by Margaret Moser
Michelle
Rule is standing in her kitchen, one hand on the stove and the other wrapped
around a microphone. Her bare feet spring off the black-
and-white checked linoleum floor in time to “Where Are My Shoes?” as the boys
in Miss Universe spray punky chords that bounce off the walls of the L-shaped
hall and back into her face. Guitarist and songwriter-in-chief Chris Braun
leans against a doorway and throws the song’s insistent rhythm to drummer Josh
Power who gives a kinetic response while bassist Tom Balentine lays out the
song’s rubbery bottom. Rule tilts her head a bit to one side, the feathered
layers of her short dark hair shift slightly, and she begins to plaintively
sing/chant:
It’s not love I’m searching for, that’s old news
…Maybe soon I might stand up on my shoulders,
Catch a glimpse and taste the air
And hope that this time might be different, maybe even real…
The quartet finishes the song and dissolves into rehearsal patter. “What
next?” Rule asks.
“How about a Go-Gos song?” Power teases about the band’s hyper version of “Our
Lips Are Sealed” on the Eighties tribute compilation Deja Phooey.
“No! “ she states emphatically as Balentine and Braun laugh. “I
mean, I want to do our music. What about `When the Well Runs Dry?'”
Muffled voices filter through the hall as Braun knocks off the unmistakable
opening of “Walk This Way,” then fades it out into more laughter. Balentine
runs a few bass notes and the countdown begins.
In a town where too many bands wonder why – after being together a few months,
a little gigging around town, and a four-song cassette – they aren’t Sixteen
Deluxe, Miss Universe has simply bided its time. They’ve honed a tough,
well-crafted brand of powerful punk-pop, much in evidence on their new Rise
Records CD Duh!. But even though calling a band “pop” can be the kiss of
death, especially in Austin, Miss Universe is pop like Blondie or the Ramones:
pop with a bite and without being retro.
“I think everybody has a certain appreciation for pop, whether they admit it
or not,” Rule says, agreeable with the Blondie comparison but noting “the guys
would probably rather acknowledge the Descendants as influence.” The person
willing to acknowledge Miss Universe, however, was Rise Records’ Craig Koon,
whose discerning ear was tuned to their pop-with-punk-edge through a mutual
friend. “Craig started to come to see us play – a bunch,” remembers Rule.
“Then he said, `Do you want to work with me and put some stuff out?’ Of course
we said yes.” That led to the 1993 Rise single Miss Universe with “When
the Well Runs Dry” b/w “Blanky,” both of which were re-recorded last August for
inclusion on Duh!. Rule doesn’t think much of the first single, happier
with the second effort on the album. And though it would take a year for
Duh! to hit the streets, the band valued its relationship with Koon
enough to trust him through the album’s release delays. That’s just the
kind of attitude that marks the perfect marriage of musical talent and business
acumen.
Which is exactly what Braun, Power, and Rule – names that evoke strength and
energy – hoped for when they moved down here from Iowa. Rule and Braun had gone
to high school together in Iowa City; Rule and Power met in college. The three
formed the first incarnation of Miss Universe there before moving to Austin in
1992, where they established themselves playing venues such as Emo’s, Blue
Flamingo, Electric Lounge, Liberty Lunch, and Hole in the Wall (for which Rule
expresses a particular fondness, saying “We play our best shows there. The
people who go there are truly interested in the bands.”). When Tom Balentine,
most recently with Hurtbox, replaced the departed Paul East on bass not long
ago, a new dynamic emerged in the band – nevermind that the Port Neches native
has now given Miss Universe an authentic Texas edge.
Of course, being Miss Universe hasn’t been without its drawbacks. In fact,
they are about to be “The Band Formerly Known As Miss Universe,” due to a legal
agreement with The International Beauty Pageant of the Same Name. It seems that
while playing in their home state of Iowa, a disgruntled pageant fan informed
officials of the infringement. “We’ve been in touch with them,” Rule offers
diplomatically. “And we’re not allowed to talk about it,” though she admits
that the band may soon be billed “Formerly Miss Universe.”
But for right now, Miss Universe reigns supreme in a galaxy where many have
gone before but few have been able to hold their heads up afterward. Miss
Universe doesn’t care – they wear the crown with style and panache. n
This article appears in October 6 • 1995 and October 6 • 1995 (Cover).