METAL BAND `THE UNDERGROUND' HOPES TO MAKE IT TO THE BIG TIME

Members of one of Cape Girardeau's often-seen heavy metal band hope one day you'll say "I knew them when . . . ."

After being together for less than a year, The Underground has made strides toward becoming a well-known act, thanks, in part, to their regualar performances at Players. They're scheduled to play there again June 12-13.

In their short time together, The Underground has an established following in the Cape area, and have just recorded their first self-produced album.

"Four Men Under" is the band's premier recording effort, completed about two weeks ago. Boasting six songs, the album demonstrates the versatility, musicianship and writing ability inherent in the band's members.

Richard Newman, the lead singer for The Underground, hails from St. Louis, but has made his home in the Cape area. He and Jamie Pender, bassist, and Mike Lamb, drummer, have played together previously in a band local residents may remember -- W.W. Whiskey.

Pender said, "Mike and I have been together forever about seven years."

"Yeah, they were hatched together playing!" said Newman.

Pender and Newman also joined forces in Naughty Naughty, a popular metal band in Cape Girardeau a couple of years ago.

Chad Smith, The Underground's guitarist, is from Herrin, Ill. Smith had pre-Underground experience in an Illinois band called Spoiled Rotten.

Smith has had his share of professional training, too. At age 18, he attended a summer guitar workshop in Connecticut and then hit the west coast to breeze through the Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles.

Although The Underground is tight as a band, variety and diversity among the members is what gives the group a sound which is hard to label.

Newman cites Robert Plant, John Fogerty and Chris Cornell as his influences. Pender likes Flea, Geddy Lee, Mike Anthony and Muzz Skillings; while Lamb took notes from John Bonham, Neil Peart and Steve Gadd. Smith names Kings X, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and Paul Gilbert as his biggest influences.

With such a diverse array of musical tastes, it's hard for the band to agree on any universal influences for the group.

"Kings X, Led Zeppelin and Rush," Smith said, with Pender in agreement. Newman added U2 to the list.

"Zeppelin," Lamb said, agreeing with Smith's choice. "Our stuff is kind of like heavy Led Zeppelin."

"Actually, Spinal Tap's our biggest influence," Smith said.

The band has a hard time categorizing their musical style as they do agreeing on influences.

"Just rock," Pender said. "It's all just straight rock."

"No it's not!" Newman said. "It's more like hard alternative."

After the four of them debated over what kind of music they play and write, they all seemed to agree that it's some type of alternative/rock with a hard edge.

All six songs on "Four Men Under" demonstrate that and other styles of music. "Resting" is a straight-ahead rock song, hidden under a funky, Alice-in-Chains type of groove.

On "The Believer," Newman and Smith join vocal forces again. Their voices complement each other and they often sound as if they've been singing together for years. This song is probably one of the most popular originals with their audience.

Well-thought-out vocals take the spotlight again on "My Angels High," a song that slightly resembles an obscure country & western song. But fear not, the recurring Underground groove is not far away.

"I Survived" is more than a token album ballad. Beautiful acoustic guitar work by Newman hooks the audience as his voice reels them in. Smith's guitar solo demonstrates a perfect job of integrating a flashy element into the song, while not straying from the mood. Newman played keys on the recording, but the song takes on a more live, raw feel in its performance.

"In the Brakes" and "Water Street Blues" are both somewhat depressing, topically; but once again that metal/funk/alternative groove kicks in on "Brakes" and doesn't let up until the very end.

"Water Street Blues," on the other hand, sounds about like what its name suggests. The keyboards on this song should be especially appealing to Black Crowes fans. Newman wrote the lyrics for "Blues" about a homeless man he knows in downtown Cape, and what his life is like.

"A lot of our songs, lyrics-wise, are about poor people because I'm a po' folk!" Newman said.

Whatever the lyrical content, the crowds they play to have become familiar with their original songs.

"They like them better than the covers," Newman said. "The cool thing is, though, not everybody likes the same song. If that were so, then you'd have to think that the others were weak. But it seems like almost everyone we talk to has a different favorite."

Originals aren't the only reflection of the band's musical preferences; the covers they choose to play also show their overall style. Although their favorite songs to play are their own, the band members also enjoy performing songs by other artists.

"I like `I'm Bored' by Death Angel," Smith said.

Pender said, "I like how Kings X has thrash grooves with the melody over it."

Lamb also chose the Kings X songs while Newman singled out The Cult and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The band also plans to add songs by Racer X, Pearl Jam, and the song "Limelight" by Rush.

Although they are adding more covers to the song list, the guys are already thinking about the next album and the style of music they'll write for it.

"I want to go a lot heavier," Smith said.

"Definitely," said Newman. "I think the next one will be a lot harder. We'll probably do more stuff like `Resting.' I love thrash riffs, but I love groove stuff more. Our originals are getting better and better.

"There will be more songs on the next album. In the next five or six months we'll do a complete 12-song-er. We're gonna call it `Just to Piss off Cape!'"

Until the next album is completed, however, The Underground plans to continue playing out as much as possible.

They will have ample opportunity to perform this summer, however, when they tour the East coast, the South and Canada.

With all those people traveling together, living expenses will be hard to meet. The band plans to use the sale of merchandise to help offset some of that cost.

The "Four Men Under" cassette will cost around $6; the cd will be approximately $8. T-shirts will cost about $8 also. There is no price for the posters yet. These items tentatively will be available June 20.

Putting out a self-produced album and playing clubs in Cape Girardeau are just the beginnings for The Underground.

"Our goal, as a band, is the same goal as any other band," Newman said, "to get signed with a big record company. Our goal is a 10-record deal with Geffen.

Smith said, "I'm not worried too much about getting signed. I just want to play as much as possible."

Newman said, "Yeah, we'd just like to play the stuff we're doing and make a living at it."

"SOON!" Lamb said.

"We're doing that now if making a living means being able to buy sodas all week," Newman said.

Newman, when asked what he wants most to remember when fame and fortune comes his way, said, "No matter how big and famous we get, I want us to remember our roots.

"I think it would be a blast to get really big and come back and play the Show Me Center!"

To order any merchandise or to be put on The Underground's mailing list, write to P.O. Box 615, Herrin, Ill., 62948.