by: Larry Nager (page E8)

Nothing at the Clinton inauguration symbolized the changing of the guard more than 10,000 Maniacs headlining the MTV-produced inaugural ball. Just try to imagine Natalie Merchant and her band performing their gently rocking story-songs for Ronald Reagan or George Bush.

But that might be one of the reasons Bush lost the election, said Maniac keyboardist Dennis Drew.

"He just didn't get it, and Clinton did," Drew said by phone. "People aren't watching the news. They're sick of the news. They're watching MTV and Arsenio Hall and Larry King."

Despite their presidential connection, 10,000 Maniacs aren't seeking positions in the Clinton administration. "We deal with MTV, we don't deal with the government," Drew said. "And I think MTV's more powerful. They elected Clinton."

But like Clinton did last year, 10,000 Maniacs will spend their summer on the bus, taking their message to the people. Tonight, the band will open the 1993 season at Mud Island.

The group, which got its start in 1981 in Jamestown, N.Y., is touring in support of its new album, Our Time in Eden. The disc marked a change in the group's folk-rock sound, adding a touch of funk with guest appearances by the JB horns - saxophonists Maceo Parker and Pee Wee Ellis and trombonist Fred Wesley.

Even the songwriting process was different this time, Drew said.

In the past, the band came up with the music and Merchant would then write the lyrics. "But this time we really sat all together and tried to work it all out in sort of a workshop fashion and hammer out the songs."

The band is pleased with the results, Drew said. "I think the music is different this time around. . . . I think it used to be like this little folk-rock band in the background with Natalie over the top, but now I think it all meshes together. It's much bigger sounding."

To get that big sound at Mud Island, the group has added a few extra Maniacs with a horn section, a violin-viola player and an extra guitarist and pianist.

Also on the tour at the band's request is opening act Zap Mama, an Afro-pop a cappella vocal group with a sound reminiscent of both En Vogue and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. "They sound like a whole band," Drew said. The eclectic rock trio World Party will open the second leg of the tour.

While the interest in world-beat music is one of the more heartening aspects of today's high-tech global village, Drew said there are some not-so-positive side effects of living in our information-drenched society.

"I think we're part of a slightly more confused generation," he explained. "I think an earlier generation's life was quite a bit simpler than it is now. . . . Growing up with TV really changed things. Now they've got CNN and computers, and the next generation will have 500 channels of cable TV. They'll probably be confused into paralysis."