Days of Lore

From best to worst … which means the best! Administrators no doubt let out a collective sigh of relief when they saw Chico State’s name absent from Playboy’s ranking of Top Party Schools back in April of this year (the University of Wisconsin-Madison took first, followed by Santa Barbara for those who care). Administrators: “Yaaay!” Students: “Awwww.”

In fact, Chico State didn’t even crack the top 10. Come on kids; you ain’t drankin’ hard ’nough!

Well, fret not, Chico State made another list. This one comes from pop culture rag Radar Magazine. In its September issue, Radar gives its readers “an exhaustive, semi-scientific guide to the most substandard schools in America.”

Yikes. But it is Radar Magazine …

The article goes on to say they gathered statistics on academic offerings, admissions, student life and sexier categories like “incompetent professors,” “unbridled alcohol and drug consumption” and “rampant criminal activity.”

OK, OK, so where does Chico fall in all of this? Chico State tied with San Diego State University for … get this, Worst Party School, with Radar explaining: “Both schools deserve special recognition for high-level achievement in the field of depravity and general disinterest in scholastic pursuits.”

Wait, wouldn’t that make it the best party school? I’m confused.

Students: “Yaaay!” Administrators: “Ummm … ”

The article, which for the most part is pretty lame, includes other categories like Worst Trust-Fund Baby College, Worst Christian University, Worst Military Academy and Worst College in America. Check it out here: www.radaronline.com.

Rock and a hard place The first CN&R Chico Area Music compilations are here, they’re queer and … wait a minute … they’re now available for five bucks apiece. The rockin’ Vol. I has ditties from a range of bands like Cochino, Cair Paravel and The Shankers, with a nice divergence into heavier stuff from The Makai, Blood Of Cain and Con-Tra-Band. The mellower Vol. II has Jeff Pershing (bite tongue … must … bite … tongue), Meletus Is A Liar, Birds Of Fire and Aubrey Debauchery among many others. There were some 35 artists involved in the project, and local badass Matt Loomis drew the cover art. Very nice.

So stop by the office and grab one that caters to your music taste, or wait for the upcoming shows and pick them up there for $5 apiece, or both for eight bucks.

And for the kiddies Another album of note is the just-released disc from NewmanAmiYumi, the local jazz trio featuring Mike Newman, Christine LaPado and Shigemi Minetaka. Classroom Jazz was recorded over two days at Electric Canyon Studios in Chico earlier this year and also features local jazz musician Lew Langworthy on drums. The all-instrumental album was produced by Sierra Center Stage head honcho Peter Berkow and has 21 tracks divided into two discs—“Playtime” and “Naptime”—where the trio covers classics like “Old MacDonald Had a Farm,” “On Top of Spaghetti” and “Rock-a-bye Baby.”

Finally, children’s songs that parents can actually enjoy with their kids (some nice drum and bass breakdowns, and no annoyingly shrill choruses). The album will be available soon, and NewmanAmiYumi will also hold a CD release party in the coming weeks.

Movin’ on up The Crux Artist Collective is moving from its location out on Commerce Court to a new location next door to Gearhead Barbershop & Tattoo in what sounds to me like a perfect neighborly relationship. I got the goods from Christine Fulton via e-mail. She said they were looking for place with better location and amenities (cooling and heating).

It looks like Fulton and the rest of the Cruxers have lots in store: more workshops and performance art, and Fulton said she is going to start up new figure drawing classes (she’s starting model interviews now). And yes the Crux will keep the live music element, “but with direct collaboration with the space,” Fulton says.

The Crux is holding a garage/art sale at the old location today and Friday (Sept. 28 and 29) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to help raise money for the move. There will also be fundraisers to help raise the $2,000 needed (they’re also looking for volunteers).

So that’s that—more art, more rock, new space.

Jumping ship A couple of shows to check out: Blood Of Cain and Seattle’s Expiration Date will blow up Tower Records Fri., Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. I just saw Blood Of Cain at 1078, and they ripped. Check it out if you like old-school metal. And Sat., Sept. 30, at Off Limits will be The Bowel Tones (Dave Melo of Op Ivy), Teenage Harlots, The Shankers and P.A.W.N.S. Show starts at 9:30 and costs five bones.

Me? I’m going to see Michael McDonald Oct. 4. I’ll be the one in the skipper’s cap.

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