Some FEATURED ARTISTS on this week’s Stronger Than Dirt (Saturday, December 2, 8-10pm) include the Poets, Tremeloes, Jefferson Handkerchief, Split Enz, Soft Boys, Undertones, Make-Up, Prissteens, Ponys, Limiñanas, lots of new music as well as the weekly Dusty Diamond.
COVER ART OF THE WEEK: By 1978 Split Enz, the first New Zealand band to hit it big outside of Australasia, had relocated to the UK and were down on their luck. With a $5,000 grant from The New Zealand Arts Council, they booked studio time and recorded several songs including “I See Red.” It was released that same year as a single in Australia on the Mushroom label and in 1979 in the UK on Illegal Records. Both releases featured an uncredited illustration of the band highlighting their flamboyant visual look. (Click on image to enlarge)
DUSTY DIAMOND OF THE WEEK (a forgotten gem from the STD vaults): Happy Supply, a short-lived indie garage duo from Chicago, were active in the very early 00s and released three singles and a CD collection. One member, Ian Adams, went on to play in The Ponys and Submarine Races. “Health Place” is a moody mid-tempo number with haunting guitar and some nice keys. It appeared in 2001 on a 7” EP the Dutch Courage label. Listen to it here:
Promo art from the Make-Up’s 1996 “After Dark” album on Dischord. Photo by Pat Graham and original design by the band.