Personnel: Debbie Cielen, guitar; Chrissie Olstad, lead vocals; Donna Kirkendall, background vocals; Eleanor Kas, background vocals; Rick Lucier, keyboards, guitar; Rick Kroell, bass; Mike Kroell, drums.
Formed: Early 1989, as an offshoot of Illicit, which featured Cielen, Olstad, Lorrie Kountz (now in Surrendur Dorothy) and Denise Sebo.
Current lineup together since: September 1990, when the Kroell brothers and Kirkendall joined.
Sound: ”We`re kind of funky pop-rock,” says Cielen. ”I think a lot of times we sound like a 1990s version of Blondie.”
Influences: Cielen cites ”everybody from David Bowie to ZZ Top-also the Pretenders` Chrissie Hynde; as much as you don`t want to admit it, Madonna;
and Patti Smith and Patty Smyth (of Scandal).”
Songwriting: Cielen and Olstad have been the main songwriters, ”but now with the (expanded) lineup, everybody`s pitching in.”
Onstage cover versions: Janis Joplin`s ”Try,” Edwin Starr`s ”War.”
Turf: The North Side-based band spans the area, playing at Avalon, Stay Out West in Hanover Park, Biddy Mulligan`s and Shades in Deerfield.
Namesake: Cielen says the name comes from a Gary Larson ”Far Side”
cartoon, which depicts what a dog hears: ”Blah blah blah Ginger.” Cielen says the band was going to name itself Blah Blah Blah Ginger. ”Then we said, `If we say that, people are going to say, ”Who`s Ginger!?” So let`s just name the band Who`s Ginger!?` ”
Recordings: The band recently finished a self-produced, three-song tape at Rick Lucier`s studio in Palatine. Another tape, ”Now What!?” (1989), is also available at shows.
Philosophy: ”Have a good time, be serious but not too serious, and try to make a living at it,” Cielen says.
Goals: ”I would really like to be self-supporting-either making music, producing music or playing music to the best of our abilities,” Cielen says. Next appearance: Aftershock, Feb. 1.
