Samples

R.I.P.
Last week, former Velvet Underground guitarist Sterling Morrison died of cancer in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He was 53. Along with Lou Reed, John Cale, and Mo Tucker, he was a founding member of the seminal, subversive rock band, and briefly carried on the show after Cale and Reed left in 1970. Morrison went on to get a Ph.D. in medieval studies, tour with Tucker, and play the European VU reunion in '93. For a definitive look at his contributions, check out the VU box set, Peel Slowly and See, which will be released on A&M later this month.

Green Thumb
The Gardening Club, that come-down-get-down Monday night cooperative located at the Caribbean Zone, has become known as a resting spot for the weekend-impaired. Besides free vegan grub, a waterfall, and groovy light shows, the club plays host to some of the finest trip hop DJs around. With the release of Charlie at the Gardening Club Spring of 1995, you can get a taste of the vibe in the privacy of your own home. Copies are available at Amoeba, House Wares, and Tweekin' Records for under $8, or from Charlie directly at 431-1265 or via e-mail at naturalserius.com. All profits will be donated to charity.

Cruising the Infobahn
No matter how bitterly they resist, even the most stalwart vinyl-only traditionalists will eventually be tempted by the plethora of music resources available on the Internet. And once they take the plunge, they'll need a guide to help them navigate the labyrinth. The painstakingly researched A Pocket Tour of Music on the Internet by SF Weekly contributor Colin Berry is equally useful for the Net newbie and the wired vet alike. The first 50 pages walk you through the basics, from current start-up costs to cyberspace etiquette. The second chapter is a comprehensive directory of World Wide Web sites and newsgroup addresses arranged by genre. Unlike the typically dry lists of other Net guides, Berry's personalized annotations add a friendly, human touch. What's more, this Tour is organized like the Net's nonlinear paradigm, encouraging the reader to surf the index. Berry incorporates user-friendly icons to differentiate between newsgroups, e-mail boxes, Web sites, or FTP sites (digital shopping malls). He also alerts the reader to common trouble spots, translates techie terms, and gives lengthy descriptions of his own favorite sites. There is something here for everyone, from bagpipe lovers to NIN fans. As Berry is the first to admit, any book about the Internet is obsolete the moment it goes to press. Still, A Pocket Tour is the perfect springboard for those who have the will but don't know the way.

By Silke Tudor, Shoshana Berger