by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

To many, the term "opening slot" is a dirty word, even when it doesn't apply to a band suggestively called MorningWood. But Chantal Claret, the New York City combo's singer, thinks otherwise of setting the mood for Kasabian and headliners the Music on their current package tour.

"It's fun! I like riling people up," she says, "and if they don't know about us, it's better. I like being the underdog. We're totally the underdog and always have been.

"We're the least-hyped band in the entire New York City scene. We've never been buzzed or anything, and we like it that way, because people have no expectations. And when they have no expectations, you can't do anything but be awesome."

MorningWood are indeed awesome, but least-hyped? Not for long. On the strength of their killer live show and signature tune "Take Off Your Clothes," a breathless, veritable southward blood-rush of a song that has been optioned for an ad (no doubt with a 1-800 number attached), the quartet have inked a fancy-pants deal with Capitol. They recorded their new album, due in August, with England's Gil Norton (Pixies, Foo Fighters) - "He's the cat's pyjamas," purrs Claret.

Handcuffs and hot flashes

MorningWood have achieved that perfectly balanced dynamic that so many rock 'n' roll bands strive for. In 23-year-old Claret, they've got what could politely be referred to as a very charismatic frontperson. Of course, Claret prefers the impolite variation, "a naughty little bitch who needs a spanking." ("That's the truth," she giggles.)

The band behind her, meanwhile, boasts a collective CV peppered with familiar names. Pedro Yanowitz, for instance, has done time behind the skins for the Wallflowers, Natalie Merchant and Money Mark (MorningWood is his first shot at the bass-player position). Claret met both him and Japa Keenon O (who's drummed for Cibo Matto, among others) through Sean Lennon. Guitarist Richard Steel, for his part, is a former member of Brit-rockers Spacehog - "He came unto us like a flash of lightning," Claret states in a delightful fit of hyperbole.

Seriously, these guys know how to rock. Their sharp, dirty, even dangerous rock sound comes with a tough but fluid groove. Moreover, they know how effective a little restraint can be. So does Claret, judging by the handcuffs often hanging off her belt.

The turned-on take it off

Between them, Claret and the band seem to provoke plenty of nutty, sleazy behaviour from what's already a devoted NYC following. "We've had people literally go to the insane asylum afterwards," recalls Claret before launching into a yarn about sexual harassment of the drummer, NYC's odious anti-dancing cabaret laws ("What is this, fucking Footloose?"), hallucinogens, a flustered bouncer and a cop getting kicked in the nuts.

The woman responsible probably had a history of mental illness - "but I still like the line that MorningWood drove her to insanity," says Claret. "Yeah, we get tons of girls who plan on getting naked - I don't know if it's a weekend thing where they plan on coming to the show and taking off their clothes, which I fully, fully encourage. People need to let go when they come see us. I don't like to get naked, personally, but I really encourage people getting themselves and each other naked."

See, the petite but appealingly zaftig Claret clearly knows which side of the sub/dom dichotomy suits her. Nudity, simulated sex and so forth - she commands, the crowd obeys. "There's only two places I'm like that," she says with a dubious degree of coyness. "One is on stage.

"It's definitely a side of me, but I'm not larger than life, 24 hours a day. I'm very polite and quiet at times - I'd like to think so, but others probably don't. I don't drink before shows, and that's one of the few ways that I can get as bossy, bitchy and hot for people's bodies as on stage.

"Oh, that's bullshit - I'm always hot for people's bodies."

With the Music and Kasabian at la Tulipe
on Thursday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m., $17.50

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