Morphine energizes, stuns Pontiac

As a general rule of thumb, the Boston-based trio Morphine compels its devoted listeners toward partaking in certain things called "sex" and "drugs," via its engaging and unique sax-bass- and-drums approach to "rock 'n' roll." Once again, this adage was proven correct, as the band played a stunning 1 1/2 hour set of energetic music at a sold-out Clutch Cargo's in Pontiac.

REVIEW
	Morphine April 12, 1997 Clutch Cargo's

Prior to the group's early show - it ended at the partially light time of 8:30 - Morphine sat down with The Michigan Daily in the basement bungalow beneath Clutch Cargo's for an enlightening interview. Drummer Billy Conway was quite pleased describing the band's mostly competed U.S. tour. "It's been excellent and moving pretty fast," he said.

Conway was also excited that Morphine is able to bring a fellow Boston band, Wooden Leg, along with them as support. "They're a great band," he said of the quartet, two of whose members would later jam with Morphine on stage, including the violinist for a Middle Eastern-sounding rendition of "Lilah," the first time it was ever attempted live that way.

Morphine has been quite fortunate to have stellar opening acts to get the crowd invigorated and to motivate itself to play extremely well. The last time the group was in the metro Detroit area - last May at St. Andrew's - Medeski, Martin and Wood vowed the sold-out venue with their keyboard and stand-up bass virtuosity. "They're fucking incredible," said Conway, quite chuffed that he was able to watch his fellow Rykodisc mates play every other night.

Speaking of Rykodisc, Morphine recently signed on with Dreamworks SGK, which means that both labels are putting out the group's new album, "Like Swimming," as well as the band's next release. Asked if he was able to meet Steven Spielberg, 1/3 of Dreamworks' hierarchy, Morphine's bassist/lead singer Mark Sandman said, "No, but I saw his house from far away ... it looked pretty big."

The trio is certainly bettering itself financially these days with its new record deal. Only a couple of years ago, director David Russell was able to procure four Morphine songs for his curiously titled film, "Spanking the Monkey," for next to nothing. "He heard (our) music, liked it and got it for very little money," said Sandman.

The new deal, however, doesn't mean that Sandman, Conway and saxophonist Dana Colley are household names or faces yet. MTV - "the only game in town," according to Conway - only seems to show Morphine videos, like its new single, "Early to Bed," on "120 Minutes." Sandman, on the other hand, was pleased that, "We've been on two 'Beavis and Butthead' episodes (for earlier songs "Thursday" and "Honey White," off 1993's "Cure For Pain" and 1995's "Yes," respectively)."

Although the concert was fairly brief, Morphine set list represented all four of its albums rather well. "The Only One" and "Good," the title track off its debut album, were unexpected, yet well-executed, openers. And although the group delivered fine renditions of much of "Like Swimming," like the punchy "Early To Bed" and the sensual, slow rhythms of "French Fries With Pepper," the majority of the standout songs were off "Cure For Pain" and "Yes."

"Honey White," "Sharks," "Radar" and "Super Sex," off of "Yes," were all performed with more balls and enthusiasm than on its relatively up-tempo album versions. Colley also smoked through "Pain"'s "Thursday" and "A Head With Wings" - playing parts with both a tenor and a baritone sax in his mouth - before passionately wailing away on the last song before the encore, "Cure For Pain." Sandman's two-string slide bass meshed well with the deft drumming touches of Conway, who for some reason had his mouth agape and his eyes shut for much of the concert. As Colley soared through a glorious sax solo, Sandman was joined by the 2,200-person audience in singing, "That's the day / I'll throw my drugs away!"

The penultimate song, "Buena," simply rocked before Wooden Leg's mandolin player, Jimmy Ryan, who adds the instrument on the "Cure For Pain" version of "In Spite Of Me," joined the group on stage for the tender song.

As Morphine exited the stage to a standing ovation, it was obvious that, as Sandman said in the interview a couple of hours earlier, "Phase 1 of world domination by Morphine (started) in Pontiac."

Morphine rocked Clutch Cargo's in Pontiac last Saturday night.

04-15-97