Valley King Records: Sweet Apple

[swampviking]

J. Mascis – drums, guitar, vocals
Tim Parnin – guitar
John Petkovic – vocals, guitars
Dave Sweetapple – bass, vocals

Most bands are brought together by guitars, amps and drums.
Sweet Apple formed after tragedy, out of friendship, on a miserable day in Vermont.

At first glance, the rock ‘n’ roll quartet might seem like one of those "indie-rock supergroup" sideshows.

Yes, J. Mascis (drums/guitar/vocals) plays in Dinosaur Jr. Tim Parnin (guitar) and John Petkovic (vocals/guitar) play in Cobra Verde. Dave Sweetapple (bass/vocals) plays in Witch.

But Sweet Apple was born of a death -- and a cross country drive. Totally by chance.

It was rainy morning in December when John Petkovic got in his car heading eastward. He had no destination in mind, let alone plans for a band. He just wanted to drive away.

"My mother had just died after a long, horrible illness," he says. "And I’d been totally devastated by so many things, all at once. I’d lost so much weight. I couldn’t eat or sleep. All I did was smoke cigarettes, one and after another after another."

John got in his car and went for a long smoke. Four hundred miles from his hometown of Cleveland, and out of the blue, he received a phone call from friend Dave Sweetapple.

"I couldn’t believe he was driving around aimlessly," says Sweetapple, of Brattleboro, Vt. "When I found out he was so close to Vermont I told him to come over."

Dave also called their mutual friend J. Mascis, who lives nearby in Amherst, Ma., and told him to come over. J did, and told John to start writing a bunch of songs when he got back home – so they could start a band.

Recorded in Cleveland and Massachusetts. Mixed by John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, The Hold Steady) and Don Depew (Guided By Voices, Cobra Verde).

"I tell people that I saved John’s life by starting this band," says Mascis. "But they don’t believe me."

Limited Edition single coming out on Valley King Records (via Secret Serpents) March 2010
'Love & Desperation' LP & CD out on Tee Pee Records April 2010

[swampviking]

Sweet Apple at SXSW:

THURSDAY – March 18, 2010
4:30 p.m. — Roky Erickson Psychedelic Ice Cream Social
Threadgill’s – 301 West Riverside Dr.
(playing right before Roky Erickson)

1:00 a.m. — Tee Pee Records Showcase
Habana Calle, 709 East Sixth St.
————————————————————————————————
FRIDAY – March 19, 2010
12:30 p.m. — Consequence of Sound Day Party
Republic Live, 301 West 5th St.
(playing right before Male Bonding)

5:00 p.m. – Waterloo Records
600A North Lamar
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SATURDAY – March 20, 2010
5:30 p.m. – The Garden Party (Press Here Publicity party)
The French Legation Museum – 802 San Marcos St.
(party runs noon to 8 p.m. Playing after Karen Elson, before Frightened Rabbit)


We are releasing their debut single “Do You Remember” at the end of March! Check out a recent interview with singer / guitarist John Petkovic at Spinner.

[perkins]

That Valley King logo is tops.

[swampviking]

It's just a little project Alan and I are working on. We have a handful of other releases planned for this year...

[swampviking]

In the classifieds now!

Sweet Apple is a new band consisting of members of Dinosaur Jr, Cobra Verde, Witch, and Guided By Voices. Each 7″ will come with a silkscreened cover that is signed and numbered by Alan Forbes. Included with each record will be a silkscreened mini art print based on the cover art.

J Mascis – lead guitar / drums / vocals
John Petkovic – guitar / vocals
Tim Parnin – guitar
Dave Sweetapple – bass / vocals

All pre-orders will come with a silkscreened handbill of the Dinosaur Jr Calgary or San Francisco 2009 posters, or 2009 Fog Rising poster. Please contact if you have a preference.

Band: Sweet Apple
Format: 7″
Songs: Do You Remember b/w Crawling Over Bodies
Edition: 500 on black vinyl; 50 on clear vinyl
Artwork: Alan Forbes
Other info: signed / numbered by Alan Forbes

[swampviking]

Check out the video for the a-side of the single...