Some FEATURED ARTISTS on this week’s Stronger Than Dirt (Saturday, January 15, 8-10pm) include the Detroit Cobras (RIP Rachel Nagy), New Colony Six, Grapefruit, Buzzcocks, Adverts, Bush Tetras, Lush, Gravy Train!!!!, John Wesley Coleman III, lots of new music, as well as the weekly Dusty Diamond.
PICTURE SLEEVE OF THE WEEK: “Time’s Up” was a collection of early Buzzcocks demos and alternate takes from when Howard Devoto (later of Magazine) was still in the band. Originally available as a bootleg, it was given an official release in 1991 on the Document label, and reissued several times after that on various labels. This particular reissue came out in 2000 on Mute Records on 180 gram vinyl. It featured artwork from Devoto’s private collection, a screenprint by Philip Diggle, brother of the band’s Steve Diggle. It also included a replica of an early Buzzcocks’ gig poster. Click on images to enlarge.
LAST WEEK’S DUSTY DIAMOND (a forgotten gem from the STD vaults): South
San Francisco’s Supercharger were (along with the Mummies) at the vanguard of
the early and mid 90s lo-fi garage punk explosion. They were only active for a
couple of years between 1991 and 1993, releasing two albums and several
singles in that time. Their first album, a limited release in 1991 on Radio-X
(guitarist and vocalist Darin Rafaelli’s label) was the vinyl Holy Grail for many
garage-niks like myself. “Icepick,” a kinetic three chord blast of pain and anger,
hits the Goldilocks sweet spot of 90s garage production aesthetics. Recorded by
the Mummies’ Trent Ruane, it was released in 1992 as a single-sided record on
Pre-B.S., the Mummies’ label. (“Fuck C.D.s”) Listen to it here:
Promo art from Adverts 1977 “Gary Gilmore’s Eyes” single on Anchor Records. Original design by Nicholas De Ville.