Some FEATURED ARTISTS on this week’s Stronger Than Dirt (Saturday,
November 9, 8-10pm) include Lada Edmund Jr, Pretty Things, Television,
Stranglers, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Judy’s, Leather Uppers, Dum Dum
Girls, Wax Idols, lots of new music as well as the weekly Dusty Diamond.
COVER ART OF THE WEEK: The Leather Uppers are a garage punk band from
Toronto and a self-billed national treasure of Canada. They’ve been around since
the early 90s and are still performing live. Their 1994 “Cut Off Vest” EP on
Sympathy for the Record Industry featured cover art by Chris Martin. He also
provided backing vocals. (Click on image to enlarge)
DUSTY DIAMOND OF THE WEEK (a vintage gem from the STD vaults): The
Paranoids were a garage punk band that were part of a vibrant underground
music scene in Austin during the mid 90s, a scene that was a major inspiration
for the early years of the show. They were also the band that inspired the weekly
Dusty Diamond feature, the idea being to showcase vintage gems from that era.
Their 1997 “Vintage Piss & Vinegar EP” on Rise Records, one of my favorite
releases from then, provided the very first Dusty Diamond back in November
2017, and now makes its return. “Slow Down,” from that EP, is a catchy three
chord rocker that bolts out of the gate and, well, never slows down. Classic
Austin garage punk. Listen to it here:
Promo art from Television’s 1977 “Marquee Moon album on Elektra. Art direction
by Tony Lane and band photo by Robert Mapplethorpe.