Will Rigby - Tail Of A Star - 1985
from the Egon Records lp "Sidekick Phenomenon"

Will Rigby is probably best known as the drummer for the dB's (and also Steve Earle). Starting with the 1985 release of "Sidekick Phenomenon" on Yo La Tengo's Egon Records label, he has had an interesting solo-career as well. With help from members of YLT, the dB's, and Amy Rigby, Will proved that his vocal strengths exhibited on the previous years' "White Train" (on the dB's "Like This") were no fluke. The best review I have come across concerning this LP comes from ARTISTdirect-- "Sidekick Phenomenon is a shambling, stumbling set with enough personality to easily leap over the rough spots. Rigby's cracked warble is wide open and warm, inviting you into his kitchen with a grin, a mug of coffee, and maybe an empty beer can to tap on."

Will Rigby's other releases include a set of 45's released on Bob Mould's "S.O.L." ("singles only label") in the early 1990's, a "Hello" CD of the month club ep in 1996, and more recently a 2002 full length cd.

This track is "Tail Of A Star" from "Sidekick Phenomenon". Listen closely and you can hear Peter Holsapple helping on backing vocals. This track is a favorite cover of Yo La Tengo in their live sets.

Posted by: Patrick Richardson

Peter Holsapple - 96 Sec. Blowout - 1978
from Car Records 45

In honor of Mr. Holsapple's post to this site, we revisit his debut recording under his own name, recorded after the breakup of the H-Bombs but listing him as "Peter Holsapple of the H-Bombs."

Best as I can tell, this record was the first to bring Holsapple, Chris Stamey (here on backing vocals) and Mitch Easter (drums) back together in the studio after Rittenhouse Square and it's one of the few solo recordings he's released.

A bit after this came out, he headed into the studio with Easter, Stamey and Alex Chilton but those sessions unfortunately have been buried in a deep hole though occassionally a track or two leaks into the environment. Yet according to thedbsonline.net,a Car Records promotional postcard went out saying "Peter is presently ensconced in Manhattan, with 47 new songs and a can of Black Cherry Tab, recovering from grueling sessions at Sam Phillips' Sun Studios with Ardent/Stax wunderkind Richard Rosebrough."

The other two songs from this 45 resurfaced on a Shake Records compilation a bit later, but this gem has been orphaned. Not sure about the title as the song is actually about 105 seconds but maybe Peter will enlighten us.

Posted by: Zach Coleman

Don Dixon - Girls L.T.D. - 1984
from 1985 Demon Records LP "Most of the Girls Like to Dance But Only Some of the Boys Like to"

After Arrogance broke up, bassist Don Dixon turned his focus to producing and racked up quite a resume with the likes of R.E.M., Hootie & the Blowfish and Matthew Sweet as well as NC acts like the X-Teens, Graphic, Fetchin' Bones and Connells. As that snapshot might indicate, it was hard to be far from an album with Dixon's fingerprints for a good stretch of the '80s, but in between he squeezed in some of his own recordings, such as "Girls L.T.D." which he recorded in the control room of Mitch Easter's studio while producing Let's Active (His liner notes says it was because he was getting up much earlier in the morning than the band and was bored & inspired by a photo from a Bar Mitzvah party).

As with The Connells and others, Dixon first got his debut album, Most of the Girls Like to Dance But Only Some of the Boys Like to, released in the UK and generally had more commercial success in Europe than the grand ole USA. A good chunk of the album was reissued a couple years back as the 'lost' Arrogance album 5'11'', including Most of the Girls' standout radio hit, "Praying Mantis."

Dixon's still at it and just released another solo album.

Posted by: Zach Coleman

Sex Police - Will - 1992
from the Scuffcakes Goods cd "Second String"

After the demise of the Pressure Boys, head Pressure Boy John Plymale teamed up with former Notes From A Strange Mailbag's Norwood Cheek to form the much more rockin' Sex Police. In 1991 they released their debut "Medallion" on Moist/Baited Breath which had several fun moments including "Elevator", "Hectors", and "Amanda Falls". Their strength truly lay in their live shows which became their calling card. With the addition of Robert Jones on trombone their sound grew even bigger and they recorded "Second String". In honor of my new son being born I thought it only fitting to use "Will". My son's full name is William Roane Slawter.

Band Members:
John Plymale - Vocals, Guitar
Norwood Cheek - Vocals, Bass
Jody Maxwell (Shoney) - Drums
Jay Widenhouse - Trumpet
Robert Jones - Trombone

Squatweiler - One Eyed Woman - 1995
from Huel Records CD "All Tempo Hot Pants"

Rittenhouse Square may have fathered an amazing string of pop bands, but a germ of MC5-inspired furor burrowed into the ground of Winston-Salem to emerge in the mid-1990s in the form of Squatweiler.

The band had something of a local college radio hit with "Willie Fight" on their debut album Full Bladder in 1994. I never managed to see Squatweiler play when I was living in Winston, but caught them a couple years later as an opening act playing before a dozen people in Atlanta.

Calling for the one familiar song only got me the belated explanation that it had been dropped from their repertoire. Soon after I stumbled on copy of All Tempo Hot Pants which kinda made up for it. Recorded in Mitch Easter's studio with a guest appearance by him on one track, this record is punk fury as it should be. Oddly, hardcore godfather Henry Rollins, who had fallen in love with the first record, panned this one as too restrained, but later took them out on tour. Their next album, New Motherstamper, may have been more tuned to his liking but lacks subtlety.

Band members:
Haydee Thompson: vocals
Stacey Matarrese: bass, vocals
Trip Costner: guitar, vocals
Fred Mann: drums

Posted by: Zach Coleman