by: Anthony Violanti (Gusto, page 30)
The 10,000 Maniacs have discovered there is life after Natalie Merchant. The Jamestown band was in the forefront of the alternative movement in the past decade. Merchant, the lead singer and songwriter, was joined by Rob Buck, guitar; Dennis Drew, keyboards, Steve Gustafson, bass, and Jerome Augustyniak on drums. The Maniacs sold millions of records, including two of this decade's most influential albums: Our Time in Eden (1992) and MTV Unplugged (1993). Both sold more than a million copies and MTV Unplugged is close to 2 million.
Merchant left the band two years ago and is due to release her first solo album on June 20. The Maniacs, meanwhile, laid low for about a year but have come back strong with two new members - John Lombardo, an original Maniac who left the band in 1986, and Mary Ramsey. The band has been working on a new album, expected to be released this year, and has been touring with new-found energy and teamwork. "It's a lot different without Natalie," Rob Buck said earlier this year. "We want to show people that our sound is the Maniacs sound. It wasn't just Natalie, it was the 10,000 Maniacs - all of us." Ramsey's vocals continue to grow stronger and she seems a perfect fit for the band. The 10,000 Maniacs play a free outdoor show Thursday at 5 pm in Lafayete Square. The Skeptics are also on the bill.