Some FEATURED ARTISTS on this week’s Stronger Than Dirt (Saturday, July 17, 8-10pm) include Idle Race, Wire, Stranglers, Scientists, Big Boys, Suburban Lawns, Thin White Rope, Stereolab, Zom Zoms (Austin), new music by Leopardo (Switzerland), Bleak Engineers (Russia), CDG (Portland), La Femme (France) and Spread Joy (Chicago), as well as the weekly Dusty Diamond.
PICTURE SLEEVE OF THE WEEK: This week’s picture sleeve comes from the Big Boys’ and Dicks’ “Recorded Live at Raul’s” split album. It appeared in 1980 on the Rat Race label, and featured some classic new wave styled art of the period by Michael Nott. Nott began his career in Austin as a graphic artist, but works now as a photographer in Nashville. You can check out some of his recent work here: http://www.michaelraynott.com/
LAST WEEK’S DUSTY DIAMOND (a forgotten gem from the STD vaults): Six Finger Satellite were a synth punk band from Providence, RI. They were active from the mid to late 90s, and reformed in 2007 with a new line-up. “War Crimes II” is a dark uptempo number with a driving beat and piercing synth riffs. It has a Chrome meets Killing Joke dystopian dance vibe that still seems relevant. It appeared in 1996 on the “Clone Theory” mini LP (https://koop.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/117945845_618327759043643_5388428878844899919_n-1.jpgi EP??) on Load Records. Listen to it here:
Promo art from the Stranglers’ 1978 “Walk On By” EP on United Artists. Photo/design uncredited.