https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/best-of-friends-popcast--5826044Join members of the venerated power pop band sparkle*jets u.k. as they chat with their peers from the late 90’s - early ‘00’s pop music scene, which was mostly centered in Los Angeles. Using their 2023 double album release ‘Best of Friends’ as a topical springboard, your hosts discuss their musical experiences and reminiscences of those heady days with many of the people involved. The goal of this podcast is to get the conversation started about the music and artists from this time, and catch up on where they have been and what they are up to now.]]>enMusic InterviewsCopyright Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetshttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/7b576edaf2f5ea7a074757a2069ff916.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/best-of-friends-popcast--5826044Tue, 02 Jul 2024 13:01:49 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsMichael Simmons / sparkle*jetssirsparklejet@gmail.comJoin members of the venerated power pop band sparkle*jets u.k. as they chat with their peers from the late 90’s - early ‘00’s pop music scene, which was mostly centered in Los Angeles. Using their 2023 double album release ‘Best of Friends’ as a...Join members of the venerated power pop band sparkle*jets u.k. as they chat with their peers from the late 90’s - early ‘00’s pop music scene, which was mostly centered in Los Angeles. Using their 2023 double album release ‘Best of Friends’ as a topical springboard, your hosts discuss their musical experiences and reminiscences of those heady days with many of the people involved. The goal of this podcast is to get the conversation started about the music and artists from this time, and catch up on where they have been and what they are up to now.]]>trueb2d88841-34ba-54a9-b060-85343625dc34serialhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/01-rex-christina-of-big-stir-records-talk-to-sparkle-jets-u-k--53771168https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53771168Mon, 22 May 2023 22:59:59 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsIn this first episode of our podcast series, sparkle*jets u.k. discuss their origin and history with Rex and Christina of Big Stir Records. We talk about 'Best of Friends', how it happened and why, and what's on the horizon as this podcast unfolds....5632false1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/02-lisa-mychols--53405573https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53405573Tue, 30 May 2023 09:00:03 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsShe was the sweetheart of LA Power Pop. I guess she still is. Tune in for our fun hang with our old pal Lisa as we talk about all the crazy days in the studio and the clubs with the Masticators.2836false2fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/03-hans-rotenberry-of-the-shazam--53405575https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53405575Tue, 06 Jun 2023 09:00:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsIn this episode we chat with Hans Rotenberry, primary songwriter and lead vocalist of the legendary Power Pop group THE SHAZAM! The allbums they made for Not Lame Records in the late 90's early 2000's set a high standard for our genre, and they were...2682bestoffriends,big,hans,jets,music,notlame,pop,power,powerpop,rotenberry,shazam,sparkle,sparklejets,sparklejetsuk,stir,u.k.true3fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/04-chloe-f-orwell-brad-elvis-of-the-handcuffs--53405572https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53405572Tue, 13 Jun 2023 09:00:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsWe sat down with one of the most interesting rock couples around, Brad and Chloe... we knew them from their band Big Hello... which soon became (and remains) the Handcuffs. They share with us their unique perspective on the 2000 pop scene from the...3319false4fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/05-stew--53771177https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53771177Tue, 20 Jun 2023 09:00:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsFrom punk rock kid, to the king of the LA Pop scene, to Broadway, to the Ivy League.... the story of Stew is one of art, success, humilty, and craft. We talk to one of our favorite writers (and sometimes bandmate) about the old days and all that's...5046false5fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/06-morley-bartnoff-of-cosmo-topper--53771178https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53771178Tue, 27 Jun 2023 09:00:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsHe's the man in the Top Hat with the ironing board keyboard stand.... Morley Bartnoff of Cosmo Topper (and the Burning Sensations, Andy & the Rattlesnakes, The Negro Problem, etc.) joins us.3237false6fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/07-lisa-jenio-danny-mcgough-of-candypants--53771180https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53771180Tue, 04 Jul 2023 09:00:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsJoin us as we have a really fun talk with two LA Pop Scene Legends... Lisa Jenio and Danny McGough of Candypants. You know you want to.2869false7fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/08-kenny-howes--53771181https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53771181Tue, 11 Jul 2023 09:00:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsJoin us as we have a super chill late-night chat with our good friend and master of the Rickenbacker / Vox Amp / Fluevog Boot / High Kick / Mutton Chops. The one and only Kenny Howes!2381false8fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/09-stootsie-of-the-see-saw--53771184https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53771184Tue, 18 Jul 2023 09:00:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsToday we have an international chat with the most famous Power Pop musician in Austria, the one and only Stootsie of acclaimed band The See Saw.2969false9fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/10-the-sugarplastic--53771176https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53771176Tue, 25 Jul 2023 09:00:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsWatch sparkle*jets u.k. turn into goo as they 'interview' one of their all time favorite bands, The Sugarplastic. Yep, we got the whole band back together for this one!2649false7fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/11-don-mogill-of-the-dons--53771179https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53771179Tue, 01 Aug 2023 09:00:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsOur guest today is gunslinger turned bandleader Don Mogill of the Dons... the man behind the last great Not Lame release, "Dawn of the Dons".2847false11fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/12-florapop--53771185https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53771185Tue, 08 Aug 2023 09:00:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsWe sit down with Lisa and Mark Flora of Minnesota. They occasionally get the bug to do fine power pop records under the moniker 'Florapop'.2914false12fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/13-rick-hromadka-of-double-naught-spies--53771187https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53771187Tue, 15 Aug 2023 09:00:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsToday we talk to Rick Hromadka of Double Naught Spies, Maple Mars, Ruby Free, etc. Learn how it was that Mike Simmons took his dating profile pic in San Francisco.3213false13fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/14-laura-smith-and-sabrina-stevenson-of-third-grade-teacher--53771186https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53771186Tue, 22 Aug 2023 09:00:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsWe have a really fun talk about the good old days and crazy times with a band we played with all the time, Third Grade Teacher. Lead vocalist Sabrina and bassist Laura are our guests.3059false14fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/15-darian-sahanaja-and-jim-mills-of-wondermints-part-1--56605173https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56605173Tue, 29 Aug 2023 07:20:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsWe continue our talk with Darian Sahanaja and Jim Mills of Wondermints. Also joining us are sparkle*jets drummer Joel Valder and Lisa Jenio of Candypants.3954false15fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/16-darian-sahanaja-and-jim-mills-of-wondermints-part-2--56605174https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56605174Tue, 05 Sep 2023 07:20:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsWe continue our talk with Darian Sahanaja and Jim Mills of Wondermints. Also joining us are sparkle*jets drummer Joel Valder and Lisa Jenio of Candypants.2999false16fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/17-kerry-kompost--53771183https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53771183Tue, 12 Sep 2023 09:00:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsJoin us as the wacky and loveable Kerry 'Kompost' Chicoine gets all up in everyone's bidness.3200false17fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/18-the-andersons--56827792https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56827792Tue, 19 Sep 2023 07:30:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsWe finally get all three of the Andersons! in the same virtual room for the first time in ages. You will hear (about half way in when Robbie shows up) a reasonable facsimile of the wacky stage patter that made every Andersons show a unique and fun...5530truefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/18-the-bonus-track-with-john-m-borack--53771182https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53771182Tue, 26 Sep 2023 09:00:02 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsJoin us for a little Q&A with our good friend and occasional partner in rawk... acclaimed author, journalist, and drummer John M. Borack.3469false19fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/19-adam-marsland-of-cockeyed-ghost--56961593https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56961593Tue, 03 Oct 2023 07:00:03 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsWe talk to the man behind Cockeyed Ghost and myriad other projects, Adam Marsland. He's done so many different things, and continues to. We get a glimpse into his career, life, and personal growth.3903false19fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sjuk-box-of-letters-podcast--60475493https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60475493Tue, 02 Jul 2024 13:00:04 +0000Michael Simmons / sparkle*jetsWe are continuing this podcast to start discussing our upcoming LP 'Box of Letters'.  Sitting in as our host today is none other than Mr. Ken AKA 'Ken Fusion' or 'The Modfather' Ken Caldretti, long time friend of the band.  We discuss Box of Letters...3027false21full