Sections

Sponge continues to soak up success

A year ago, I interviewed a relatively unknown band from Detroit at a tiny recording studio in Saline. Their first single "Plowed" was just beginning to receive a considerable amount of radio play. At that time, the band was working on some new material and gearing up for a trip to Los Angeles to make their second appearance on "The Jon Stewart Show."

What a difference 12 months can make! Today, "The Jon Stewart Show" is history, that tiny recording studio in Saline has been expanded and remodeled, and the unknown group went on to sell more than 900,000 copies of their debut album "Rotting Piñata." The band, of course, is Sponge, and 1995 saw this Detroit quintet explode onto the national music scene.

Sponge followed up the smash hit "Plowed" with "Molly," a tune that found its way to the top of radio playlists for the better part of the summer. It is safe to say that 1995 was a whirlwind year for the group, which suddenly found themselves opening up for arena heavyweights like Live, Candlebox, Soundgarden and White Zombie. It was a year that included stops on "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "Conan O'Brien," a brief summer stint in Europe and a solo tour that culminated in a sold-out New Year's Eve bash for hometown fans at the Palladium in Detroit.

Sponge is not taking any time off to stop and smell the roses. The group has been diligently at work on album number two for the last month and a half. Once again, the group has decided to pass on the distractions of New York or Los Angeles and record at "The Loft" in nearby Saline. Some were surprised to hear that the group had decided to record their sophomore effort with local upstart producer and former University music major Tim Patalan. Many, including myself, thought that the group would be lured in by some slick, high-priced mega-producer. Apparently, Sponge feels that they have a good thing going with Patalan, and they are not going to mess around with it.

"We just feel real confident with Tim and the way he allows us to do our thing," said Sponge guitarist Joe Mazzola. "Tim is great. He's like producer, engineer, musician, friend, therapist, psychoanalyst, and bartender extraordinaire."

When I met up with the band recently, singer Vinnie was putting the final touches on the album tentatively titled "Drag Queens in Memphis." He was in the middle of singing a line from "Velveteen," a somber acoustic number that seems sure to make the record.

"We've recorded over 21 songs this time. Some of the tunes have been cut two or even three different ways," said Vinnie. "We've just been experimenting with different tones and textures trying to create the ultimate vibe."

Experimenting is definitely an understatement. Vinnie and the rest of the band have been recruiting local musicians to contribute their talents to this record. There is a bluesy piano played on "Drag Queens in Memphis," a tune that also features Sponge guitarist Mazzola performing a masterful slide guitar. On the extremely hip "Baby Said," the band recruited the brass section from local favorites "The Howling Diablos." This is definitely a tune that shows how far the group has evolved as musicians.

Of the seven or so tracks I listened to, "Wax Ecstatic" outshone all of them. This raw, energetic, smack in the face is the song Sponge fans have been waiting for.

"`WaxEcstatic' is definitely going to be the first single off this record. People at the label are going crazy over this one!" said Patalan.

With the band definitely stretching out in many different directions, some Sponge fans may wonder if this record is even going to sound like the same band. The band members dismiss that notion by saying if they simply went out and recorded "Rotting Piñata, Part Two," they would be cheating themselves and their fans.