Friday August 24, 2001 |

Many events commemorate start of school

Style or substance? Tonight there's no need to choose. One can go to CatFest to see pretty girls and cute clothes, stick around to see some bands play, then sign up with the Red Cross for its blood drive next week. And all this is free!

CatFest - an event put together by the University Activities Board, Associated Students of the University of Arizona, Residence Hall Association and Greek Life - officially begins at 5 p.m. in front of the fountain at Old Main. Vendor and club booths will compete for attention while UAB and ASUA present a fashion show.

Sorority and fraternity members, members of ASUA and members of the student body at large will model clothing while the bands play, said Pamela Epstein, special events coordinator for ASUA.

The fashion show will feature clothing from local stores along University and Fourth Ave, such as the Strand, Zoë, Fourth Ave. Jean Company, and Buttz Jean and Clothing Company, as well as UA apparel from the bookstore.

Seventeen magazine will conduct a campuswide model search. The winner will win prize money and a scholarship, and have money donated in her name to her sorority and the Red Cross. After she walks the catwalk, she'll also have a chance at a modeling contract.

Sign-ups will be posted for the Red Cross's blood drive, which will take place next Wednesday.

Two of Tucson's hardest-working local bands will provide the soundtrack for all this posing.

Sunday Afternoon, a six-piece band that has been playing around Tucson for a little more than a year, starts the show. After CatFest, the band will play a show at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. It will be the first time the band has ever played two shows in one night.

"These are our first two shows with our new drummer," said Joey Unger, guitarist-vocalist for Sunday Afternoon. "We're just trying to get back in the swing of things."

Warsaw takes the stage at 5 p.m. Fresh off a five-week tour, the band will play CatFest and then drive to Phoenix for a show later that night. Saturday, it'll play Skrappy's, 201 E. Broadway Blvd., and O'Malley's, 247 N. Fourth Ave., before heading out on another tour that will last through December.

"We've been touring for the last five years," said Aaron Poland, who alternates instruments with Warsaw. "It's a lot of work but it's worth it."

Warsaw, which has been playing in Tucson for about five years, has changed its sound as its lost and gained members. Originally a ska band, they have developed a distinctly power-pop sound, which fans can hear on the group's latest CD, Pimpin' On Crutches.