I Was A College Radio DJ In The 80's: Salem 66 - Pony Song

[out of print]

Salem 66 began as an all-female trio who named their band after the famous witch trials locale and Dylan's favorite highway. They released "Across the Sea" as a single in 1984. Then they added a male guitarist for their first album, 1985's A Ripping Spin. Those of us in the WTUL basement were already digging the Rainy Day compilation and LA's Opal. To our ears, this was another welcome addition to The Paisley Underground. But Judy Grunwald and Elisabeth Kaplan bristled when Spin Magazine made the comparison.

"We never were and are not a psychedelic band" Kaplan declared.
"Never will be." said the male guitarist
 Well...Grunwald admitted using the psychedelic description early on but that was before the LA scene.
 "So to use that word didn't really connote that you were best friends with (The Dream Syndicate's) Steve Wynn or something."
"It teaches you not  to label yourself ever." said drummer Susan Merriam.

Sorry we brought it up.

I Was A College Radio DJ In the 80's: The Wind - House on Fire

In which we play a college radio nugget from the mid-80's...



[out of print]

Back when Mitch Easter could do no wrong, he spent just enough time with Miami trio The Wind to record the 1984 EP Guest of the Staphs. Critics compared the dense pop sound to Easter's band Let's Active (naturally) and The Spongetones.

I played this track at Tulane's progressive college radio station WTUL-FM because, as hip as I've always  tried to appear, deep down I'm just a big fan of good three minute pop songs. And in 1984, with Easter produced R.E.M, The dB's and Let's Active records getting so much airtime, anything associated with Mitch Easter got some revolutions on the turntable.

Looks like the band got back together in '08. Still tight. Sounding great!

Video of the Week: Hoodoo Gurus - I Want You Back ( 1984)

[purchase]


In which Dave Faulkner is talked into wearing blue eye shadow and primping his hair like Robert Smith of The Cure. ("Nobody will even notice Dave. They'll all be looking at the singing dinosaurs.") Best power pop song of the 80's.

The Gurus are big faves of the kids, mine included. And not just because of this video --which does look like something out of an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba! The Gurus even had a video ( for "Another World"  from Magnum Cum Louder) play in heavy rotation at Toys R Us stores in 1989.

The Gurus have their own website. (Who doesn't?)

http://hoodoogurus.net/