Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 67

Worldy Wimps 'Wimp Factor 14' finds success with silly charm. By Rico Gagliano Rob Washburn, lead guitarist for local band Wimp Factor 14, wanders about the living room of rhythm guitarist Gary Miklusek's Squirrel Hill home. Rob's got a cold, and he's apparently in the throes of a cold medicine-induced state of drowsiness. "I was just says Washburn, "that in every cartoon, there's always a situation where the cat or, like, the coyote or something will fly off the cliff, and then keep going, and then as soon as he realizes that he's suspended in air, then he'll fall. That's in every cartoon.

That same situation. I wish that applied to real life. I guess a lot of people would still be stuck in the It's the kind of comment you'd expect from one of the Wimps, a comment not unlike the band's music; kinda silly, kinda pop culture, but somehow wise despite itself. Over the course of three singles, a compilation appearance and a national tour, the Wimps have established themselves as one of the city's more unusual acts. Frank Boscoe writes the lyrics witty musings on life's small, unanswerable puzzles.

All the band members contribute to the music, an earthy, introspective hybrid of pop, folk, punk and country that's hard to label but easy to love. And it's catching on: two out-ofstate indie labels distribute Wimp Factor's recordings, the band is set to release a full-length CD on Massachusetts' Harriet label, and they're preparing to embark on a European tour. To a small-butgrowing core of fans across the country and around the world, Wimp Factor 14 has become practically legendary. It's more success than one might first expect from an act that originally formed as a one-shot party attraction. But the Wimps have come a long way from their cheerfully sloppy early days.

A recent performance at the University of Pittsburgh's David Lawrence Wimp Factor 14 prepares for CD release and European tour. Hall found the five band members from "limited edition" stickers to al attitude. Boscoe already has a shyly strummin' and bangin' out a faux "press clippings" featuring summer solo project in the works beautiful, layered sound that was the band embroiled in various non- to play live ukelele outside truly a wonder to behold. existent legal disputes. Three Rivers Stadium before Pi- New songs like "Holiday Park Flyer" float wistfully about like a happy fog, while seemingly upbeat tunes like "Steamrolling, But It Wasn't Steamrolling" create an inexplicably sad atmosphere that Boscoe labels "jovial melancholy." "If we sound more together, lately," explains Wimp bassist Kate Glicksberg, "it's probably just a result of several of us learning to play our instruments.

When you don't know much about playing, you work within that limitation. We've all just gotten better." Not that the Wimps have abandoned the do-it-yourself, anythinggoes approach that has always been a big part of their charm. When the band found themselves without a drummer after being scheduled to open for New York's Very Pleasant Neighbor, for instance, Frank, Kate and Gary brought an amplified pumpkin to the show and took turns banging away. And you can still walk away from just about any Wimp Factor show with a pile of free doodads, DAY SUN- BRUNCH FREE OVER PARKING $095 20 ITEMS EGGS, SAUSAGE, BACON, RICE, PASTAS, CHICKEN, SEAFOOD, BEEF, OMELETTES, DESSERTS MORE. 10 AM-2 PM I CREWSER'S 281- Spectacular view of the water 15th Smallman '3679 Great seats seven ADM ADMIT on ONE days a week 430 MARKET STREET lake's (412) VALET ENTERTAINMENT DOWNTOWN PARKING 338-0900 NIGHTLY SQUARE Before or after performance) SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY HOURS MAY 9 2 TO 9 P.M.

Wimp projects. We'll set upas stand and sell pink lemonade while you play!" suggests Kate. "And I'll document it all on my FischerPrice pixelvision camera." "In fact," considers Frank, "maybe we should do this when we're on tour in A little bit of the 'burgh on the streetcorners of Hungary? The U.S. could ask for no finer ambassadors of goodwill. WIMP FACTOR 14 The band performs with Don Caballero, the Karl Hendricks and Hurl at 9 p.m.

tomorrow at the Offramp Coffeehouse, Duquesne University Student Union. The Wimps approach the rates games. It's a concept that's group's future with that same casu- already spawned several other GROUP UPROAR BY EATING ULU TOGETHER. At Spaghetti Warehouse, you always have the cushy job of choosing from Italian favorites like $5.95 fettucini, ravioli, chicken parmigiana, 12 kinds of spaghetti and more. All served with soup FETTUCINI or salad and our freshly baked sourdough ALFREDO bread.

So visit us soon for lunch or dinner. You won't be able to rest until you do. Spaghetti Warehouse Great Italian Food. -American Fun. 2601 Smallman St.

Strip District 261-6511 Free Parking April 16, 1993, Weekend 19.