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By Deborah Crandall Perhaps what makes the Junior Jug Band so appealing to family audiences is the fact that the band is truely a family affair. When Brothers Ken and Chris Whiteley take the stage, along with Chris‘s children Jenny (20) and Daniel (17), washboards commence to scrubâ€"scrubbin‘, a washtub. bass starts aâ€"tubâ€"tubâ€" bin‘, banjos plinkâ€"plunk, guitars strum in rhythm, and feet, both on stage and in the audience, start stompin‘. Band has become a favorite among young (and young at heart) audiences. Though household names in the world of children‘s music, Ken and Chris Whiteley began their music careers in the mid 6Os, performing . downâ€"home music to grownâ€"ups. Their Tubby Fats‘ Original Allâ€"Star Downtown Syncopated Big Rock Jug Band is where the career began. But children‘s music seemed a natuâ€" ral progression for the Whiteleys + "At the time, we were fairly young musicians,‘"‘ Ken says. We started playing music in high After three albums, and a host of public appearances at chilâ€" dren‘s music festivals and on television shows .like Sesame Street, Mr. Dressup and Fred Penner‘s Place, the Junior Jug Okay, so it‘s a good way to get'a start and at least a local following. +But it‘s tough to attract nationâ€"wide exposure playing new and improved _renditions of Dude Looks Like a Lady. It‘s a style that demands a stage, spotlights and a frenzied, excited audiense (which is usually the case) â€" very visual and spontaneous. ‘‘We‘re an alternative/funk/jazz/ absurd/powerful/contfusion quartet, with a worldâ€"beat style, reggae and rock and roll," lles says. "It‘s all original stuff, with a lot of humor as well." Careful‘planning and patience are two on the plus side for the ecletic, alternative Rhinos (Danny Michel, Michael Blanchard, Steve Kendall and lles), as is a sound that Canadian audiences are ready and willing to accept. "‘It‘s daring, but our maximum goal is to achieve a record deal, and we‘re trying to compete with other bands that are doing complete original sets,"" says Rhinos keyboardist Darren lles. That‘s why The Rhinos have taken the courageous route of, over the past three years, playing their own stuff to local audiences, while improving and developing as musicians and as a band. night success â€" find a comfortable niche, genre, whatever, and then covertune your way to mediocrity. t By Deborah Crandall o_ _ TA -v‘ ‘v I" A guaranteed recipe for barâ€"band I { "â€" bucbootthntis. // , The Rhinos are ready to CHARGE! Music is a (family affair for the Whiteleys rovdiiig elgptibia ciorprye cluP sound, and could relate to school with the jug band. Then we started going into schools (with Mariposa in the Schoolto demonstrate a lot of different instruments, and we found it to be a very rewarding experience.‘ What worked, the Whiteleys found, was music that had a simple chorus, audiencé particiâ€" pation, movement, . interesting A turning point in Ken Whiteâ€" ley‘s career, and a turning point in Canadian children‘s music, With guidance from manager Doug Biggs (who has a definite ear for a good band and whose success stories include that of the Northern Pikes), The Rhinos are involved in a recording project at Cedartree Studio in Kmyner. With 17 tracks down Relaying that spontaneity in a studio setting is something the band will have to approach carefully â€" is approaching carefully. themes children Lâ€"R, Ken, Chris, Daniel and Jenny Whiteley â€" the came when he coâ€"produced the debut Raffi album. Ken was deterâ€" mined in that project, to bring real music to children. ‘‘What I brought to that project was the attitude that | brought into schools, of not feeling you had to play kiddie music â€" you could play good music,‘ Ken says. ‘‘There was an element of not playing down to them musiâ€" cally while bringing in a lot of different musical styles. We were bringing all the world of music to children in a way which they and only vocals to add, the recording, when finished, will serve as an introduction to record companies. But the recording will be of such good quality, lles says, that a record company will be able to press it. Back to the spontaneity thing. "It‘s hard to get that in the studio because sometimes we go in at different tymes, and sometimes it‘s until 3 a.m., doing the same quitar Recession Special â€" Free Pool 1 â€" 5 p.m. Regular Buffet $3.25 Sat. noon till 1 p.m. FREE FREE TABLE DANCING ~~~~~~_ Tuesday & Wednesday Nights â€" 9â€"11 p.m Junior Jug Band While carrying on careers of their own, Ken and Chris have performed on more than 80 alâ€" bums by artists such as Sylvia Tyson, Leon Redbone, Sharon Lois and Bram, George Hamilton IV, Carrol Baker, John Hammond, and the late Stan Rogers. could relate to it As is obvious by their diverse list of accomplishments, . the Whiteley brothers don‘t excluâ€" sively perform children‘s music. Ken and Chris continue with an "adult‘‘ career (they have just ENTERTAINMENT ZONE, WEDNESDAY, Battle of the Sexes Sat., Feb. 23 Starting at 9 p.m â€"â€" featuring â€"â€" White Sugar Christian Mr. Melody Well, everything seems to be in place. Reputable, successful management. and a topâ€"quality demo and video soon to be completed 7 Shouldn‘t be long now till Kâ€"W is forced to share The Rhinos with the rest of the country. Are The Rhinos ready for it? Is the rest of the country ready for it? . _""I think so â€" we appeal to a lot of different people because of our different styles of music,‘‘ lies says. ‘"‘And yeah, we‘re ready. We‘d like to make a career out of this. | think we‘d all be happy if we could do that A video is on it‘s way, though Filmed at Conestoga College two months ago, the video for the band‘s upbeat, silly / Wish / had a Wife. will hopefully (and likely) get airplay on MuchMusic. for example, gets a copy of our tape in the mail from a friend, we want them to sit back and be able to enjoy our music, even if they can‘t see us live. We shouldn‘t have to have a video to go along with the tape â€" the music should stand on its own.‘ The Rhinos perform at the Hoodoo Lounge in Kitchener, Friday at 9:30, and at the Commercial Tavern in Maryhill, Saturday at 9:30. part over and over. And it‘s really hard,"" lles says. "For me, anyway, the energy that we create on stage is provided by the energy of the audience. ‘"‘But Doug is always stressing to us to get that energy there (in the recording). If someone in Yellowknite, Open Daily Noonâ€" 1 a.m. Waterloo‘s NETWORK But as they have become older and have become accomplished musicians, they have become "fullâ€"fledged"‘ members of the group. The Junior Jug Band‘s latest release, Songs to Sing, is the first recording _ to feature uncle, dad and children The Junior Jug Band performs in a Waterloo Showtime Cushion Concert, Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at Seagram Museum. Tick: ets are $3.75. Don‘t forget your cushion 579 King St. N., Waterloo FEBRUARY 20 746â€" 1991 PAGE E2