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on the side After the Gin Blossoms broke up, four of the five band members went on to form new projects. For more information on any of the recordings from this time period, see the Discography. Blossoms guitarist Jesse Valenzuela has just released a solo CD. For more information, visit his official website. (You can purchase the CD online.) Jesse’s initial post-GBs project, the Low Watts, recorded an album’s worth of material for A&M, but were dropped from the label after the merger with Universal and apparently ceased to exist. (The Low Watts also included Tempe bassist Darryl Icard, veteran of the Arizona bands Poets Corner and Major Lingo, and drummer Winston Watson.) You can, however, hear the Low Watts on a holiday compilation called "A Christmas To Remember." Jesse also hooked up with Craig Northey of the Odds (who once toured with the Blossoms) for a project called National Park, which also features Pat Steward and Doug Elliott (who have collaborated with Northey in an instrumental R&B outfit called Sharkskin). Craig is reportedly mixing and shopping a National Park record. (See http://craig.oddstp.com/craig.html) Jesse has also been producing and working with other artists, including Susan Sandberg (download "One Wrong Girl," featuring Jesse) and alt-country singer Kelly Willis. "Long Walk Back," the first single from Danny Wilde and The Rembrandts’ recent album, "Spin This," was co-written by Jesse. (Hear the song and buy the album at CDNow.) For more information on Jesse’s post-Blossoms pursuits, see the article about his solo venture in the March 28 Phoenix New Times. Other sites:
Until recently, Blossoms guitarist Scott Johnson was a member of the Peacemakers, a band fronted by Roger Clyne of the late, great Refreshments (a hugely popular local band that also found moderate national success). Scott’s last show as a Peacemaker was Dec. 13, 2001, just before the Blossoms’ New Year’s Eve reunion. The group also includes P.H. Naffah (another former ’Freshie) on drums, Steve Larson (formerly of Dead Hot Workshop) on guitar, and Danny White on bass. Tim Rovnak also plays keyboards with the band occasionally. The band played at the South By Southwest music conference in Austin, Texas, in March 1999, but are not currently signed to a record label. Probably the most popular local band of the moment, the Peacemakers play regularly around Tempe and self-released their first CD, "Honky Tonk Union," on October 15, 1999. (It debuted at #1 on Billboard’s internet sales chart.) A new album, "Sonoran Hope and Madness," was released on Feb. 12 of this year, and the band has been touring nationally in support of it. Scott also appears on the debut CD from Los Angeles singer/songwriter Lesley Wright. Her "Firefly" CD, which is available from Garageband.com, also features P.H. Naffah and Danny White, and was recorded in Danny’s studio. Other Peacemakers sites:
Blossoms lead singer Robin Wilson and drummer Phillip Rhodes formed the Gas Giants after the GB’s breakup. Unfortunately, the Phoenix New Times reports that the guys have decided to call it quits. (See the June 21 article.) "According to Wilson, the band is on an ‘indefinite hiatus,’ but it appears that may be an overly optimistic appraisal of the situation," the article reports. The Gas Giants got off to a rocky start because of a name dispute—they were originally called the Pharaohs, and then Pharaohs 2000. Finally, they settled on their current moniker (which is a term used for the large, gaseous planets in the solar system). The band had recorded their debut album for A&M (the Blossoms’ label) at Robin’s Mayberry Studios in Tempe in 1998. But A&M’s reorganization after being acquired by Universal left the record languishing on the shelf, and sent the band shopping for a new label. (See the Get Out article for more information.) They signed to the Internet-based start-up record label Atomic Pop, and all seemed to be well. The record, "From Beyond the Backburner," was released in October 1999. (You can buy it at CDNow.) Atomic Pop also released the Poppin’ Wheelies CD—the soundtrack for a cartoon about a rock band in space, featuring 11 songs by the Gas Giants. Then Atomic Pop folded in September 2000. The band carried on, playing the South By Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas, in March 2001, and playing shows around Arizona. But, according to the New Times article, "things came to a head internally [this summer], reportedly over the future of the band—something that did not look particularly rosy given the unfortunate turn of events of the past few years." The New Times reports that Robin is continuing to study recording and operate his Mayberry Studios in Tempe, and will lend vocals to an album written and recorded by his frequent collaborator Steve French, formerly of the British band Starclub. He also put together the "Uranus Presents" CD, a compilation featuring local bands Haggis, DJ Radar, The Royal Normans, Steve French, Sonic Thrills, Zen Lunatics, Ghetto Cowgirl, and Pollen. (You can buy the CD from CDBaby.com.) Robin has also been playing weekly happy hour sets at Long Wong’s. The Gas Giants’ guitarist, Dan Henzerling, told the New Times he’s planning on starting his own group, and may also play with his former outfit, the Grievous Angels. Phillip has appeared on the latest recordings from Tempe bands Ghetto Cowgirl and the Living Daylights. Other Gas Giants sites:
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