oh my God. i cannot believe you HAVE these songs! i'm sydney my dad is the drummer!!! harry mccarthy! my friends and i were googling them to be funny and actually found a TON of stuff! now my dad is the drum tech for bruce springsteen's drummer and is on tour and owns drum paradise nashville and very successful!
WHarrisBullzEye
· 1 year ago
Sydney, if your dad is willing to do a Q&A with me, I'll totally post a sequel to this column, popularity be damned! :-)
Harry McCarthy
· 1 year ago
Hello, I would love to do a Q&A with you.. I am working over in Europe and will be returning to Nashville on 7/23
This album was stolen from me in college...I believe I got it at the same time I picked up the Radioactive Cats, which was also thieved. Good to know I'm not the only one who remembers them. There are...um...3 others?
Steven Hitselberger
· 1 year ago
Thanks for the kind words. Good to know there's still a couple Sugarheads out there. Maybe one day we'll hammer a final nail in the coffin, just for kicks. There's been talk about it. Aloha, Steven Hitselberger (Guitar - Loud Sugar)
Bill
· 8 months ago
Are you kidding me? I write for a mag in L.A. e-mail me so we can talk more! wrowan@yahoo.com
B D Gus Stone
· 1 year ago
Who married the guitar player from WUDITIZ? Huh?
B D Gus
Super Dave Osbourne
· 1 year ago
I first was turned onto Loud Sugar I believe when I heard them on the radio at a local station in Colorado. I immediately had to know who they were, and ultimately found their CD in a rack used at a CD/Album store in late 1991. I bought it, and have loved that sound and message since. They spoke funky fun tunes, with a urgent message about environmental, fun times, and not so serious attitudes about life itself. I hope others enjoy this still timely message.
Kia
· 11 months ago
Hello;
This is sooo cool that you have this article here. Here's my Loud Sugar story.
I was a college booker at Cal State Northridge (89-91) when SBK was pushing Loud Sugar (back when they used to send out promos), so I received one of their TAPES and really took to them, and eventually ended up buying the CD. I must have made 5-10 copies of it for a bunch of people whom I turned on to the band.
Around the same time, I met this girl called Amy Moore (where are you Amy?) and we went out for a few months, and listened to that album CONSTANTLY together, rendering it somewhat the de-facto soundtrack of our relationship.
So, eventually I booked them to perform at my school, and even brought in outside sound company. Unfortunately, the sound company screwed me hard and brought a bum system, and the show wasn't that good. HOWEVER, the band could not be more gracious and kind, and were such incredibly cool guys. Also, their managers showed up at the show, and being the curious music dork that I was (am), I asked them all types of questions, and here's some inside scoop
-> Album was recorded before they were signed by SBK. -> SBK's Koppelman (the "K", I assume) bought the album from them (i think for $100k -- apologies to band for revealing this, or if I am wrong). -> Koppelman thought there were 4-5 radio hits on that album.
I'm a music lawyer now. . . I am bombarded with music, and am admittedly very difficult to please (that's why I default to Bob Marley). . . HOWEVER, in going through my old CDs the other day, I found the CD Single of "Instant Karma Koffee House" and ripped it into my iTunes, and I couldn't find the CD so I went nuts trying to find it online. . . found it on ebay. I just drove up to Tahoe and must have listened to that song 10 times, lamenting that I didn't have the entire record with me. . .
Sorry if this story sucked an is anti-climactic, but Loud Sugar was a GREAT FUCKING BAND AND THEY SHOULD REUNITE for a show, and notify me cuz I wanna come see them.
Sten Sidebo
· 10 months ago
Great to hear that there are more fans out there! I've been hooked on this album since ยด92, when they were reviewed in the swedish press (actually a short note in one of the daily national evening mags) as being "better than Jellyfish" - and being a huge Jellyfish fan I instantly ordered it from the U.S., wasn't available in Sweden (where I live - obviously... ) Still thinks the album holds up, found a few copies on a sale and gave away as gifts - mostly very appreciated. Found this post when I started wondering where I had heard the Fizzies' lead singers voice before, thought it sounded like Sugar, and stumbled upon this... good fun! Pop on!
Rich Horton
· 10 months ago
Too cool to find this post. I put the occasional Loud Sugar song on my Live365 Station and people either love it or hate it. I've always felt "Home" in particular was terrific.
I'm not sure whyt he need for such deep embarrasment about the album. Sure the early 90's "hippy" moment was a little stupid...but so is just about everything now.
Patty Bruce
· 8 months ago
add me to the loud sugar fandom. i heard them in '91 on the "the edge" in dallas texas. this was back when they played actual alternative college rock, and one could hear upcoming bands like "loud sugar"- naturally it was "instant karma coffee house" that caught me ear, and i bought the cassette and listened to it constantly that whole summer of hanging out at the lake and being stoned a lot. every once in a while i do a search on them, and lo and behold, your post. thanks for the mp3s, the cassette long ago bit the dust! and i've not seen it in cut outs anywhere... and yes, "no ozone" didn't age well- but "creamsicle"? THAT'S MY JAM. xoxo
Bill
· 8 months ago
Hello, I saw Loud Sugar play in a club in North Hollywood CA,and found them to be amazing.Dave had THAT look.I've had at least 3 copies of the CD and last I heard Mr.Grover was doing Kid's cds or children's music! They were sooo ahead of their time.Also,I have the video for "Instant Karma Coffee House".
Jeff
· 6 months ago
I absolutely loved - still love - Loud Sugar. I first found them on a sample tape that SBK must have put out called "No Flies Here" - it had "No Ozone" and "Instant Karma Coffee House" on it (as well as a couple from Jesus Jones). Had to check out the rest of their songs so I bought the cassette - was not disappointed.
Still have both of those tapes today!
Visionbigmike
· 6 months ago
We have that exact same CD ... signed by all five band members (at a gig in Orange County, CA) ... and YES, they were a great band. We still listen to them on our IPODs ... over 15 years later ... It's fun music ... with a kick. There are tons of bands out there right now, with a similar slant on what's happening ... and it's all good. POP, ya ... but pop that makes you think ... and that's always good.
If the guys are reading this ... you had a great sound ... and it's still alive and well ... thanks for being a part of our lives.
swh
· 5 months ago
I paid full retail for that cd and still have it. Just put it on my ipod recently. I came across this thread because I wanted sheet music for my daughters for my two faves: Change the Weather and The Sun's Come into the Room. I actually had no idea that the band's popularity was so short-lived, or that there would be so little info about them available. I assumed I would go to Wikipedia and find all kinds of information. Oh well. Glad to hear some of them are still active in music.
swh
Dan
· 4 months ago
I remember this band, I was in 8th grade and my older brother brought the tape home and I loved it!! Years later, I asked him if he still had it and her said he through it away because it reminded him of the girl that gave it to him...damn it!
Since then, I have been searching for it and today, the search ends. after googling the band, I fouond many, many copies of the CD for dirt cheap on Amazon.com, totally rad.
I am slowly rebuilding my early '90's obscure collection again, and speaking of early '90's obscurity, I also just purchased a CD of the debut album for The Origin. Remember them? circa 1991
Rob
· 3 months ago
Add me to the list of those who remember this band and appreciate them as well. The CD is sitting on my rack and Home plays as I type this.
Harry McCarthy
· 2 months ago
I played drums in the band and thank you for the kind words.. Steve the guitar player and myself are trying to find a way for us to get back together for another CD
steppdecke
· 4 days ago
the Instant Karma Coffee House link is dead....and i was so excited to have that track again. (pout) . I had that track on some sampler/compilation and really enjoyed it. I am pretty sure it melted on my dash under the arizona sun... a buckled wad of plastic and audio tape.
All Comments
my dad is the drummer!!! harry mccarthy! my friends and i were googling them to be funny and actually found a TON of stuff! now my dad is the drum tech for bruce springsteen's drummer and is on tour and owns drum paradise nashville and very successful!
I would love to do a Q&A with you.. I am working over in Europe and will be returning to Nashville on 7/23
Harry McCarthy
email: Drmbiz@aol.com
wrowan@yahoo.com
B D Gus
This is sooo cool that you have this article here. Here's my Loud Sugar story.
I was a college booker at Cal State Northridge (89-91) when SBK was pushing Loud Sugar (back when they used to send out promos), so I received one of their TAPES and really took to them, and eventually ended up buying the CD. I must have made 5-10 copies of it for a bunch of people whom I turned on to the band.
Around the same time, I met this girl called Amy Moore (where are you Amy?) and we went out for a few months, and listened to that album CONSTANTLY together, rendering it somewhat the de-facto soundtrack of our relationship.
So, eventually I booked them to perform at my school, and even brought in outside sound company. Unfortunately, the sound company screwed me hard and brought a bum system, and the show wasn't that good. HOWEVER, the band could not be more gracious and kind, and were such incredibly cool guys. Also, their managers showed up at the show, and being the curious music dork that I was (am), I asked them all types of questions, and here's some inside scoop
-> Album was recorded before they were signed by SBK.
-> SBK's Koppelman (the "K", I assume) bought the album from them (i think for $100k -- apologies to band for revealing this, or if I am wrong).
-> Koppelman thought there were 4-5 radio hits on that album.
I'm a music lawyer now. . . I am bombarded with music, and am admittedly very difficult to please (that's why I default to Bob Marley). . . HOWEVER, in going through my old CDs the other day, I found the CD Single of "Instant Karma Koffee House" and ripped it into my iTunes, and I couldn't find the CD so I went nuts trying to find it online. . . found it on ebay. I just drove up to Tahoe and must have listened to that song 10 times, lamenting that I didn't have the entire record with me. . .
Sorry if this story sucked an is anti-climactic, but Loud Sugar was a GREAT FUCKING BAND AND THEY SHOULD REUNITE for a show, and notify me
cuz I wanna come see them.
I'm not sure whyt he need for such deep embarrasment about the album. Sure the early 90's "hippy" moment was a little stupid...but so is just about everything now.
every once in a while i do a search on them, and lo and behold, your post. thanks for the mp3s, the cassette long ago bit the dust! and i've not seen it in cut outs anywhere... and yes, "no ozone" didn't age well- but "creamsicle"? THAT'S MY JAM. xoxo
I saw Loud Sugar play in a club in North Hollywood CA,and found them to be amazing.Dave had THAT look.I've had at least 3 copies of the CD and last I heard Mr.Grover was doing Kid's cds or children's music! They were sooo ahead of their time.Also,I have the video for "Instant Karma Coffee House".
Still have both of those tapes today!
If the guys are reading this ... you had a great sound ... and it's still alive and well ... thanks for being a part of our lives.
swh
Since then, I have been searching for it and today, the search ends. after googling the band, I fouond many, many copies of the CD for dirt cheap on Amazon.com, totally rad.
I am slowly rebuilding my early '90's obscure collection again, and speaking of early '90's obscurity, I also just purchased a CD of the debut album for The Origin. Remember them? circa 1991