The News and Observer from Raleigh, North Carolina • 45

AL The News and Observer, Raleigh, N.C., Dec. 13, 1985 3B British TV show zooms in on best of N.C. rock Some Britons still think all Americans wear cowboy hats, shoot at each other and turn their cars over, but the British Broadcasting "Whistle Test" show has set them straight on North Carolina's rock music scene. A 20-minute segment on several bands from North Carolina aired during the hourlong show Oct. 29.

Locals will get a chance to see the show Sunday night at the Brewery, where a tape of the "Whistle Test" will be shown at 9:30 p.m. Don't be late Greensboro band the Othermothers, one of the groups featured on the BBC show, is scheduled to play afterward, so the show is likely to start on time. There will be a cover charge. What the BBC came up with is a concise, enthusiastic segment that offers a sample of the variety and depth of rock 'n' roll in North Carolina, the home of many bands that don't get enough appreciation on their home turf. From shots of the Bad Checks on the Brewery stage to a visit to the Connells practicing in what host Andy Kershaw calls a "$100,000" garage, their home in Cameron Park, to a visit to Mitch Easter's Drive-In Studio in Winston-Salem, the BBC visitors hit many of the pulse points of the music scene.

The "visit to Comboland" refers several times to the three not-for- In tune By Melanie Sill sale tapes compiled by writer Godfrey Cheshire of Raleigh and hand-carried to England and other spots, across the Atlantic. Cheshire's ramblings have spawned another project, a compilation album that Making Waves Records (the Othermothers' British label) will be putting out. The Woodpeckers, Don Dixon and Southern Culture on the Skids are a few of the bands that will be on the compilation, which will be released in early 1986. Don Dixon, by the way, will be celebrating his 35th birthday tonight at the Brewery by performing with singer Marti Jones, whose Records debut album has been one of this year's critical darlings. They'll play their guitars without a backup band and sing songs from Ms.

Jones' "Unsophisticated Time," along with a variety of Dixon tunes. Local record stores should be stocking import copies of Dixon's "Most of the Girls Like to Dance" solo album on Demon Records, an English label. The Dutch version of that album, released by Mega Records, debuted at No. 9 in Holland above mainstream stars Joni Mitchell and ZZ Top, says Harry Simmons of Raleigh, Dixon's manager. Dixon's former Arrogance compatriot, Robert Kirkland of Raleigh, will open tonight's show with an acoustic guitar and a set of his songs.

There will be a cover charge; call 834-7018. Robert Starling, who divides his time between Raleigh and Myrtle Beach, S.C., has a new solo album, his first in three years. "Hopeful Romantic" should be in local Record Bar stores by the end of this week, Starling says. PKM, "Rock Erotica," LP, Blue Collar Records Before you can get to the long-overdue first album from Raleigh rock band PKM, you have to get past the cover. A woman's hand rests on a man's bare shoulder.

Her long fingernails, painted brilliant red, dig into his back. From the pointed tip of her pinky, a trickle of blood drips. The album's title is "Rock so we're supposed to YWCA to begin fitness program By KAREN FISHER Staff Writer The YWCA of Wake County will begin a fitness program for people with physical disabilities in March, with help from the National Handicapped Sports and Recreation Association. The is one of 10 facilities nationwide chosen for the NHSRA program, which is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, said Melanie Raskin, YWCA public relations director.

NHSRA will train and pay two local fitness instructors to teach four six-week classes at the Y's Oberlin Road branch. The association also will sponsor a weekend health seminar for program participants. The fitness classes are designed for people with four types of disability: paraplegia (paralysis of the legs and lower part of the body), quadriplegia (lack of functioning in both lower and upper extremities), cerebral palsy and leg amputations, Ms. Raskin said. "Basically I think what we're going to be stressing is flexibility and some strength training and hopefully a lot of aerobics, trying to develop better cardiovascular systems for people who sit all day," said Bob Leyes, who will be one of the instructors.

It's also important that people stay active to keep their weight down, he said. He and Candace Matthews, the other instructor, will attend a training session at the University of Maryland in January. Leyes, who is confined to a wheelchair, said he expects a good response to the classes. "Disabled people are out there, and they want to be active," he said. About 40 disabled people attended a exercise class last week at the led by television fitness expert Richard Simmons, Ms.

Raskin said. That i is a good indication that people would attend the classes, she said. Several people who plan to join the classes have offered to help set up car pools to and from the she said. The YWCA will continue and perhaps expand the fitness program after the initial classes, Ms. Especially for you! Christian's invites you to a holiday celebration.

Join us on Saturday, December 14th for music and refreshments. Relax to the enchanting melodies of harpist, AnnaLee Crumpton, and enjoy refreshments for an uplifting afternoon of holiday spirits. Personal service is upmost at Christian's, where your gifts are elegantly wrapped. There's always something extra, something special at Christian's. Special hours 'til Christmas: Monday-Saturday 10-9, Sunday 1-6 North Hills Mall 787-8389 A Thomas Eakins, Study for a Portrait of William H.

Mac Dowell, about 1891 An American Perspective Paintings from the Maier Museum of Art, Randolph-Macon Woman's College An exhibition of 38 paintings representing the major artists and movements in America in the 19th and 20th centuries. North Carolina Museum of Art December 14- January 26 2110 Blue Ridge Boulevard, Raleigh, NC 27607 (919) 833-1935, 10 -5 Wed. 10-9 12 5 closed Tues. The exhibition is sponsored in part by Branch Banking and Trust Company with additional funding from Martin Marietta Aggregates. take this as a sexy image.

After all, what's a little between friends? But the message is more ominous: Pain is pleasure. PKM Pee Wee Watson, Kenny Soule (both former Nantucket members) and Michael Gardner thought up the cover concept, so people who look at and buy the record can assume the band wanted this message to come through. If they wanted an attention-grabbing cover, they got it. But at least some of the attention will be deservedly negative. Underneath the cover is some rable, 'n' roll.

PKM sounding, though not memoproduced the record and put it out on the band's own independent label, and the hard work paid off. The production is excellent, the instrumentation is strong, and the eight songs on the album show that PKM is too versatile to be labeled simply as a heavy-metal band. The first song on side one, "Teenage Sex is the silliest on the album. It's an ode to titillation penned by Rod Dash of Raleigh and certainly is one of Dash's weaker efforts. Like the rest of the album, it's rhythmically and melodically strong, but juvenile is a polite way to describe the song.

"Rock Erotica" gets better for disabled Raskin said. The eventually hopes to get additional funding from the REACH Foundation, an organization established by Richard Simmons to help establish fitness programs for disabled people. from there, and "Play It Cool" sounds like a sure hit. It has bounce, style and some funky instrumental work by bassist Watson and drummer Soule. PKM puts some swing into the hardrock formula on "I Can't Stop." The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby" (the only song on the album besides "Teenage Sex Machine" that PKM didn't write) slows down and takes on a dark dreaminess in PKM's power-chord arrangement.

Michael Gardner's guitar style, which shows a lot of variety through the album, gives the song its instrumental fullness. The first two songs on the second side are cruising-in-thecars tunes, but the next one, "Gimme A Call," combines wistfulness and mild sexual suggestion successfully. PKM winds up "It Don't Take Much," its signature anthem to "a warm bed, a hot woman and a cold beer," the simple pleasures in this band's life. The Spirit Of Christmas Past At Kenilworth Gifts. Christmas at Kenilworth's is delightfully old fashioned with the smell of evergreens in the air.

It's tables and showcases filled with unusual treasures gifts of brass and wood and crystal and gilt. Gifts from faraway places. All polished and twinkling and waiting to be discovered. Kenilworth's is located inside Bulluck's Furniture Store in Rocky Mount. 124 S.

Church Street, Rocky Mount, N.C., Telephone 0 fine furniture Lavinder Breathtaking antique, linens sachets, pillows and bout accessories made. from ARE UPS Service Monday Friday 410 Franklin St. Gift Wrapping Saturday Chapel Hill 929-2034 KID'S CLOTHES FOR CHRISTMAS. EVERYBODY'S COMING! NORTH Just Around The Corner POLE In Mebane. It's well worth the short drive for the best selections in the Burlington Outlet area.

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