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Sugar Stems “Only Come Out at Night”

sfilzen — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 17:50:48 +0000

Sugar Stems “Only Come Out at Night” 2014. Dirtnap Records. Power pop from Milwaukee. We caught a solo set by singer/guitarist Betsy Heibler (aka Betsy Vox) last weekend at Dirtnap Fest where she played a selection of Sugar Stems songs. Only Come Out at Night was the band’s fourth, and I believe final, LP. It’s roughly jangled pop with lots of nods to 60’s pop and garage (organ/keyboards courtesy of Andy Harris formerly of Goodnight Loving) and a wall-of-sound production style. I’m not sure if I didn’t notice on the other Sugar Stems records we have or if it’s just this LP but Betsy’s voice often has a very Liz Phair style which adds another layer to its alt vibe. My top tracks include the rocking title track “We Only Come Out at Night,” the raw and raucous “Run Run Rabbit,” the ass-shaking “Radio Heartthrob” and “Haunted” on which one of the male members of the band takes leads on vocals (not sure who though). Since most of these tracks have a razor sharp and sweet edge – and I’m not very familiar with the Stems’ catalog – I’m not sure what, if any, of these tracks Besty performed at her set…but it sure was lovely.

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Sugar Stems “Sweet Sounds of the…”

sfilzen — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 20:54:04 +0000

Sugar Stems “Sweet Sounds of the…” 2010. Bubbly upbeat power pop out of our town, Milwaukee, and, a bit oddly, this copy (their first full-length) is an import on Bachelor Records from Austria; other releases are on the Milwaukee-based Dusty Medical Records. Later releases by Sugar Stems are on Dusty Medical as well as another now-Wisconsin-previously-Portland-based Dirtnap Records. Anyway! It’s super-catchy, hooky and bright, nods to the 60′s girl-group pop sound and with two women in the band (lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Betsy Heibler and bassist Stephanie Conard, both previous members of The Flips) and that sound, comparisons to the Go-Go’s are inescapable. The two men in the band are Drew Fredrichsen (Jetty Boys) on lead guitar and Jon Heibler (Teenage Rejects, Catholic Boys, others) on drums. My top tracks are “I Don’t Wanna Be Around You Anymore,” “Wake Up” and “I Gotta Know.” I was just now going to write that I didn’t think I had ever seen Sugar Stems play live but as I was digging around on YouTube I found this video of them playing “I Gotta Know” in 2009 at the Pumpkin Pavilion event, something that we attend every year because it’s in the park less than 2 blocks from our house. So I probably did see them and also my memory clearly sucks.

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Sugar Stems “Sugar Stems n’ Friends”

sfilzen — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 17:04:46 +0000

Sugar Stems “Sugar Stems n’ Friends” 2013. Dusty Medical Records. Recorded live at the University of Milwaukee Zelazo Center, recorded and engineered for live broadcast on WMSE 91.7 in Milwaukee as part of the station’s MKE Unplugged series.

I’m not familiar with Sugar Stems’ other releases so this all-acoustic live recording gives me my only glimpse into what sounds like bright, poppy rock. I was able to find one song from this LP in its non-acoustic form on Bandcamp, “Like I Do,” and it’s a great 60′s-meets-the-GoGo’s tinged rocker.

From Dusty Medical Records’ Facebook press release blurb:

Proof positive that change CAN be good, “Stems’n’Friends”, the new LP from Milwaukee, WI’s pop kings and queens Sugar Stems strips down their amped-up take on power-pop with no loss of intensity or energy.

Recorded at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in February of 2013 as part of radio station WMSE’s “MKE Unplugged” series of live broadcasts, “Stems’n’Friends” finds the band utilizing acoustic guitars as well as keyboards, xylophone, and additional vocalists to produce a sonic tapestry of upbeat, melodic joyousness. Incorporating tracks from both of Sugar Stems’ LP’s (“Sweet Sounds of the Sugar Stems” and “Can’t Wait”), “Stems’n’Friends” serves as both a fantastic introduction to this irrepressible band and as a great addition to the collections of those already familiar with their glittering pop greatness.

“Friends” include Andy Harris (of the Goodnight Loving and Phylums) on keyboards, Tabman (of Holy Shit! and Phylums) on xylophone, and vocalists Katie Harris and Claire Carlson. Although not originally intended for release, Sugar Stems were pleased enough with the recording to approach Milwaukee’s Dusty Medical Records about pressing it on vinyl. “Stems’n’Friends” will be released in a STRICTLY limited edition of 300 copies, never to be repressed.

If you’re familiar with Sugar Stems you’ll know this already, but this is stellar pop music, played by one of the foremost practitioners of the genre. Don’t sleep on this one.

Recorded live at UWM on 2/21/13 for WMSE’s MKE Unplugged series

Sugar Stems:
Betsy – vocals, acoustic guitar
Drew – acoustic guitar, vocals
Steph – electric bass
Jon – drums

Friends:
Andy Harris (Goodnight Loving, Phylums) – keyboards
Tabman (Holy Shit!, Phylums) – tambourine, xylophone
Katie Harris – vocals
Claire Carlson – vocals

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