by: Neal Justin (page 3E)

When Natalie Merchant followed through on her threat to quit 10,000 Maniacs and pursue a solo career, it was natural to assume that the band would dissolve.

After all, Merchant had come to define the group with her challenging lyrics on songs like the antichild-abuse anthem, What's the Matter Here?; her tie-dye dance moves in concert, and her vibrato-rich alto voice, which made Bruce Springsteen's and Patti Smith's Because the Night her own. When she departed in the summer of 1993, after the wildly successful Unplugged album, the spotlight went with her.

While Merchant's album, Tigerlily, was released this summer to mixed reviews and lukewarm sales, her former backup band has quietly but confidently forged ahead. Although it is not signed to a record label -- and although most people probably have no clue that the band still exists -- its members believe there is life after Natalie.

After more than a year of playing with new band members John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey (formerly the folk duo John & Mary), the group is working on an album and playing festivals. Its headliner spot at the Basilica Block Party on Saturday night in Minneapolis will be one of the new band's first major tests.

"We don't have any illusions that we're going to be able to pick up right where we left off. If we pull this off, it's pretty unique in the history of pop music," said keyboardist Dennis Drew, speaking from a studio in upstate New York, where the band was rehearsing and dubbing material for an album due next year. In the background, a recording of Time Turns, a mellow, catchy new tune, is playing, on which Ramsey's voice sounds eerily like her predecessor's.

"They're not tremendously different," Drew said. "It's not like we brought in Courtney Love or Joni Mitchell."

Band members don't expect to make many major alterations. They believe the band's earlier success was a result in large part of the folk-pop sound generated and shaped by the all-male players, who often found themselves bumping heads with their lead singer, whose most common complaint was that the music was just too loud.

"Not being quite a democracy with the old band, it was always pretty hard to get ideas through," bassist Steve Gustafson said. "There was a conflict because she was pretty strong in her opinions, and we were pretty strong in ours. For the most part, we -- as the boys -- were in agreement on most things: how to mix the record, what direction we wanted the music to go in. She certainly fought hard, but couldn't ultimately get everything she wanted and decided to leave."

To replace Merchant, the band turned to Ramsey and Lombardo. The latter actually had been a founding member of the Maniacs who quit shortly before its breakthrough album, In My Tribe.

Lombardo said he never had any regrets about leaving the band just before it struck gold. He left because he was tired of not making much money and traveling in a "tiny beat-up truck and pushing it when it broke down," he said.

Expect to hear one John & Mary song Saturday night, a lot of new stuff and about seven classic Maniacs' tunes. Despite the split, the band members said they harbor no grudges against Merchant and wish her the best on her own. Not that they're paying close attention.

"I saw a little bit of her on C-Span, performing at Earth Day, then I heard the single (Carnival) once," Drew said. "It's got a nice beat. I thought it was pleasant. Maybe I expected more from her."

While he's obviously not thrilled about answering Natalie questions, Drew understands the interest.

"Until we put out a record, no one's got anything else to talk about," he said. "I think once we put a record out, I'm going to stop answering questions about her."