A NIGHT TO R.E.M.-EMBER; STIPE AND CO. GET BACK TO BASICS FOR TOUR OPENER.Byline: Fred Shuster Music Critic Noun 1. music critic - a critic of musical performances critic - a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art There were few transcendent moments but much to admire during R.E.M.'s oddly paced set Monday at the Greek Theatre. The Georgia-based band opened the U.S. leg of its tour with a greatest-hits show that bounced between ballads and rockers, keeping fans alternately sitting or standing as slow tunes followed fast numbers. It was indeed satisfying to see the influential folk-pop outfit at Griffith Park's relaxed open-air venue instead of a sports stadium. In fact, it was almost a return to the heady days of 1991, when ``Losing My Religion'' sparked the upward turn that resulted in R.E.M. becoming one of the most popular working bands in the world by the ``Monster'' arena trek of the mid-'90s. Now, it appears the group has scaled back and is returning to where it all began, a move apparently precipitated by dwindling dwin·dle v. dwin·dled, dwin·dling, dwin·dles v.intr. To become gradually less until little remains. v.tr. To cause to dwindle. See Synonyms at decrease. audience and poor record sales. R.E.M., to borrow the title of one of its albums, finally seems ``Out of Time.'' Yet, enigmatic singer Michael Stipe John Michael Stipe (born January 4, 1960 in Decatur, Georgia) is the lead singer of the American rock band R.E.M. Stipe has become well-known (and occasionally parodied) for the "mumbling" style of his early career and for his complex, surreal lyrics, as well as his social and and company plainly believe in what they're doing, and the trio - augmented Monday by frequent tour drummer Joey Waronker Joseph "Joey" Waronker (born May 20, 1969 in Los Angeles, California) is an American drummer and producer. He is the son of record producer Lenny Waronker and singer/actress Donna Loren; his younger sister is musician Anna Waronker; and his grandfather is record executive and and a couple of road hands who traded off between second guitar and keyboards - still put forth passionate, frequently haunting music. Among the highlights of the engaging if uneven set where exciting readings of ``The Wake-Up Bomb'' and the gentle ``E-Bow the Letter,'' both from R.E.M.'s underrated 1996 effort ``New Adventures in Hi-Fi.'' A subdued ``Man on the Moon,'' which Stipe dedicated to ``our friend Milos'' (as in Forman, director of the forthcoming film on late comic Andy Kaufman Andrew Geoffrey Kaufman (January 17, 1949 – May 16, 1984) was an American entertainer, actor, and performance artist. Though many refer to him as a comedian, Kaufman did not self-identify as one[1]. , subject of the song), and the 1993 Top 40 hit ``Everybody Hurts'' had the members of the audience ignoring their cell phones as they swayed and sang softly along. Guitarist Peter Buck For New Zealand Maori leader and academic, see . Peter Lawrence Buck (born 6 December, 1956 in Berkeley, California) is the guitarist and co-founder, along with Bill Berry, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe of the alternative rock band R.E.M.. He is the oldest member of the band. was the driving force behind the more uptempo numbers, including ``The One I Love'' and ``Crush With Eyeliner,'' and those in the first few rows formed a chardonnay- and espresso-fueled mosh pit mosh pit n. An area in front of a concert stage in which audience members mosh. of sorts. No injuries were reported. Stipe appeared alone on stage with an acoustic guitar for the start of the encore, at first warning the crowd he was just learning the instrument. He haltingly accompanied himself on a soft ballad before offering a few lines of the Smashing Pumpkins song ``Disarm,'' announcing that Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan was a close friend and among the era's best songwriters. R.E.M. - appearing tonight at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre - may not still be on rock's cutting edge. But as long as there's a market for emotional, well-crafted folk-tinged pop, Stipe and the gang will have jobs. THE FACTS Who: R.E.M. with Mercury Rev Mercury Rev is an American rock music group, formed in the late 1980s in Buffalo, New York. Original personnel were David Baker (vocals), Jonathan Donahue (vocals, guitars), Sean Mackowiak, a.k.a. . Where: Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, 8800 Irvine Center Drive, Laguna Hills La·gu·na Hills A city of southern California southeast of Santa Ana. Population: 33,600. . When: 8 tonight. Tickets: Sold out; try brokers. Information: (213) 480-3232. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1) R.E.M. singer-songwriter Michael Stipe delivers the band's hits to the Greek Theatre crowd. (2) Guitarist Peter Buck adds heft to the band's uptempo tunes. The R.E.M. tour moves tonight to the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre. Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer |
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