Shannon Ford - drums
Michael Cerveris - vocal & guitar
John Jinks - bass
Alice Ripley - vocals & guitar
photo by Robert Kirk
Net Magazine
15 Aprilish 1994 Issue 11
by Robin Eisgrau
When I was a teenager, I knew kids who were into Broadway musicals and
kids who were cutting edge rock. It was rare, but every so often the twain did
meet. I remember a rehearsal of my high school theater club's slipshod production
of Guys and Dolls being derailed when someone brought in a
copy of the Decline of Western Civilization soundtrack and
we sat around listening to it instead of rehearsing. So I was somewhat surprised
to spot Michael Cerveris, star of the Broadway production of Tommy
at some recent shows by Teenage Fanclub and Buffalo
Tom. It turns out that Cerveris is in a band called lame
who aren't lame at all. (hey, they're smart enough to know that self-deprication
is way cool on the indie scene these days). I ventured to China Club to see
them perform as part of a benefit for Equity Fights AIDS/Broadway Cares and
they were fun. lame covers "Frank Mills" (as did
Lemonheads on "It's a Shame About Ray") from Hair
and the underground anthem "That's when I Reach For My Revolver" by
Mission of Burma. At a party I went to some months ago, Cerveris
dueted with Pete Townshend on The English Beat's classic 'Save
it for Later".
"Backstage on Broadway"
Playbill
by Sandra Mardenfeld
Michael
Cerveris feels his full schedule keeps his Tommy performance fresh. Loathe to miss
opportunities, Cerveris says yes to projects first, fitting sleep time in later. lame,
the band he started in January 1994, rounds out the remainder of his free time. Rehearsing
twice a week, usually after Tommy's evening performance, the four-member alternative rock
band plays original music at venues like Sin-E and the China Club. "The Band gives me
as much energy as it takes from me--just to have another creative outlet," Cerveris
says.
Although optimistic about lame's future, Cerveris's main interest, for
now, is personal: "I've made enough compromises and sacrifices as an actor, and now I
have the luxury of being able to make the kind of music I want to make without worrying
how it'll sell on MTV. The joy of playing music is playing with other people for other
people.
Amazing Journey - Official Web
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