Episode Four: Uneaten Cupcakes

No-Hit Wonders

This Episode was one we envisioned from the start, sharing hidden treasures--bands we adore but who never never became popular or had any hits. As always, chits were drawn, vinyl was unsheathed, and drinks were poured.

(Note: We were looking for obscure bands and the group delivered. Many tracks were completely unavailable/unfindable.)

Jeff started us out with a vinyl copy of Ozo's Anambra. He talked about how YouTube has become a useful tool for hearing hard to find music. This is a tune he found, shared by a family member of one of the original band members. He found the vinyl somewhere in the deep south side.


Steven was up next playing Psychic TV's The Orchids. This track generated much excitement, both for itself and also for how different it was from other material by the same artists, a married couple who-Steven claims-are undergoing sexual transforming surgery so that they are both identically gender neutral.


Gary was up next and played a track by local hero Jen Porter, who has played at a number shows for The Flesh Hungry Dog Show. Gary complained bitterly about the PlayStation processing of the sound. Jeff and Erik chimed in and a brief discussion ensued regarding processing and compression of digital music. We all loved the range of Ms Porter and the slow transitioning of the song.


Frank was up next, discussing the difficult choice he made when he left New York City to explore the robust music scene of the northern Midwest. He began seeing a few groups live frequently, including The Pernice Brothers. Here they are with Monkey Suit.


Erik was up next, playing a track from Buke and Gass's new album Riposte titled Sleep Gets Your Ghost.

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Chits were re-drawn and Jeff led round two with The Bloods' Button Up...


Frank continued his narrative of the live music scene in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the late nineties with The Pulsars' Silicon Teens. (This live performance was the only version of the song that was findable.)


Gary played The Teddybears' Different Sound. (The only complete versions of it on the internet are live. This seems to be the best of them.)


Erik played The Golden Palominos' I'm Not Sorry. A track that showcased the bands knack for mixing the desolate with the sumptuous. (unfindable)


Steven played 1000 Homo DJ's Supernaut, leading everyone to reminisce about the late 80's/early 90's Industrial scene in Chicago.

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Round three began with Steven playing The Antler's Sylvia. (This is a poor copy of the track, but it's the only copy available.)


Gary followed with Goodnight Moon by Shivarez. (This copy cuts out right at the end, but it's so good, you'll enjoy the two and a half minutes you get.)


Frank continued to walk us through that crazy northern midwest music scene with The Hang-up's Greyhound Bus. (unavailable)

Erik was getting ready to go next, when Gary commented that one of the unifying features of these songs is that they don't have immediately grabbable hooks. This led Erik to scurry, making a last second change in his song choice to Catfish Haven's All I Need is You. Oddly, since the song is repetitious but without a true hook.

(The song, like many from this episode, is unfindable. This is is Crazy for Leaving, off the same album)

Jeff followed with Old Man by New Sin.

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As the evening came to a close Francisco blew out the lights and turned on the laser show, while Jeff played I just Wouldn't by his old band Viewfinder. (unavailable)

Steven played Chariot by Page France.


And Erik closed the night with Creeper Lagoon. A band that was named Spin Magazine's best new artist in 1998, then went nowhere and slowly disintegrated. This track, So Little to Give, was off their final EP.