10,000 Maniacs playing South Point

That singer is back with 10,000 Maniacs.

No, not Natalie Merchant. We're talking Mary Ramsey, who has been on and off with the group since the early 1990s. She even played viola and sang backup vocals on some of the tours when Merchant was still the lead singer.

Ramsey took over the spotlight in 1994, but then she followed the path of Merchant, skipping a few years of the durable but high-turnover band's history.

Last year, the soft rockers weathered the changes to mark the 30th year of their formation. But it was 1985's "The Wishing Chair" that launched the group on the road to college-alternative favorites and eventually pop stardom.

You can get a dose of "Trouble Me," "Like the Weather" and "These are the Days" today through Sunday at the South Point.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.