Image: CJ BenningerThe playful and jangly garage pop of Detroit’s Casual Sweetheart harkens to the glory days of 90s college radio. Listen to tracks from their Always / Never cassette, released on Chicago label Cold Slither, and you half expect them to be back announced in a bracket on Wayne State radio that includes songs by Pavement, Built to Spill and the Breeders. They even have a song titled “Marchers of Loaf”.But Erin Norris, Dina Bankole and Lauren Rossi are also inspired as much by today's healthy Detroit music scene that includes bands such as Protomartyr, Tyvek and Ritual Howls. A recent gig they played with Protomartyr and Australia’s Deaf Wish had Jack White in attendance checking out the action.Their track “All the Time”, which Dina tells us that the band also refers to as “Sparkles”, is a good indicator of where the band are coming from, three minues of pop hooks and a refrain of “don’t you know that I came here to free you."The Always / Never cassettes will be released Oct 30 on Cold Slither tapes. Stream it below and read a quick chat we recently had with the band.Noisey: When talking about Detroit’s rich musical legacy people often forget about the great Suzi Quatro. Do you have a favourite Suzi song or story?
Erin Norris: Unfortunately, women are often underrepresented in music, as well as in music history. My introduction to Suzi Quatro came in the form of Leather Tuscadero from reruns of Happy Days. Early on, we were told we sounded a little like the Pleasure Seekers which was cool.Lauren Rossi: A few years ago, I was selected to sit on the jury for a double murder trial and Suzi Quatro’s brother was one of the witnesses. My favorite song of hers is probably “Lipstick”.Dina Bankole: My favorite is “48 Crash.” It’s just so 70s rock glam-y and the vocals are so high that Suzi is pretty much yelling the verses. Then there the over the top bridge solo and the screaming! There’s a live video of this song from 1973 and Suzi’s wearing that black leather jumpsuit (of course) and a fan is just blowing all of her feathered, blonde hair to perfection. Also, I work with one of Suzi’s sisters’ husbands!What is the best thing about being a band in Detroit?
Dina: It’s kind of easy to book shows here. There are a multitude of venues and the owners/bookers are extremely supportive. We actually practice at my house and the neighbors are cool about it.I feel like there are so many things that are possible here that wouldn’t be in a bigger, “cooler” city.Do you have a favourite Jumbo’s story/night/gig?
Erin: The first time I saw Protomartyr play a few years ago was the first time I stepped foot inside Jumbo’s. I was learning to play the drums and I couldn’t stop watching the way Alex Leonard moves around his kit. He’s pretty amazing. I eventually gave up on the drums and decided to stick to guitars…it’s probably vaguely his fault.Lauren: I was at a Gooch Palms show at Jumbo’s last year and André 3000 was there. He was dressed in the same outfit as Dave Buick. It was really cute.Dina: The best thing is its tiny and strangely elevated stage that is also high and perilous. My old band played a show there and all of the bands played a song from the Angus soundtrack. We did Ash’s “Jack Names the Planets.”You have a song called “Marchers of Loaf” but it doesn’t really sound like an Archers of Loaf song.
Erin: It’s a nod to Archers of Loaf and I think it’s there subtly in the drums. Personally this song was a gateway drug to the land of notes instead of always playing chords. With the most recent recordings I started pinging around higher on the neck and trying to get different rhythms, which is Archers of Loaf-esque.Lauren: When we first started writing parts of the song Erin’s boyfriend told us it sounded like Archers of Loaf. Then we started referring to it as "Marchers of Loaf" and it just stuck.Dina: I like to think that our sound is approaching that 90s kind of dirty, angular-ness as we’re all big fans of 90’s music. I will say that my favorite Archers of Loaf album is All the Nation’s Airports. I have it on picture disc.
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Erin Norris: Unfortunately, women are often underrepresented in music, as well as in music history. My introduction to Suzi Quatro came in the form of Leather Tuscadero from reruns of Happy Days. Early on, we were told we sounded a little like the Pleasure Seekers which was cool.Lauren Rossi: A few years ago, I was selected to sit on the jury for a double murder trial and Suzi Quatro’s brother was one of the witnesses. My favorite song of hers is probably “Lipstick”.Dina Bankole: My favorite is “48 Crash.” It’s just so 70s rock glam-y and the vocals are so high that Suzi is pretty much yelling the verses. Then there the over the top bridge solo and the screaming! There’s a live video of this song from 1973 and Suzi’s wearing that black leather jumpsuit (of course) and a fan is just blowing all of her feathered, blonde hair to perfection. Also, I work with one of Suzi’s sisters’ husbands!
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Dina: It’s kind of easy to book shows here. There are a multitude of venues and the owners/bookers are extremely supportive. We actually practice at my house and the neighbors are cool about it.I feel like there are so many things that are possible here that wouldn’t be in a bigger, “cooler” city.Do you have a favourite Jumbo’s story/night/gig?
Erin: The first time I saw Protomartyr play a few years ago was the first time I stepped foot inside Jumbo’s. I was learning to play the drums and I couldn’t stop watching the way Alex Leonard moves around his kit. He’s pretty amazing. I eventually gave up on the drums and decided to stick to guitars…it’s probably vaguely his fault.Lauren: I was at a Gooch Palms show at Jumbo’s last year and André 3000 was there. He was dressed in the same outfit as Dave Buick. It was really cute.Dina: The best thing is its tiny and strangely elevated stage that is also high and perilous. My old band played a show there and all of the bands played a song from the Angus soundtrack. We did Ash’s “Jack Names the Planets.”You have a song called “Marchers of Loaf” but it doesn’t really sound like an Archers of Loaf song.
Erin: It’s a nod to Archers of Loaf and I think it’s there subtly in the drums. Personally this song was a gateway drug to the land of notes instead of always playing chords. With the most recent recordings I started pinging around higher on the neck and trying to get different rhythms, which is Archers of Loaf-esque.Lauren: When we first started writing parts of the song Erin’s boyfriend told us it sounded like Archers of Loaf. Then we started referring to it as "Marchers of Loaf" and it just stuck.Dina: I like to think that our sound is approaching that 90s kind of dirty, angular-ness as we’re all big fans of 90’s music. I will say that my favorite Archers of Loaf album is All the Nation’s Airports. I have it on picture disc.
‘Always/Never’ is available Oct 30 from Cold Slither tapes.