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Party Stains – A Weekly Update From Stronger Than Dirt

Posted on: March 8, 2021
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Some FEATURED ARTISTS on this week’s Stronger Than Dirt (Saturday, 8-10pm) include the Sorrows, Milk ‘N’ Cookies (RIP Ian North), Boys, Nervebreakers (Dallas), Celia and the Mutations, Mission of Burma, Dentists, Thee Headcoatees, Elastica (with Mark E Smith), New Pornographers, Art Brut, and Sweeping Promises, as well as the weekly Dusty Diamond.

PICTURE SLEEVE OF THE WEEK: Pink Filth were an alternative band from San Antonio who were active in the mid and late 90s. Their sound is hard to label, at times experimental, sometimes garage-y, sometimes country, other times techno-y. They specialized in oddball covers of classic songs, and even did a whole album of covers of 60s and 70s bubblegum tunes. “The Rubber Room” EP consists of three covers: on the A-side, the title track, a fairly straightforward, if a bit creepy, cover of the Porter Wagoner song. The B-side is two completely different covers of the Hombres’ “Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out),” one the “Bar-B-Q Mix,” a fairly conventional, if somewhat caffeinated take; and the other the “Chinese Branding Iron Techno Mix,” with techno beat and trippy effects. The artwork was done by vocalist Mike Pogue. The EP came out in 1996 on the Uncle Buzz label. Listen to “Let It All Hang Out (Chinese Branding Iron Techno Mix)” here:

LAST WEEK’S DUSTY DIAMOND (a forgotten gem from the STD vaults): You might say that Pork were godmothers of Austin 90s garage, releasing their first single in 1992. They had a lo-fi sound, a badass attitude, and simple, but catchy songs. They were active from the early to mid-90s, and were known for fun live shows, often at the Hole in the Wall. “Grand Slam Baby”  is an infectious little nugget with a driving beat and clever use of baseball metaphor. It was recorded by Mike Vasquez at Sweatbox, and produced by Alejandro Escovedo. It appeared in 1993 on No. 6 Records. The cover art was done by their guitarist, Dana Lee Smith.

 

Promo art from the Boys’ 1977 self-titled LP on WEA Records.