Copyright 1995 The Seattle Times Company
                               The Seattle Times

                   October 19, 1995, Thursday, Final Edition

SECTION: TEMPO; ACE OF CLUBS; Pg. H11

LENGTH: 639 words

HEADLINE:  SUPERCHUNK:  THE NAME SAYS IT ALL

BYLINE: BY TOM PHALEN

BODY:

As appropriate names go,  Superchunk  has to come as close as gum on the
bottom of a theater seat. This is nasty stuff, loaded, aggressive, harder 
than - well, old gum - but with a certain sweetness.

The four-piece band - guitarist and vocalist Mac McCaughan, bassist Laura
Ballance, guitarist Jack McCook and drummer Chuck Garrison - started in 
1989. The band was strictly DYI (do it yourself), putting out songs on 
its own label, Merge. They were critically and popularly acclaimed and 
would have taken the big step had they not been from Chapel Hill, N.C. At 
a time when the press was looking for the next Seattle, Chapel Hill 
seemed like the right spot. But then forced media attention can be the 
kiss of death for an aspiring band. If anything, it held  Superchunk  back.

But it didn't stop them. According to McCaughan, things still go on in the
local office as normal. Although he did say that in a pre-tour state, 
with the new album, "Here's Where the Strings Come in," out, things are a 
little slow - not that they mind. The band is ready to hit the road and 
ride it through until November if not later.

Superchunk  will be at Moe's Tuesday with Portland's Spinanes and Karl
Hendrick. Next Wednesday,  Superchunk's  at the Sailors Union of the Pacific
Hall, 2505 First Ave. -- Other club shows of interest: The Off Ramp has 
Zeke, the Rockinghams, the Methodists and the Distractions Saturday night. 
Kevin Tuffy is at the New Orleans tomorrow. Also in Pioneer Square, the 
Central has the Southern-flavored rock of Smokin' Gun, and Larry's has 
Pale Men with Dick Powell.