2 Comments

1. John wrote:

   Bullet LaVolta.

   First published in March 1988, Sassy was a magazine arguably targeted at teen-age girls. However, it’s no nonsense, pro-feminist, über-hip editorial style led the magazine to be embraced by women of all ages. Aside from offering honest life advice to young women (“Avoid guys who make you feel like you have to play the brainless, dainty bimbo”), the other thing that made Sassy stand out from their peers was its devotion to 90’s indie rock bands. Sure, any mainstream newsstand publication could interview and/or review the latest Matador, Dischord, or Merge artists (not that many did) but Sassy did all that and more, giving away free 7″ records (Sonic Youth, a comp of Sub Pop bands) and inviting notable indie rockers (Beck, Billy Corgan, J. Mascis, Thurston Moore, Mike D., Iggy Pop) to answer reader questions for the monthly “Dear Boy” advice column. Seriously, what kind of magazine enlists Iggy Pop to give advice to teen girls? It wasn’t long before Sassy was adored by smart, hipster girls and the rocker boys who wanted to make out with them.

   In February 1990, Sassy writer Christina Kelly was so smitten by a promotional photo of the Boston band Bullet LaVolta that she used her “What’s Now” column to champion them under the heading “Cute Band Alert.” This would prove to be a popular feature, running in every issue until late 1994 (when Sassy was sold, reorganized, and stripped of everything that made it interesting in the first place). Through the years, many underground bands from the 90’s would be honored with this distinction; the Lemonheads, Buffalo Tom, Bikini Kill, Ween, Unrest, Velocity Girl, Luscious Jackson, Shudder to Think, Bettie Serveert, That Dog, Helium, Noise Addict, Blonde Redhead, Guided by Voices, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and many more. In a weird case of synergy, Chavez (the new band of LaVolta guitarist Clay Tarver) was the last band featured in the “Cute Band Alert.” On top of that, in their final issue, Sassy ran a picture of Max, the son of LaVolta singer Yukki Gipe.

   “Personality Crisis” by Sonic Youth, 1990
   From a limited edition 7″ given to winners of a Sassy contest.

   “Baggage” by Bullet LaVolta, 1987
   This is a live version, recorded on WERS, 88.9 FM, Boston. It was recorded for the Sunday night live performance program Metrowave. According to local legend, this show was recorded over the tapes of a previous Metrowave session from the Pixies.

   “Birth of Death”, by Bullet LaVolta, 1987
   This is also from the Metrowave session.

   “X Fire” by Bullet LaVolta, 1989

   “Swan Dive” by Bullet LaVolta, 1991
   With backing vocals by Kim Deal (Pixies, the Breeders, the Amps)

   And here they are, in the picture that wet a thousand panties, Bullet LaVolta.
   

   Sunday, January 11, 2009 at 11:11 pm | Permalink
2. Marcus wrote:

   You learn something new everyday!

   Thanks
   John!

   http://www.themusiciansguide.co.uk

   Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 6:18 am | Permalink

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