26 Dec 12th-Dec 18th, 2024 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | contribution, a cover of “1000 Pounds of Black Olives,” was a deeply personal affair. “It’s just that riff and that weird raga thing they always do. It felt like a good example of that aspect of their music,” says Hufman. “Plus. I had the CD, ‘You’re Never Alone With a Cigarette.’ I lost it, but it was my favorite song on the record. It’s just a pretty killer instrumental track. I mean, they have a lot of awesome instrumentals, but that one definitely sticks out to me. My dad played bass on it, and I feel like he did a good job. I needed help with that riff. That bassline is really weird and sneaky. So he helped me out.” Similarly, Manos says that his cover of “Vine Street Piano” is, much like the Warpigs connection, a celebration of great music and greater friendship. “I’ve always loved that original,” Manos says. “I remember my friend Peter G. Mattsson had a pirate radio show here in Tucson for a while in the mid-2000s. And I remember that that was the first tune I’d heard from him. And he’s passed now, but he turned me on to a lot of their records and also ended up giving me a bunch of his records. I always think of Peter with that band, and so that song’s just special for a lot of reasons for me.” This overarching sense of community even extends to the album artwork. “The art was given by my good friend, J.D. Saari, who was actually friends with the Sun City Girls way back,” Hufman says. “He’s actually credited on the (“330,003 Crossdressers”) album; he did the inside art. The cover picture is by this individual named Wayne, who is kind of a mystery. But he just felt it was very in tune to the Sun City Girls’ name itself and was very attached to the vibe.” But perhaps the best realization of this community spirit is in how much support everyone received with their respective covers. “I gave them full creative freedom for anything and whatever came out,” Hufman says. “Like, No Stones’ ‘Dreamland by the Sun City Girls,’ it was pretty much just a noise track. I thought it was interesting. It diversifies the album a little bit.” He adds, “I really enjoy Marshall Good’s cover of ‘I Protect You from Me.’ That one really stands out. The Jerusafunk cover is super amazing. I mean, they really poured all into that one.” And that’s not just about being a good collaborator; that spirit is very much in Sun City Girls’ own creative wheelhouse. “Their version of ‘CIA Man’ by The Fugs is just completely rewritten, and it’s amazing,” Hufman says. So, now that it’s out in the world, do the comp’s creators think the record can intro- duce Sun City Girls to a new audience and/ or generation? That’s the plan, at least. “I’m hoping it reaches some kind of audience. If it’s someone’s introduction to them, that’s great,” Hufman says. “There’s always got to be some kind of gateway. A lot of the songs on here are more ... some of them are pretty fucked, but maybe some are more accessible.” Still. at least one of the right people already appreciates the efforts of this ragtag crew of super fans. “It’s being promoted by Alan Bishop,” Hufman says. “He said he’s going to share it around and stuff.” But if nothing else, this whole experi- ence has been quite profound for its creators. “It’s definitely made me appreciate them even more,” Hufman says. “I mean, I already really enjoy them, but to see how many people really enjoy this band is really awesome. Knowing they’re appreciated is good enough for me.” Adds Manos, “For me, it was always just that idea of a tribute. People that just love the band and also were intrigued to become involved ... (they)just wanted to offer some recognition of them personally. I did it for myself in that regard.” Maybe someone who does pick up the comp eventually becomes a super fan. Or, maybe they’d rather listen to some other local legends. If there’s one running theme and lesson across this comp, it’s that you won’t know until you just listen to the damn thing. “It’s an awesome band because anything adjacent to them, I think you could listen to the stuff,” says Manos. “If you find some- thing that’s not for you, I guarantee that if you randomly grab another thing, it might be your favorite record. They have so much diversity with that band. It’s rare to find a band like that. And I would say the best advice I’d give to somebody is just enjoy that unique fact about them. Jump in and see what happens.” “The Language of After Death and Before Birth” is available now via Compact Disc Records. Sun City Girls are the subject of a new local covers compilation. (Courtesy of Alan Bishop) Fitting Tribute from p 24
