DAMAGED BUG - "BUG ON YONKERS" LP

CASTLEFACE:

“I first heard Michael Yonkers via the Microminature Love reissue (Sub Pop) and was immediately hooked. I started collecting any piece of his legend that I could…some true, some likely not.

He had hand-built all of his gear.

He had broken his back.

He was part of experimental surgery that left him in lifelong pain.

He was a dancer.

He was still kicking around making some of the oddest and most contrary-to-contemporary-popular-norms type of music.

(A man after my own heart)

And then I heard Goodby Sunball, recorded and released in 1974, the year I was born. I had and have a very deep connection with this set of songs.

I wasn’t sure why, but when I finally met Michael, I understood.

He was kind and seemingly a pretty regular guy.

But he was also a weirdo. A rare bird, waving the true freak music flag,

and it didn’t matter what kind of music he made, I loved it all. 

So, this record was recorded as a way to reboot and reconnect with some songs that have heavily inspired me over the years. 

It was hard to pick from his vast catalog, so I just sort of jumped in, with Tom Dolas, Nick Murray, and Brigid Dawson as my band (along with a bevy of others along the way) and these are the tunes that stuck to the wall.

I will forever be grateful to Mr Yonkers for bringing me a little joy with his music and inspiring weirdos everywhere.” - John Dwyer, Feb 2020