I don't know how many of you have heard of The OffRamps, but they have a new CD that just came out earlier this month called "Split The Difference". The OffRamps sound like a dead ringer for "Don't Tell A Soul"-era Replacements, only a lot less dour, so if that seems like it could be your thing then scoot on over to www.theofframps.com and go for it.
Slug Bug was The OffRamps' Jeremy Porter's band back in the 90's; that was when I picked up the second Slug Bug single in some 50-cent bin somewhere and liked it, so I put a few bucks in an envelope and mailed away for their first EP, "Live It Down". Judging by the note that I got back with the record, I must've foisted my standard "AC/DC or Cheap Trick?" query (a running gag from the last couple of issues of Brushback) upon Slug Bug's Chicago-based label, Red Eye Growler, when I sent out my order, and it looks like they answered somewhat correctly.
I'm sure Slug Bug caught my ear because they sounded like they probably listened to the same records that I did growing up (Replacements, Hüsker Dü, whatever). You can hear a little of the Ringing Ear bands (Doc Hopper, Sinkhole, Huffy) in them, with some Doughboys, Punchbuggy, and maybe some early Uncle Tupelo too.
I'm including one of the "Cheap Trick vs. AC/DC" bits from a ten-year-old issue of Brushback down at the bottom, though I'm sure it was a lot funnier back when people still had some idea of what Fizz was.
Slug Bug -
"Live It Down"
"Wednesday Tonite"
(these files are now listen-only)
