Personnel: Michael Yerke, guitar; Grant Tennison, vocals; Bill Ortman, keyboards; Frank Pace, drums; Michael Craddock, bass.
Formed: 1986, on the North Side.
Current lineup together since: June, when Tennison joined.
Sound: ”I would just say modern, guitar-oriented rock `n` roll,” Yerke says.
Songwriting: The group writes collectively.
Influences: Yerke cites the Replacements, Psychedelic Furs and Midnight Oil.
In-concert cover versions: Jimi Hendrix`s ”Crosstown Traffic” and, once upon a time, the Doors` ”Break on Through.”
Namesake: ”Our old bass player, Elmer, came up with it, and I don`t know where he got it from,” Yerke admits. ”He was kind of a twisted guy.”
Turf: The band usually plays at Cabaret Metro or Avalon, where Yerke works.
Memorable concert experience: Yerke says the band played before its smallest audiences-about 25 people-in cafeteria gigs at Northwestern University and St. Thomas College in St. Paul. ”I think it improves your performance because you have to win over those people sitting 20 feet from the stage,” Yerke says. ”And it makes you appreciate playing somewhere like Metro or the Avalon a lot more.”
Recordings: Maybe/Definitely hopes to release a five-song tape (still with former vocalist Steve Becker`s singing) in September. ”Basically we have to sell our mixing board so we can afford to press up the copies,” Yerke says.
Philosophy: ”We really like to play live, and we really appreciate the people that come out to see us,” Yerke says. ”We try to write good songs that we hope have some integrity.”
Goals: ”To make a living as musicians,” Yerke says. ”Realistically, the only way that`s going to happen is if we get signed to a recording contract.”
