Maniacs' Merchant heading for Hawai'i

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Staff Writer

Heeeere's ... aaaaa ... day, to remember.

Jan. 23.

That's the evening former 10,000 Maniacs doyenne Natalie Merchant has chosen for an 8 p.m. concert at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel's Hawaii Ballroom. Two other Hawai'i concerts have been scheduled for Jan. 25, at the Marriott Kaua'i Ballroom, and Jan. 27, at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Neighbor Island shows will also begin at 8 p.m.

Tickets for all three shows go on sale Saturday. Ticket prices are $37.50 for the O'ahu concert, $40 for the Kaua'i concert and $30-$40 for the Maui concert. O'ahu and Maui concerts will have reserved seating. The Kaua'i show will be general seating.

Merchant is touring in support of her November release "Motherland," her fourth solo disc following her 1993 departure from the jangly folk-pop of Maniacs. At times a surprisingly exotic and electric departure from the comparatively quiet mood swings of 1999's "Ophelia" and her 1995 solo debut "Tigerlily," "Motherland" combines Merchant's longtime penchant for bookishly introspective and socially conscious lyrics with welcome flourishes of gospel, reggae, Middle Eastern string and wind instruments, and (gasp!) distorted guitar.

Merchant's song selection for the "Motherland" tour has been heavy on her solo work — particularly compositions from the new CD — with a couple of Maniacs faves like "These Are Days" and "Hey Jack Kerouac" tossed in for good measure.

O'ahu tickets may be purchased at the Blaisdell Center box office, Sheraton Waikiki dining desk, Foodland Super Markets, University of Hawai'i-Manoa Campus Center and military outlets; or charged by phone at 526-4400.

Kaua'i tickets will be available at the Marriott Kaua'i, Kmart, Larry's Music, Progressive Expressions and Foodland Super Markets, or can be charged by phone at 526-4400. Maui tickets may be purchased at the MACC box office or by calling (808) 242-7469. For more information, go to goldenvoice.com.