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In searching for an adjective to best describe the Torontoâ€"based Sphere Band, the word ‘‘schizoâ€" phrenic‘‘ comes to mind. By Deborah Crandall By night, the quartet swings and bops and rocks and rolls, performing at dances, weddings, and parties â€" a perfectly respectâ€" able and talented group of musiâ€" cians. But by day, the band‘s alter ego takes over. Donning silly wigs, funny hats, baggy pants and grease paint, the four (seemingly) normal professionals become veritable party animals â€" honâ€" estâ€"toâ€"goodness buffoons. Band, John Eriendson becomes Bumper, Patricia Sitverâ€"Elrendâ€" son becomes Patty, Allan Baedak becomes Pookey. and all become zany, madcap jesters, ready to entertain and delight their young audiences. ‘‘What we do as clowns is entirely different than what we do as a dance band,"‘ says Silverâ€"Elâ€" rendson, the only female clown in the band. ‘‘As a dance band, we‘l! And when the Sphere Band Okay. So what is it about this unpredictable group of zanies that sells out venues like Club Soda on a regular basis? ‘"Ska is as good a description as any, but with instruments ranging from trumpet to accordian, and lyrics being sung in three ‘‘We tell people, ‘Trust us and come and see us. Just trust us‘," says M,M&M sax player John Jordan. ‘"And people do come and see us, and they come up to us and say, ‘You were right‘,". have been flocking to see the inspired antics and highâ€"energy performances of Me, Mom & Morgentaler. What is surprising, though, is that after two years of being Montreal‘s fave club act, the sevenâ€"piece eclectic band (which defies convention and description) has yet to convince the powers that be at recording companies that M,M&M is marketable. (Wussies â€" the powers that be, that is). But even if recording moguls are too apprehensive to take a chance on a group that‘s, well, a little weird, Montreal concertâ€" Though a fiveâ€"song EP is in the works (likely to be released independently), M,M&M relies on a faithful homeâ€"town following to spread the word. When touring (they‘ve crossed Canada once and represented Canada at a Earth Day benefit concert in Berkley, Ca.), the Morgentalers hope their reputation preceeds them. mt _ languages (English, French and Spanish), S'V_"_';.b'"“w_______ anything is possible. It‘s no wonder that Montreal audiences _ *‘We‘re a sevenâ€"piece, multiâ€"racial, multiâ€" goers aren‘t. So tha Morgentalers will go it Sphere Band loves clowning around Just a 7â€"piece, multiâ€"racial, multiâ€"linguistic, reggae, funk, ska, kind of hyperactiveâ€"mess band Waterloo Showtime presents The Sphere Clown Band, Feb. 16 at the Humanities Theatre. play a variety of cover tunes and musicians during their ‘‘grownâ€" play whatever the Top 40 is. We up‘" performances, it is only in pretty well play songs the audiâ€" the guise of clowns that the band ence knows because that‘s what members can toss all inhibitions they want to hear, but we‘re not out the window and really cut really playing our own music.‘‘ _ loose. Though it is nice to dress like adults, and ‘‘stretch out"" as "It‘s different every time. We try never to repeat ourselves,‘‘ Jordan says of the band‘s live show. "It‘s very highâ€"energy and there‘s usually a message or theme. We‘re pretty political. It‘s all about drawing a line and stepping one step over it â€" having one foot on either side of the line. We try to deal with issues headâ€"on." Obviously, there‘s more to this band than fine musicianship (though there is that, too). With the attitudes about life, politics and music that only the young (all are barely into their 20s) and unjaded can bring to the stage, members Nasty Gus Coriandoli (quitar, vocals), Kim Bingham (vocals), Baitimore Bix Berger (trumpet), Mat Lipscombe (bass), Kasha Hering (accordian), Syd Zantoriin (drums) and Jordan serve up a veritable alternative music feast. No two shows are ever exactly the same, and each usually centres around a particular theme. Teenage angst was the theme of one performance in which a phailic pinata filled with prophylactics exploded over a gyrating crowd â€" satanic insanity was another, during which a voodoo witch performed an exorcism ‘"‘We‘re big into the whole youth of today thing,"‘ says frontman Nasty Gus. ‘‘We hope we speak for our generation â€" people that JP musicians during their "‘grownâ€" up‘" performances, it is only in the guise of clowns that the band members can toss all inhibitions out the window and really cut ‘"‘With the kids, you can be totally corny and silly and goofy (Continued on EZ7) Free Pool 1 â€" 5 p.m. _ Starting at 9 p.m * Tolkirng NETWORK Capuel Lo ( 2 n. " | Tmet of Hearts Thek"" 48 1P ""â€" | Tomptation 579 King St. N., Waterioo ie Open Dail FREE TABLE DANCING pen Y Fuesday & Wednesday Nights,â€"9â€"11 p.m. ... .. Noon 1 a.m. 746'52‘ and do pratfalls," Silverâ€"Elrendâ€" son says. ‘‘You couldn‘t do that at a dance â€" people would look at you strange. The clowning is really quite satistying because we are communicating with the kids and involving the kids every miâ€" nute of the show. Kids are wide open at times, and they will laugh with you, and they‘I! do whatever you want them to do to particiâ€" pate, as long as it‘s fun."‘ Their first album, / Can Do Anything, released on their own Oneâ€"Eyed Duck label, was nomiâ€" nated for a Juno Award in 1984 Their second album, Sharing â€" Sphere Clown Band and Creative Kids, released in 1989, also received critical acclaim. The bands‘ success as clowns could be attributed to their honesty and energy. And parents love them because their live performances and recording always include educational aspects. ‘‘There‘s always been some education in our children‘s perâ€" formances,"‘ _ Sitverâ€"Elrendson says. ‘‘We feel that if we‘re For 13 years, the Sphere Band has been enjoying a duel person: ality, but it is as clowns that they have seen more success. ENTERTAINMENT ZONE, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1091 â€" PAGE EZ3 Battle of the Sexes Sat., Feb. 16 Waterloo‘s NETWORK performing to children, then we should be saying something imâ€" portant. But it should be tun tor the kids So the Sphere Clown Band‘s shows always involve the audiâ€" ence, and include musical skits with singing, dancing and comâ€" edy. With the clowns taking turns on a variety of instruments (keyâ€" boards, trombone, accordian, guitar, drums, bass, bells, whisâ€" tles, and horns), lessons on topâ€" ics such as safety, careers, aniâ€" mals, counting, shanng, fitness and . selfâ€"concept development are made fun All Sphere Clowns are protes sionally _ trained _ musicians Silverâ€"Elrendson has a BA wilverâ€"Elrendson has a BA in classical music, both Elrendson and Baedak come from jazz backâ€" grounds, and Potter has played "every kind of show imaginable‘ "It‘s really interesting, because if you listen to our recrods, you‘‘Il hear all the various influences, Silverâ€"Elrendson says. ‘‘We all come from different musical backgrounds, and when we bring all that together, you can hear the The result is children‘s music (Continued on EZ7)