Beachwood Sparks Keyboardist, Drummer Tune Up All Night Radio
ClearChannel already hoping to remarket duo as wacky morning crew in Tampa

[Posted Wednesday, December 3rd, 2003 06:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Beachwood Sparks, those fine purveyors of high-pitched California psychedelic country-rock, have spawned a side project consisting of founding members "Farmer Dave" Scher and Jimi Hey. Their name: All Night Radio. Their modus operandi: taking psych-rock to another level using what Sub Pop describes as "a deranged assortment of modern and primitive equipment." The result is sample-heavy creations that invoke classic elements of '60s psychedelia and combine it with a touch of present-day electronica.

The Dave and Jimi saga begins about seven years ago, when Scher was a late night DJ on Los Angeles indie mainstay KXLU and a teenage Hey was an avid listener. According to their bio, Hey called repeatedly to request Six Finger Satellite tunes. What might read as a prefix to a stalker scenario actually resulted in a lasting friendship that led to the birth of Beachwood Sparks. Hey soon left Beachwood Sparks and drifted from band to band for several years, eventually losing touch with Dave. Finally in 2002, the two reconnected and Jimi rejoined Beachwood Sparks for the Make The Cowboy Robots Cry EP.

Earlier this year, the pair began working on what would become All Night Radio. Earlier this month they released their debut twelve-inch/CD single on Sub Pop, aptly self-titled and backed with the intriguingly titled "Flying Radio Bat Factory." There are MP3's of both selections on the band's website linked below. Sub Pop will also be releasing the duo's full-length album, Spirit Stereo Frequency, on February 17th of next year (tracklist to be determined and duly reported).

All Night Radio: http://www.flyingradiobats.com
Sub Pop: http://www.subpop.com