THE Rheostatics’ Dave Bidini at the Commedore. Supersuc Bob Mackin News Reporter EDDIE Spaghetti: social activist? Yes, indeed. When the man born Edward Carlyle Daly HI is not rock- ing out as leader of Seatile’s Supersuckers, he’s reckin’ the boat. His number one cause is the cam- paign to free the so-called West Memphis Three, a wio of teenagers convicted for the savage 1993 mur- der of three children in West Memphis, Ark. Police said it was a Satanic sacrifice. Damien Echols was sent death while his two alleged accomplices Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr. are serving life sen- tences. All three maintain their innocence and claim key evidence in their favour was ignored. Spaghetti is compiling a benefit album on the Supersuckers’ own Aces and Eights record label to raise awareness. “J just got the Rocket from the Crypt song in the mail the other day,” he said from West Memphis, Ark ' week. “Other songs are by Jon Doe (from X: ille Pussy, Zeke, Steve Earle, Mark ANntgar and a few surprises J can’t talk about just : = yet.” Paradise Lost, an HBO docu- mentary on the West Memphis Three, is what originally sparked Spagherti’s interest. ft took anoth- ec Seattle musician to put him in action. “Like a lot of people 1 thought it was so outrageous thing was sure to be done about it, then we were recording and { was talk- ing to Eddie Vedder (of Pearl Jam) about it. He said, ‘Oh yeah, it’s still going on.’ We got in touch with the support fund and here we are.” Spaghetti and the rest of the Supersuckers will be at the Brickyard in Vancouver for ovo nights to spread the word about the Evil Pawers of Rock and Roii (their new album), Saturday is sold out but some tickets remain for Sunday. The group formed in Tucson, Ariz. but wanted a change of scenery. So one day they flipped a coin to choose berween New Orleans and Seattle. Seattle won. That’s where Empty Records released The Songs All Sound The Same, which led to a deai on Sub Pop. Living in the Pacific Northwest hasn’t diluted the band’s desert punk roots. They still wear cowboy hats onstage and even play the odd country tune, little bit Michael Becker News Editor Friday, January 28, 2000 - North Share News ~ 21 ~ NEWS photos Sprout www.eyeteaser. com/sprout ine boat Supersuckers on dist ~ The Songs Alf Sound the Same (eMpTy, 1992) ~ The Smoke of Hell (Sub Pop, 1992) ~ 1a Mano Cornuda (Sub Pop, 1994) ~ The Sacrilicions Sounds of... (Sab Pop, 1995) - Must’ve Been High (Sub Pop, 1997) — How the Supersuckers Became the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in History (Sub Pop, 1999) ~ The Evil Powers of Rock and Roll (Twenty- 14/Aces and Eights, 1999) They have recorded with Willie Nelson and Steve Earle, appeared at Farm Aid 95 and did a whole album of hurtin’ songs called Must’ve Been High . “Y.was raised on new wave and heavy metal, country is just something I discovered fater on,” Spaghetti said. “The simplicity of country appeals to me in the same way as punk rock — it’s real sienple, honest songs performed with some passion.” Spaghetti spearheaded the Tivisted Willie alburn full of Willie Nelson cover songs to benefit Farm Aid. Nelson even joined the Supersuckers in the studio in 1995 in Austin, Texas while they were recording the See Baud Page 28 : Yiri Yiri Bom, recorded 1952 in Mexico City by HISSY Fit played songs from their new release Uglier ThanYou at The Boot Pub iast weeken The Rheostatics, The Commodore, Jan. 20 The Rheostaties at The Commodore, the perfect room for this band. {infectious and cerebral, seri- ous music with a musing and youthful approach. Melody and hook all over, an excel- lent performance. The Rheostatics have a new CD out called The Stary of Harmelodia, Great packag- ing, it’s just like a mini hard- cover. Local line-up Veal opened for The Rheostatics. Hissy Fit, Whistler, Sunday, Jan.23 The Bont Pub hosts punk . rock on Sunday nights. Last ~ week Vancouver’s Hissy Fit were on the bill. The band has sound songs and plenty of hook. Hissy Fit manages to stay punk while continuing to rock. The band has a release out Ligiier Than You available through their web site at — Sprout Ellington tribute G unveiled TONIGHT the Ken Aldcreft Trio + 1 hosts a CD release party for their hi new recording his mistress never sleeps: a tribute to the life and music of duke . ellington at the Sugar Refinery, 1115 Granville St., Vancouver. he show starts at 9:30 p.m. with a $5 cover at the door. CDs will be available for $10 (one night only) at 3 the-perfermance,",*," mbecker@usnews.com & «kx Various Artists — Fabulous Mambo (BMG Entertainment 1999) Music category: cocktail swilling vibrations. Drop the chalspa — now amigo. A little bit of mambo is whaz you need. That rather large hit Germany’s Lou Bega scored with Manibo No. 5 last year rode a wave of renewed pop interest in Latin music. Ricky Martin may be muy caliente, but there is much more to the scene than a guy with perfect teeth, a nice butt and a dis- posable song or two. This disc is an entertain- ing chronicle of how the first North American wave of mambo craziness expressed itself in the 1950s. Among the many percolating big- band tracks here — the original Mambo #5, ty by Xavier recorded 1958 in New York Ci hi erable push Warner Canada has made to sup- Beny More y. Orquesta Rafael de Paz; Manthasaoka, recorded in 1956 in New York City by Tito Puente and His Orchestra. & x kkk Bine Rodeo — The Days In Between (2000 Blue Rodeo Productions /Warner Music) Music categor Songs to chase stone cold hearts by. The Warner-EMI merger to form the world’s biggest music company spells bad news for some Canadian acts according to certain music industry analysts. There is the worry that lesser selling acts on a global scale wil! be dropped and forced te seek alternate distribution avenues. Blue Rodeo, for example has benefited by the consid- t : Eee oad Bren NEWS photos Sprout waw.eyeteaser.convaprout | BRYAN Adams performed two nights at the Queen: . See Righteous Page 23; Elizabeth Theatreeattier,this week.7 ee