24 Dec 12th-Dec 18th, 2024 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Fitting Tribute A new compilation album pays homage to Phoenix rock band Sun City Girls. BY CHRIS COPLAN I n the robust canon of Phoenix music, Sun City Girls occupy a rather pecu- liar place. “In the circle of folks and friends I have, they’re just held in such high regard,” says Dimitri Manos of Tucson band Golden Boots. “But I do think that they’re one of those bands that if you brought them up to other folks, they might not even know them. They’re super influ- ential, but it does feel really underground at the same time.” It wasn’t just the music, though. Phoenix musician Harrison Hufman explains that the band had a unique creative approach/attitude that made them so singular. “I like the grassroots thing of just recording and releasing everything, which is a very awesome thing because I do that, too,” Hufman says. “No matter what it is, just put it out so that you’re constantly creating. Their ethos and the way they work is fucking insane, but very versatile.” So it’s easy to see why the Sun City Girls would be so polarizing and/or so beloved in a rather certain context. From the late ‘70s to mid-2000s, the band — composed of Charles Gocher and brothers Alan and Richard Bishop — pushed the boundaries of punk and carved a path of complicated, confrontational art like few others. It was all deeply important to the foundation of Phoenix culture in the last 50 years, but it’s not always so readily digestible. “It’s just very provocative and kind of unexpected from somewhere like Phoenix, I guess,” Hufman says. “But at the same time, it just absorbs all of (Phoenix’s) weirdness.” All of this back-and-forth feels extra relevant as Hufman, Manos and a collec- tive of local musicians and SCG faithful recently joined forces for a brand-new tribute compilation, “The Language of After Death and Before Birth.” Even the album title feels very on-brand for SCG. “My dad (Jay Hufman) saw Alan, I think, do some Q&A,” Hufman says. “Someone asked, ‘What is the language that you guys use in your songs?’ And Alan said, ‘It’s the language of after birth and before death.’” But there’s no denying that the resulting 14-track offering isn’t great. In addition to Hufman and Manos, the record features No Stones, Forest Floor, JFUNK/ Jerusafunk, Josué Kinter and many more. It’s a record born out of not just Phoenix music history, but a thread from more recent creators/sonic provocateurs. “It was actually not originally my idea. It was the great Andy Warpigs, who passed away a few years ago,” Hufman says. “He had this idea kicking around with a few Phoenix musicians. It felt like a good thing to do for him and for just because. I mean, they deserve it. They’re pretty recognized and well known, but maybe just bring another spark into what they do and keeping them relevant, which I don’t think is a hard thing to do.” It was also another chance for Hufman and Manos to collaborate. “Me and Harrison had done some stuff,” Manos says. “We worked together in this really small anti-label that I run. It’s pretty much just so friends can hear other friends’ music.” But while Hufman and Manos were the project’s leads, the process of creating the comp became something else entirely. “People would step up with different ideas or help facilitate this thing happening,” Manos says. “It was amor- phous; there’s no one really in charge of the whole thing. Everyone’s just making sure it gets done right collectively.” Adds Hufman, “With Demetri’s help and help from (JFUNK’s Jessie Demaree), it really kept everything together. Like, I can’t solely say it was all me. Jessie got the songwriting credits from Alan for me. And, of course, Dmitri processed everything and made the CDs and everything.” That collaborative, deeply intimate energy informed so much of the actual music, too. Hufman’s Sun City Girls are the focus of a new tribute album. (Courtesy of YouTube screenshot) >> p 26 ▼ Music
