Hit Explosion Revels In The Hits Of The '70S

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Hit Explosion, Waldo's, 12657 N.E. 85th St., Kirkland. Tomorrow, 9:30 p.m. Cover $5. 827-9292. -----------------------------------------------------------------

Although Hit Explosion has been together just over a year, the many-membered band plays its largely classic disco-based list with precision, grace and genuine enthusiasm. There's nothing corny or pretentious about its presentation. Band members clearly love this music and so do their audiences - be it the sardine crush of the Fenix in Pioneer Square or an outdoor gig in Occidental Park.

On any given night or day, from the first note of the first set, a palpable cloud of steam rises off the body crush that packs the dance floor. The band grinds out note-perfect versions of '70s staples like "Car Wash" and "Lady Marmalade" and while today's dancers may not be quite as pelvically adept as the hip-heaving ancestors of that bygone decade, it doesn't matter. The beat is so all empowering that anyone within ear- or rhythm-shot jumps to the dance-and-dance-again music demand.

"It's amazing," says vocalist Cheryl Chapman. "There's 16-year-old kids singing along to 20-year-old songs. Everybody knows this stuff. And though sometimes they don't want to admit it, they love it anyway. You always know where you were when these songs came out no matter how young you were."

Hit Explosion was originally the brain child of George Aragon, who saw a similarly styled group when he was in Los Angeles. He contacted Harry Wirth - both were former members of the Seattle-based horn band Molasses - and took it from there.

The roster filled quickly, and includes vocalists Chapman, Darlene Hudson, Reggie Watts and Ron Ray, keyboard man Keith Rea, bassist Wirth, guitarist Rusty Urie, drummer Aragon and percussionist Johnny Burns.

The newest member is Hudson from the band Masterpiece, with whom she still sings.

"They found me in a saloon," she says. "I'm on loan." Hudson is the singer who puts the high wailing top on songs like "Lady Marmalade." The band is also talking about adding some horn players.

So how does a group this big keep working in a town where it's difficult for a four-piece to stay alive? By doing it all the time. "We never stop," says Ray, who on top of his singing chores has devoted the last few weeks to finishing college and taking his boards to become a registered nurse. "That is if I survive. It hasn't been easy," he says shaking his head.

"Mainly we play Thursday through Saturday, although we'll add a Sunday. It's our manager, Dean (Zelikovsky, who also books the indefatigable Beatniks), that keeps pushing. Since he came on board he's totally organized us and got us on line. We're booked through New Year's and beyond. He's even got us going out of state."

The band recently played Bruce Willis' new saloon Dynamite in Idaho.

"We owe a lot to Rick Wyatt (owner of the Fenix Underground), too," says Chapman, who originally came to discover the Seattle music scene from Washington, D.C. "He has always been totally supportive of us, taken really good care of us."

For the most part the band plays the same varied list no matter where they gig, be it the Underground, the Crocodile, Moe or Waldo's. They do what they know and play best.

"Oh, we break out a little Black Sabbath from time to time," interjects the wisecracking Rea. He is quickly admonished by the rest of the band.

"But we do deal in diversity," finished Rea. "It's what makes us the band we are."