Michael Simmons / sparkle*jets

Best of Friends POPcast

Music EN ↓ 21 episodes

Join members of the venerated power pop band sparkle*jets u.k. as they chat with their peers from the late 90’s - early ‘00’s pop music scene, which was mostly centered in Los Angeles. Using their 2023 double album release ‘Best of Friends’ as a topical springboard, your hosts discuss their musical experiences and reminiscences of those heady days with many of the people involved. The goal of this podcast is to get the conversation started about the music and artists from this time, and catch up on where they have been and what they are up to now.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: www.spreaker.com

Author

Michael Simmons / sparkle*jets

Episodes

SJUK Box of Letters Podcast 02.07.2024 50:27

We are continuing this podcast to start discussing our upcoming LP 'Box of Letters'. Sitting in as our host today is none other than Mr. Ken AKA 'Ken Fusion' or 'The Modfather' Ken Caldretti, long time friend of the band. We discuss Box of Letters and how it came to be.

19 Adam Marsland of Cockeyed Ghost 03.10.2023 1:05:03

We talk to the man behind Cockeyed Ghost and myriad other projects, Adam Marsland. He's done so many different things, and continues to. We get a glimpse into his career, life, and personal growth.

18 The Bonus Track with John M. Borack 26.09.2023 57:49

Join us for a little Q&A with our good friend and occasional partner in rawk... acclaimed author, journalist, and drummer John M. Borack.

18 The Andersons! 19.09.2023 1:32:10

We finally get all three of the Andersons! in the same virtual room for the first time in ages. You will hear (about half way in when Robbie shows up) a reasonable facsimile of the wacky stage patter that made every Andersons show a unique and fun experience. We went kinda long but we had fun.

17 Kerry Kompost 12.09.2023 53:20

Join us as the wacky and loveable Kerry 'Kompost' Chicoine gets all up in everyone's bidness.

16 Darian Sahanaja and Jim Mills of Wondermints Part 2 05.09.2023 49:59

We continue our talk with Darian Sahanaja and Jim Mills of Wondermints. Also joining us are sparkle*jets drummer Joel Valder and Lisa Jenio of Candypants.

15 Darian Sahanaja and Jim Mills of Wondermints Part 1 29.08.2023 1:05:54

We continue our talk with Darian Sahanaja and Jim Mills of Wondermints. Also joining us are sparkle*jets drummer Joel Valder and Lisa Jenio of Candypants.

14 Laura Smith and Sabrina Stevenson of Third Grade Teacher 22.08.2023 50:59

We have a really fun talk about the good old days and crazy times with a band we played with all the time, Third Grade Teacher. Lead vocalist Sabrina and bassist Laura are our guests.

13 Rick Hromadka of Double Naught Spies 15.08.2023 53:33

Today we talk to Rick Hromadka of Double Naught Spies, Maple Mars, Ruby Free, etc. Learn how it was that Mike Simmons took his dating profile pic in San Francisco.

12 Florapop 08.08.2023 48:34

We sit down with Lisa and Mark Flora of Minnesota. They occasionally get the bug to do fine power pop records under the moniker 'Florapop'.

11 Don Mogill of The Dons 01.08.2023 47:27

Our guest today is gunslinger turned bandleader Don Mogill of the Dons... the man behind the last great Not Lame release, "Dawn of the Dons".

10 The Sugarplastic 25.07.2023 44:09

Watch sparkle*jets u.k. turn into goo as they 'interview' one of their all time favorite bands, The Sugarplastic. Yep, we got the whole band back together for this one!

09 Stootsie of The See Saw 18.07.2023 49:29

Today we have an international chat with the most famous Power Pop musician in Austria, the one and only Stootsie of acclaimed band The See Saw.

08 Kenny Howes 11.07.2023 39:41

Join us as we have a super chill late-night chat with our good friend and master of the Rickenbacker / Vox Amp / Fluevog Boot / High Kick / Mutton Chops. The one and only Kenny Howes!

07 Lisa Jenio & Danny McGough of Candypants 04.07.2023 47:49

Join us as we have a really fun talk with two LA Pop Scene Legends... Lisa Jenio and Danny McGough of Candypants. You know you want to.

06 Morley Bartnoff of Cosmo Topper 27.06.2023 53:57

He's the man in the Top Hat with the ironing board keyboard stand.... Morley Bartnoff of Cosmo Topper (and the Burning Sensations, Andy & the Rattlesnakes, The Negro Problem, etc.) joins us.

05 Stew 20.06.2023 1:24:06

From punk rock kid, to the king of the LA Pop scene, to Broadway, to the Ivy League.... the story of Stew is one of art, success, humilty, and craft. We talk to one of our favorite writers (and sometimes bandmate) about the old days and all that's happened since... and what's yet to come!

04 Chloe F. Orwell & Brad Elvis of the Handcuffs 13.06.2023 55:19

We sat down with one of the most interesting rock couples around, Brad and Chloe... we knew them from their band Big Hello... which soon became (and remains) the Handcuffs. They share with us their unique perspective on the 2000 pop scene from the Chicago side of things.

03 Hans Rotenberry of The Shazam 06.06.2023 44:42

In this episode we chat with Hans Rotenberry, primary songwriter and lead vocalist of the legendary Power Pop group THE SHAZAM! The allbums they made for Not Lame Records in the late 90's early 2000's set a high standard for our genre, and they were widely recognized as the standard bearers for Badfinger meets The Move style Pop-Rock.

02 Lisa Mychols 30.05.2023 47:16

She was the sweetheart of LA Power Pop. I guess she still is. Tune in for our fun hang with our old pal Lisa as we talk about all the crazy days in the studio and the clubs with the Masticators.

01 Rex & Christina of Big Stir Records talk to sparkle*jets u.k. 22.05.2023 1:33:52

In this first episode of our podcast series, sparkle*jets u.k. discuss their origin and history with Rex and Christina of Big Stir Records. We talk about 'Best of Friends', how it happened and why, and what's on the horizon as this podcast unfolds. There are also a few bits of music here and there to whet your collective whistles.