the up-and-coming bands of P.E.l.. These bands are not your everyday “cover” bands. They are original in sound and talent. One could define them as “alternative”, but that term now covers a broad spectrum of music and is not very descriptive. As my brother jokingly said one day, “P.E.I. is the Seattle of the East.”” How much truth there is to that | don’t know, but we definitely have a new music scene that is far more interesting than anything you'd hear on CFCY.

Down is just one of the Island’s intriguing groups, and all the members are students here at UPEI. | havea special love/hate relationship with them because they practice in my home. This, of course, is not by my choice. My brother, Simon Moore, is the drummer of this incredible noise-making musical institution. Their music is very good. | do like it, but | hate the loud volumes that it must be played at in my home while I’m trying to relax. “It doesn’t sound right,” says my bro when | ask if they could practice at a lower volume.

So now you know that | have a few pre- conceived biases for this band. | have never

seen them perform in a concert setting, but

their sound in my house is definitely party material. Even my mother enjoys the music. | can’t describe it by comparing it to other bands. The musicis fun, upbeat and interesting.

| am not a music expert, but | know good songs when | hear them. Down’s music is not going to scare you away because it is violently loud and incomprehensible, and it’s not going to bore you with attempts at other people’s songs.

Scott Garritt, who plays guitar and is one of the band’s singers, writes most of Down's music. He describes it as exaggerations of everyday things. In other words, he describes a problem, person, or thought in the opening of the song and then takes it to extremes.

Pk oe, Ss alternative MUuS1i1G scene

These guys are not singing about their baby, honey or bitch (impressive considering

that three of the four members are single-- they wanted me to tell you this). They are

singing about everyday things that affect

everyday people like you & me. relate?

Brian Arsenault (guitars and vocals) and Troy MacNeill (bass) are the other two

Can you

Professors take over theatre

BY ALDERA CHISHOLM

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR marks UPEI’s twenty-fifth anniversary. The theatre society is celebrating this event with their production of Mr. Pickwick, an adaptation of the Dickens novel. Director Terry Pratt is incorporating past productions into this one with a commemorative program. As well, students, staff, and faculty are involved in the Production to “bring together the entire University family,” as Pratt says. We are celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of student theatre. Involving the past and present of the society is a way of making that happen.”

Leo Cheverie is the lone staffer on stage, but backstage we are seeing the efforts of Professor Lindsay with props, anda lot of hard work from the audio-visual department. Professor Fiona McQuarrie auditioned for and Won her part in the play, kicking off the faculty ‘volvement. Other professors have been

recruited, suchas Satagal Dasgupta, who makes his acting debut as a London cabby. A retired member of the education department, Edward Edmonds, will be playing “Perker.” Mr. Edmonds was the 1981 chair of the theatre society and some of you may remember his involvement in past productions. The part of lawyer “Snubbin” willbe played by lan Galloway, who is no stranger to the stage, having taken part in both UPEI and Theatre PEI productions. Present society chair Shannon Murray is presenting the costumers with the challenge of making a pregnant woman into a young boy. President C.W,J. Eliot will be playing the part of the judge. This will be his first involvement in a production since his own college days. When | asked how he felt about being an amateur actor he replied that as a teacher, he must act everyday. “Teachers use words and gestures to act out ideas. Actors play to people and teachers play to people.”

Professor Eliot was attracted to the thought ofa small part ina large production suchas Mr. Pickwick, even though his participation in the play meant giving up an Ottawa meeting with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. He stressed that his first priority was hereat UPEl,and our anniversary celebrations.

So far, President Eliot has found himself impressed with the Pickwick preparation and calls it “quite fun.” Being the judge is almost a typecast role for him, but it is one of the more quietly funny parts of the play.

Many universities either have made, or are considering cuts to such “frivilous” departments as the theatre. Eliot said that saving the creative arts “is a fight....it’s a good fight.” We all come to university for different purposes-- academic and extra-curricular acitivies play a part in this purpose, and are important to the diversity of the university. We are lucky to have as our president a man who is willing to

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members of the band. They also try their hand at songwriting.

These guys have only been together since April of 1993, but they already have a distinct sound of their own.

This Thursday, March 10, Down will be playing with Strawberry and a band from Fredericton: Nebraska Girl. This pub night is being held to help Sean Macintyre and Gina Parker pay for their Crossroads Canada experience.

there will be a chem-free section.

Down will be playing Friday night with Strawberry at the Victoria Playhouse and Saturday night at the Barn with Eric’s Trip (a well-known, Halifax-based band), Merge,

Strawberry and Supercar.

UPEI President, C.W.J. Eliot fight on our behalf for the creative arts.

| think the support and willingness of the staff and faculty to give up their time for the play, as President Eliot has done, shows that UPEI does indeed have school spirit and that the faculty care about the university-- and not just as the place where they pick up their paychecks.

Crossroads Canada is an organization that sends Canadian to Asia, Africa, and South America. These volunteers live with local families and work in the same settings. The objective is to learn about other cultures and teach them about our own. The evening will also help support WUSC (World University Services Canada), an organization that, among other things, supports refugee students. The cover charge is four dollars and