The Soviettes

The Soviettes were a punk rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded in 2001. The group is composed of Annie (guitar), Sturgeon (guitar), Susy (bass guitar), and Danny (drums), all of whom share singing duties.

The Soviettes
The Soviettes playing a reunion show in 2010. Left to right: Susy, Danny, Annie, Sturgeon.
Background information
OriginMinneapolis, Minnesota, United States
GenresPunk rock, pop punk[1]
Years active2001–2006, 2010-2011
LabelsAdeline, Fat Wreck Chords, Dirtnap, Crustacean, Pop Riot
Associated actsThe Awesome Snakes, That's Incredible, The Gateway District, International Robot, The God Damn Doo Wop Band, France Has The Bomb[2]
WebsiteThe Soviettes on Facebook
MembersAnnie "Sparrows" Holoien
Susy Sharp
Maren "Sturgeon" Macosko
Danny Henry
Past membersMikey "Erg" Yannich
Lane Pederson

History

Annie and Susy, both natives of Fargo, North Dakota, moved to Minneapolis around 2000 where they met Bill Morrisette of Dillinger Four. He suggested that they start a band with his girlfriend, Sturgeon, and were practicing with Dillinger Four's Lane Pederson filling in on drums by 2001.[3] The name originates from when Annie was serving coffee at a previous job, a customer offered "your band should be called The Soviettes" instead of a tip.[4] The band recorded their first EP, T.C.C.P., the same year. Soon Annie found Danny Henry to play with them permanently.[5]

In 2003, The Soviettes released the first LP entitled LP on Adeline Records of Oakland, California.

In 2004, the band released their second LP entitled LP II, again on Adeline Records. The band was then noticed by Fat Wreck Chords in San Francisco, California and was shortly after signed with the label. The band released the song "Paranoia! Cha-Cha-Cha" for the compilation album Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1.

On June 28, 2005, the band's third LP entitled LP III was released on Fat Wreck Chords.

The members of The Soviettes have maintained a friendship with rapper P.O.S, and are referenced in "Crispin Glover" from his 2005 single "P.O.S. Is Ruining My Life". They also gained an association with the Minnesota RollerGirls with the single "Roller Girls" about the organization with backing vocals from some of the girls.[6]

They toured the United States extensively at the end of 2005 with Fat Wreck label-mates Against Me!, the Epoxies, and Smoke or Fire.

Breakup

After April 2006 the band went on hiatus indefinitely and, at the time, the members doubted the band would reform at all. Susy has since moved to Los Angeles, California.[7]

"I don't know why we broke up," said Danny Henry in 2007, "It was pretty natural. Bands are relationships, they're just more complicated because it's a four-way deal." [8]

Post Soviettes

Since The Soviettes' hiatus, Annie and Danny have continued playing music together as the punk rock duo The Awesome Snakes. Sturgeon now plays in The Gateway District with Carrie (who also played with Sturgeon in The Salteens), as well as Nate from Banner Pilot and Brad from Dear Landlord (both of whom also played in Rivethead). Annie also performs with the God Damn Doo Wop Band.

Reunions

The band reunited in 2010 for some shows. The first was on March 18, 2010 at Eclipse Records in St. Paul, MN. Next was March 19, 2010 at the Turf Club in St. Paul, MN. Both shows were record release shows for their Rarities album, released for free on Red Sound Records.[9][10]

They also played at the Soda Bar in San Diego, CA on Sept 4th, 2010 as part of "Awesome Fest 4".[11]

On October 29, 2010 the band played at The Atlantic in Gainesville, FL as part of "Fest 9".

The band played 2 more shows in 2010, one at the Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis, MN on 11/12/2010 and another at Reggie's Rock Club, Chicago, IL on 11/13/2010, the latter opening for The Methadones on their final show.

The band was scheduled to participate in "Weasel Fest", supporting Screeching Weasel at Reggie's Rock Club, Chicago, IL on 05/29/2011 but dropped off the bill following Ben Weasel's behavior at SXSW 2011.[12] They did play at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on 05/27/2011.

The band also played a live show at San Francisco's Bottom of the Hill Club on August 31, 2011.

Members
ANNIE plays guitar

STURGEON plays guitar
DANNY plays drums
SUSY plays bass

everybody sings

The Soviettes, LP II liner notes (2004)[13]

Current members

  • Annie "Sparrows" Holoien - guitar, vocals
  • Susy Sharp - bass, vocals
  • Maren "Sturgeon" Macosko - guitar, vocals
  • Danny Henry - drums, vocals

Past members

Discography

Albums
Title Release date Notes Label
LP 17 June 2003 Rereleased on vinyl in 2005 by Crustacean Records. Adeline
LP II 13 April 2004 Vinyl released by Learning Curve Records later that year. Adeline
LP III 28 June 2005 220 albums released on pink vinyl. Fat Wreck Chords
Rarities 16 March 2010 A collection of b-sides and rarities Red Sound Records

EPs and singles
Title Release date Notes Label
T.C.C.P. 11 May 2002 Released as a 7" vinyl only. Pop Riot
"Alright" 12 October 2004 B-side: "Plus One" Dirtnap
"Roller Girls" 23 August 2005 B-side: "Say So" Fat Wreck Chords

Splits
Title Release date Notes Label
The Soviettes/Valentines EP 5 November 2002 Pop Riot
The Havenot's/The Soviettes 2003 As both a four track vinyl distributed in the US and a six
track CD released only in Japan on Star Jets Records		 Nice & Neat

Compilations
Title Release date Soviettes Tracks Label
No Hold Back... All Attack!!! 2002 Twin Cities Sound Havoc Records and Distribution
Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 04/20/2004 ¡Paranoia! Cha-Cha-Cha Fat Wreck Chords
Protect: A Benefit for ... 10/18/2005 Middle of the Night Fat Wreck Chords
21st Century Power Pop Riot 06/06/2006 Goodbye to You (vocal by Annie) Red Scare Industries

Reception
  • "The Minneapolis quartet make songs that are loud, raw and clock in at under 2 minutes. They punch you in the gut and make you feel happy for the pain." (Rod Harmon, Sarasota Herald-Tribune)[15]
  • "Every song on LP III is under three minutes long and recalls the upbeat antics of the Ramones and, more recently, the Donnas." (Jessica Grose, SPIN)[16]
  • "The Soviettes are an instant party, and the second they hit the stage you've received your invitation. You can't help but get caught up in their immediate infectious energy." (Jason White, Thrasher)[17]

References
  1. Silver, Kate (October 9, 2006). "Pretty in Pinko - Smashing the state of punk rock with Minneapolis' Soviettes". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  2. Jensen, Christopher Matthew (Apr 2, 2008). "France Has the Bomb, but no leader". Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  3. Scholtes, Peter (11 June 2003). "Red, White, & Blonde: The Liberty, Equality, and Sorority of the Soviettes". City Pages. 24 (1175). Archived from the original on 25 December 2010.
  4. "The Soviettes". Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  5. Marsh, Steve (September 18, 2002). "The Revolution Will Be Illustrated". City Pages. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011.
  6. "Vinyl". Minnesota Rollergirls Online Store. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  7. "Awesome Snakes - Venom". Archived copy. Archived from the original on 2007-07-02. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  8. Scholtes, Peter S. (September 19, 2007). "The Curse". City Pages. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011.
  9. "The Soviettes reunite for rarities album and show - Minneapolis / St. Paul Music - Gimme Noise". Archived from the original on 2010-11-10. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  10. "Red Sound Records - Free Music For The People". Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  11. "San Diego Punk - Awesome Fest Schedule". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  12. Yancey, Byrne (March 21, 2011). "The Soviettes, Chinese Telephones, Teenage Bottlerocket drop from Weasel Fest". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  13. LP II (booklet). The Soviettes. Oakland, CA: Adeline Records. 2004. p. 6. AR032.CS1 maint: others (link)
  14. Green, Loren (Dec 22, 2012). "Interviews: The Soviettes (Fest 11)". Scene Point Blank. Retrieved Oct 6, 2014.
  15. Harmon, Rod (August 6, 2004). "Soviettes tear down punk wall". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  16. Grose, Jessica (July 5, 2005). "Artist of the Day - the Soviettes". SPIN. Archived from the original on May 10, 2007. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  17. White, Jason (August 1, 2004). "The Soviettes". Thrasher. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
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