Some FEATURED ARTISTS on this week’s Stronger Than Dirt (Saturday, September 24, 8-10pm) include the Seeds, Giant Crab, Hector, Lene Lovich, Units, Robyn Hitchcock, Fleshtones, Didjits, Lolita No. 18, Enon, lots of new music, as well as the weekly Dusty Diamond.
COVER ART OF THE WEEK: Lolita No. 18 are a pioneering all female Japanese punk band. They formed in 1989 and have released several albums and singles, including an LP as recently as 2018. Their first full length album, “Karate Teacher,” was released in 1995 as a CD only edition on Benten Records. It featured anime styled artwork with Japanese calligraphy. It included a cardstock booklet replete with Japanese liner notes and/or lyrics, all written in calligraphic script. Since I do not read Japanese, I do not know if the artwork is credited. Click on images to enlarge.
DUSTY DIAMOND OF THE WEEK (a forgotten gem from the STD vaults): Thee Headcoats were one of many bands fronted by musician, artist, and poet Billy Childish. They were active from 1989 until the early 00s, churning out a prolific catalog of raw, uncompromising garage rock. Originally recorded by Thee Headcoatees in 1994, “This Heart” is classic Childish, and for my money, the pinnacle of the 90s garage rock sound. With a scorched earth attack, it comes at you with blistering, overheated guitar, pissed off lyrics, anguished screams for the ages, as well as backing vocals by Thee Headcoatees. It appeared in 1997 on a single on Karls Grammofonpladeselkab, a Danish label. Listen to it here:
Promo art from the Fleshtones’ 1984 “American Beat 84” https://koop.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/117945845_618327759043643_5388428878844899919_n-1.jpgi single on I.R.S. (European pressing) Original design by What Art? and photo by Steve Figliozzi.