.

Flava In Ya Ear Craig Mack 9. I Wanna Be Down Brandy 10. Letftgo Prince something of an anachronism in the '90s, but this quartet led by guitarist Scott Henderson and bassist Gary Willis are definitely worth a look-see. Henderson, in particular, is a fire-breathing soloist, who will add a couple of tunes from his excellent recent solo blues-rock album "Dog Party" to the mix. Definitely not Just for fellow musicians only.

Steve Ferguson and the Midwest Creole Ensemble and Loose Diamonds, Friday and Saturday at FitzGerald's hi Berwyn: Grizzled rock veteran Ferguson was one of the hits of FitzGerald's "American Music Festival" in July, as he playeu irresistibly steamy Louisiana-style funk-rock with his own band and also sat In with his old mates in NRBQ. Voted Austin, Texas' "Best Rock Band for three consecutive years, Loose Diamonds piay quintessential Stones-style rock 'n' rot! with a country twang. Guided 3y Voices, Saturday at Lounge Ax: Dayton's Guided By Voices are an Anglophiles' delight, with vocalist and song- See Concerts, Following Page 4. Fade Into You Mazzy Star 5. Self-Esteem Offspring 6.

Feel the Pain Dinosaur Jr. 7. 1 AloneLive 8. Sometimes Always The Jesus and Mary Chain 9. Am I Wrong Love Spit Love 10.

Einstein on the Beach Counting Crows 11. All I Wanna Do Sheryl Crow 12. Undone-Trie Sweater Song Weezer 13. Far Behind Candlebox 14. FeH on Black Days bounogaroen 15.

Something's Always Wrong Toad the Wet Sprocket 16. Mockingbirds Grant Lee Buffalo 17. Supernova Liz Phair 18. Your Favorite Thing Sugar 19. Seether Veruca Salt 20.

Closer Nine Inch Nails Chicago Tribune Online INSTRUCTIONS ON PAGE 2. SECTION. 1 Complete Billboard charts. F631 4 This week's album chart features two strong debuts: Eric Clapton's back-to-the-blues "From the Cradle" opens at No. Anita Baker's "Rhythm of Love" opens at No.

3. On the local front, Veruca Salt, the greatest band ever (at least for this year), breaks into the modern rock tracks' top 20 with "Seether." Joining them is last year's greatest ever, Liz Phair, with "Supernova." Here Is Billboard's Nst of record and compact disc hits for the week ending Oct 1: Top 1. From the Cradle Eric Clapton 2. II Boyz II Men 3. Rhythm of Love Anita Baker 4.

The Lion King" soundtrack Various 5. Dookie Green Day 6. Smash Offspring 7. "Forrest Gump" soundtrack Various 8. Tuesday Night Music Club Country singles 1.

Third Rock From the Sun Joe Diffie 2. Down On the Farm Tim McGraw 3. Who's Thai Man Toby Keith 4. What the Cowgirls Do Vince Gill 5. What's In It For Me John Berry 6.

Callin' Baton Rouge Garth Brooks 7. She Dreams Mark Chesnutt 8. I Try to Think About Elvis Patty Loveless ii -i il'jLi I.HmJH; Modei ii rock tracks 1. What's the Frequency, Kenneth? R.E.M. 2.

Interstate Love Song Stone Temple Pilots 3. Basket Case Green Day i.mj..i(,'.jj.