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PAGE 20 â€" WATERLOO CHRONICLE Entertainmen What has been known in a relatively underground market around the Toronâ€" to area (steadily growing across the country and internationally) as an "erieâ€"styled garageâ€"gothic‘ band, Naâ€" tional Velvet is about to take on more of a "rock" flavor. "To me it doesn‘t really seem like a change because it‘s been happening progressively with the band for some time," Del Mar says. "I think one of the elements, as far as the slightly different flavor goes, is the additional member, Tim Welch, who you might have seen with Alanah Myles or Images In Vogue. He‘s got quite a different setâ€"up with his guitar. His sound‘s got more of and edge (more sophisticated) and he‘s a rock and roller." But National Velvet has always been hesitant to "label" or categorize its music, and prides itself in having a varied, diverse sound. ‘"The mix comes from the band memâ€" bers, because we all have such different musical backgrounds, and it seems to work," explains Del Mar. "There‘s a tension there from having different ideas and musical styles, because all five of us write." For National Velvet, made up of guitarists Crossley (that‘s his whole name) and Welch, bassist Mark Storm, drummer Garry Flint, and Del Mar, the path to a label signing was a curious one. In 1984, a chance meeting in a back alley (don‘t ask I didn‘t) led Storm to ask Del Mar to lend her powerful vocal ability to a band he was playing with at the time. Though the two had very little in common musically (or perhaps, because of that), they found they enjoyed workâ€" ing together, and their collaboration, led to the formation of National Velvet. Del Mar recruited Crossley, whom she had know for 10 years, while Storm brought Chronicle Staff National Velvet may be going through some changes, but the band‘s striking Hispanicâ€"featured lead singer, Maria Del Mar, says the transitions are really more of a natural evolution. New directions for National Velvet WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 20, Maria Del Mar and band National Velvet perform at UW Friday. in Flint. Welch joined later after doing several live shows with * Determined from the ;, not to: *?I.elntbml.‘ mlpmdli:anet,und ilt up an inspi steadily gained a reputation based on word of mouth. Favorable response to their live performance inspired the band to independently release a fiveâ€"song EP. In 1987, their unique, gothic sound caught the attention of Stuart Ravenâ€" Hill, who signed themâ€"to his label, Intrepid Records (distributed by C;n’hol Records) out of Toronto. In June of last year, their selfâ€"titled debut album was released. The band is about to head back into the studio again (on Halloween, in fact), and the changes in the band‘s music will probably be more obvious to onlookers than to the bandmembers themselves, who are "just getting to know each other again" after several months of life on "I guess you‘d have to take it song by song," Del Mar says of the aboutâ€"toâ€"beâ€" recorded album. "Some are a bit more hard rock orientated, while others are fairly p?pie. and others are still pretty dark and scarey." Del Mar says she and the boys are looking forward to going back into the studio, but performing is what really makes them tick. sbowuponmqe,dancingandsinging. It‘s a lot of fun," says Del Mar, who likes to bring out the beast in her audience. "Sometimes you just have to take them by the hand and guide them into it, but ;nevitably they let loose (they always o." "We have a really strong live show, because we love the audience, and we usually get people participating in the National Velvet v})erforms Friday at the University of Waterloo‘s Bombshelâ€" ter Pub in the Campus Centre. have been confirmed to perform at Humanities Theatre, Oct. 18. Advance tickets are $10, general seating. Also, tickets for The The‘s Nov. 1 performance at Federation Hall are going fast, and In upcoming UW concerts, Sara McLachlin and the Grapes of Wrath are heading for a sellâ€"out. d »moatd ts s im i M P“"."‘w C‘ e ~o, 7 on se uP 42