Some FEATURED ARTISTS on this week’s Stronger Than Dirt (Saturday, 8-10pm) include the Sunday Servants (J.J. Cale), Sparks, Soft Boys, Slits, Joy Division, Gruppo Sportivo (see promo), Suburban Lawns, Apples in Stereo, Chicks on Speed, new music by La Femme (France), Smirk (LA), Spread Joy (Chicago), Set-Top Box (Australia) and CDG (Portland), as well as the weekly Dusty Diamond.
PICTURE SLEEVE OF THE WEEK: The Apples in Stereo were a popular and prolific indie rock band from Denver, and were active from the mid 90s up until the early 2010’s. The 1994 “Hypnotic Suggestion” EP was their second release, and first as the Apples in Stereo (they began as the Apples). The art and design (image below) were done by Will Cullen Hart, vocalist and guitarist for another indie rock band, Olivia Tremor Control. He was also a co-founder of the Elephant Six Recording Co. along with Robert Schneider of the Apples in Stereo and others. Listen to “Hypnotic Suggestion” here:
LAST WEEK’S DUSTY DIAMOND (a forgotten gem from the STD vaults): The Bomboras were a mostly instrumental garage band from Los Angeles. Their sound was heavily influenced by 60s garage and surf music, and their live shows, were fun, fun, fun. They were active from 1994-2000, releasing several albums and singles, and touring frequently. “Adventures Through Inner Space” is a high energy guitar and organ instrumental romp with echoes of the Ventures (in Outer Space), Dick Dale, and the Monks. It appeared on the 1998 “Head Shrinkin’ Fun” album on Rob Zombie’s short-lived Zombie A Go-Go label. (The vinyl edition was released on Telstar.) Listen to it here:
Promo art from a 1978 Gruppo Sportivo single on Ariola Records. Photo uncredited.