New Wave for the New Week #28

Quick - what mid-to-late '70s power pop band played supporting gigs with both Van Halen and The Ramones?

Quick - what quirky, Sparks-influenced band's lead singer went on to co-write and perform the theme song for one of the most-watched TV shows of the 1990s?

Quick - what band that hasn't played live since 1978 and never played a gig outside of their native California is challenging its fans that, if at least 1000 people commit to buying tickets, they will play a reunion gig in Los Angeles THIS YEAR?

If you answered, "The Quick!" you're right on all three!

Consisting of Danny Wilde on vocals, Denny Benair on drums, guitarist Steven Hufsteter, bass player Ian Ainsworth and Billy Bizeau on keyboards, The Quick started life in the mid-seventies California post-glam/pre-punk scene. Their influences ranged from the British Invasion bands of the 1960s to their obvious close study of Sparks' Propaganda and Kimono My House albums; their music was equal parts glam, bubblegum and power pop.

Despite never venturing beyond the California state line, The Quick released their only full album, Mondo Deco, on a major label (Mercury) in 1976. Their most wonderful creation, however, is not found within its grooves. Over the next two years, the band self-issued two EPs in the hopes of securing a deal with Elektra Records; the second of these, In Tune With Our Times (1978), is where their masterpiece can be found.

"Pretty Please Me" is a damn-near perfect song: musically catchy and lyrically clever, its only flaw is that it was about a year or so ahead of its time. Had it been released while bands like Cheap Trick and The Knack were the darlings of radio programmers across the country, it would likely have been a huge hit.

Unfortunately, Elektra passed and the band went their separate ways. Denny Benair would go on to drum for various L.A. bands including The Weirdos and The Three O'Clock, and Danny Wilde would have his moment in the sun as a member of The Rembrandts, whose theme for the TV show Friends would be inescapable in the mid-'90s.

The Quick have long been celebrated by bands who came after. "Pretty Please Me" has been covered - very well, I might add - by The Dickies and by Redd Kross. Fans of power pop and what we sometimes used to call "skinny-tie new wave" have been rediscovering the band, and an excellent CD compilation of the band's recordings, Untold Rock Stories, was issued in 2007. This renewed interest has resulted in the band staking their claim to a MySpace page, and agreeing to the "We Want The Quick to Play Live" fan challenge: if 1000 fans commit to buying tickets by 12/1/09, the band will play a reunion gig! (If you are in the L.A. area - or are willing to travel to see them - you can add yourself to the head count using the widget at the bottom of this post.)

"Pretty Please Me" will be another audio-only entry in this series (not even a performance clip of the song to be found?!?), but with a song this good I think that's OK. Please enjoy the New Wave for the New Week entry this week, The Quick's "Pretty Please Me":

Keep Good Thoughts Going Out to Exene Cervenka

Image by kathyp. via Flickr

Co-lead vocalist of legendary LA punk band X, Exene Cervenka, announced on her website today, "After some months of not feeling 100% healthy, I recently had some medical tests run and the prognosis is that I am suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. Apparently, it has been affecting me for quite some time."

Was planning to see X this Saturday night in Baltimore at Ram's Head Live; as of now the show is still on and Exene seems intent on continuing the current tour. While I would certainly love to experience the band live for the first time, the more important thing here is that Exene take care of herself. I have personally known one or two folks with Multiple Sclerosis, and while it is unfortunate diagnosis, it is one that can be managed with proper treatment and care. As one friend who suffers from MS once described it, "I don't live with MS. MS has to live with me!" Exene, take that attitude and keep doing what you've always done!

Please keep good wishes and good thoughts going out to Exene. If you feel so inclined, make a donation to Sweet Relief, an organization that helps musicians with Multiple Sclerosis. And check the tour dates on X's website here, and if you can, go out and support the band. I hope to have a road report from Baltimore after this weekend.