Saturday, August 7, 2021

April March and A 35ft Tall Statue of Liberty - Hippie Love Turbo Radio Show - Code Word "Asparagus"

If you tuned into this week's episode of Hippie Love Turbo, on KUCR 88.3 FM you heard the song Karate by The Emperors as I talked about their hometown of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Harrisburg is the state capital of Pennsylvania and there are plenty of places to visit including: the Broad Street Market which is a farmers market that was first established in 1860, the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum with exhibits featuring firefighting equipment from early America, as well as, one of the largest parade hat displays, and along the Susquehanna River you can spot the city's wacky 25 foot tall replica of the Statue of Liberty

Later in the show I played France Gall's Laisse Tomber Les Filles which many know from a cover version by April March that's featured on the Death Proof and But I'm a Cheerleader soundtracks. April March is somewhat of a Francophile and has covered many Yé-yé songs in both English and French but she is also known for her work in animation, writing, and more recently, illustration

Photo from Rocktober #43. Illustration by John K. from the back cover of Voo Doo Doll / Kooky.
 

Going back to her early work in music, March performed in The Pussywillows, a New York band that played music inspired by girl groups of the '60s. The band's only EP release, 1988's Spring Fever!, has a cover of The Coupon's Turn Her Down which you may have heard on the Hippie Love Turbo episode named Cabbage. In 2003 the band also performed backing vocals on Ronnie Spector's album Something's Gonna Happen

Although March obviously has a soft spot for '60s rock and roll, she's also performed with more punk leaning bands such as The Bassholes, The Haves, The Makers, and The Shitbirds. The Shitbirds had a few singles and EPs but most, if not all, of their output was released on the compilation album Famous Recording Artists with the best track being their cover of the classic Hard-Ons song There Was A Time. April March is still making music to this day and has recently released an EP with Olivia Jean named Palladium. Finally, if you can't get enough of April March check out her appearances on WMFU (at about the hour mark) and the Third Man Podcast where she talks a little bit about her career and her latest releases.

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