It was the summer of '93. To hopefully breathe some fresh air into a dying night club warehouse known as Dick's Clam and Cow, Bash N Pop was to be the first of a series of cool, non-corporate booked gigs.

It was also that night that Magnapop introduced themselves to Tidewater. As the opening band, they exploded a garage of guitar overdrives held together by two chicks hung up on melodies. And although the highlight to-be was a disappointment because Tommy Stinson thought his attitude needed an adjustment with some blow (and he couldn't get any), Magnapop turned the night of gig attendance into a delightful occasion.

Post show, between 19th and 20th Streets, up the avenues and on the fringes of crack-hood, though safe on the cook's balcony, the band and a few of us sat around and talked about music, relationships, and TV shows.

I had pulled these memories from my crashed brain files as I was getting ready for a night of tune spins for Chichos. I had my Unrest and new Archers of Loaf, then stumbled across a collection of Magnapop demos. There is was, their eponymous CD with demented power songs like "Garden," the Zu Zu's Petal-esque "Guess," and Bigstar/Chilton cut "13," and the Michael Stipe produced "Favorite Writer." I stuck it in my Case Logic.

And low and behold, that following Monday as (Flash Magazine) Editor Mike (Doyle) and I were discussing reviews for this issue, I happened to come across the new Magnapop "Hotboxing." Strange timing.

"Hotboxing" sounds sort of like a Madder Rose live show and what Panic On is missing. It's raw, melody-delicious, and a mature written recording.

From the Violent Femmes stolen chorus of "Slowly, Slowly" through the pop rock of "Texas," then diving into the feminine perspective of "Piece of Cake," wrestling in the two minute wonder of "Free Mud," and on and on until "Skinburns," "Hotboxing" is a definite add to the collection of singles and the must-buy CDs. This one is so infectious it'll have you bogeying the entire thing. Produced by Bob Mould, too.

Reviewer:  Bonn Garrett, courtesy of Flash Magazine.