A Band With Teen Spirit -- Red-Hot Silverchair Is The Next Big Thing

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Silverchair and Lucky Me, 7 p.m. tomorrow, DV8; sold out. -----------------------------------------------------------------

Silverchair's DV8 show here tomorrow is sure to be significant for the young, mega-hot band from Australia. Seattle grunge inspired the trio - although they hate to admit it now - and lead singer Daniel Johns bears an eerie resemblance to Kurt Cobain.

The Seattle connection has dogged the band ever since the June release of its debut "Silverchair" album, and the runaway hit single from it, the intense, explosive "Tomorrow." Every review, every feature article, every interview has mentioned the connection, so the show is sure to be etched with tension for both the band and its Seattle audience. It's not going to be just another show for either.

It's also the last date of Silverchair's first headlining tour of America, and likely the last club gig for the band - Silverchair has grown too big for small venues. On Nov. 15, Silverchair will join one of the major tours of the year, opening for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, which may well bring them back to Seattle.

Johns, who is only 16, and his cohorts Chris Joannou, bass, and Ben Gillies, drums, who are both 15, admit they once "worshipped" Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, but say they never much liked Nirvana. The first time the surfing buddies got together to jam three years ago, they played Pearl Jam songs. Johns says he wanted nothing more than to sound just like his idol, Eddie Vedder. But now he says he doesn't like Pearl Jam anymore.

What's most remarkable about Silverchair is not so much that they've reshaped Seattle grunge in their own image but that they've done it with such panache. Johns, who's blond and blue-eyed like Cobain but not as waifish, has a remarkably mature style, as a singer, songwriter and guitarist. Joannou and Gillies are a tight rhythm section, sounding more like seasoned veterans than kids too young to drive.

"Frogstomp" is a strong first effort, with a variety of well-crafted tunes, including at least one other potential hit, the hard-driving "Pure Massacre."

Silverchair is from Newcastle, a beach-front city about 100 miles north of Sydney. The band's remarkable winning streak started just over a year ago, when it won an Australian demo competition with a homemade tape of "Tomorrow," a rant against money-grubbing businessmen. The prize was studio time, which the band used to record a more polished version of the song. The national Australian radio station that sponsored the competition began playing the tape, and soon it was the No. 1 most-requested song.

Sony, with its worldwide reach, signed the band to a recording contract, but even it was surprised by the swiftness of Silverchair's rise. That speed may herald the first superstar band of the 21st century.