Pride in the south side, plus desire

BY JEANETTE JUNGBAUER

We were all friends growing up in Longfellow. The summer after 8th grade, we recorded an MTV FANatic spoof in our backyard where one girl was the superstar, and the rest of us were the crazy fans dying to be close to her. In a lot of ways, I secretly believed in our fanatic confessions—these friends of mine would be great, there was no doubt. It was only a matter of time.

In between going to the park and hotboxing the old car in the alley, they used to disappear for hours and record on the four-track. They would talk about harmonies. We all knew, and know, that they’re great singers. They would discuss technique and listen to other people’s records while I just nodded. They come from super-musical families. They would listen to their parents’ records. It was, and is, inherently obvious that they were and are destined to be rock stars. We’re all good friends, and they’ve got some special kind of magic, not to mention pain, which they write about—eloquently. It makes me cry.

For almost ten years, I kept running into them at the Hex, the Nomad, at Rainbow Foods, etc. and they kept being on the fence about pursuing music. It’s a broke life, it has been a life of unrealized dreams for their parents. It was, and is, a really difficult decision to move forward. The other option was, and is, waiting. Waiting tables or waiting ‘til it’s too late. I’m writing to tell you that today is the first day of the rest of their lives.

Southside Desire’s record, Songs to Love and Die To comes out on Oct. 27. Check ‘em out at the Nomad World Pub (on the West Bank at 501 Cedar): 10 p.m., No Cover, 21+. The singers are Marvel Devitt, Gloria Iacono and Jenny Hatfield. Musicians are Trevor Englebrekston, bass; Damien Tank, percussion; and Paul Puleo, guitar.

“Southside Desire and Piñata Records are very pleased to announce their inaugural release, Songs to Love and Die To. Recorded to tape by Mike Wisti at Albatross in Minneapolis, Songs is a soul-influenced album featuring all-female doo-wop harmonies and expressive instrumentation from a three-piece rhythm section. Southside Desire are eager to share the night with manic garage-punk friends The Goondas and Sex Rays while DJ Brian Engel spins hits.”

Wear your Halloween costume for the contest!! Sponsored by PBR & The Hive.
P.S. This isn’t just an I-know-them-so-I-go-to-their-shows thing. It’s a they’re-actually-too-big-for-this-stage-duh thing.