Dino Jr/Cobra Verde/Witch = Supergroup!

Mascis from Dinosaur Jr, Petkovic from Cobra Verde and Sweetapple from Witch Sets late March date for album release by Sweet Apple.

By Blurt Staff

Sweet Apple - an indie rock supergroup comprising members of Dinosaur Jr, Cobra Verde and Witch - will be issuing their debut album Love and Desperation via Tee Pee on March 30.

As the legend goes, the band was born "by accident and friendshipi, out of death, and after a cross-country drive. Singer-guitarist John Petkovic got in his car heading eastward days after the passing of his mother -- to smoke cigarettes, listen to music and clear his head. He didn't even know where he was going or where he'd end up.

He ended up in New England, the home of long-time friends Dave Sweetapple and J. Mascis, who told John to start writing some songs so they could start a band. Within weeks, and after recruiting Cobra Verde guitarist Tim Parnin they started working on an album.

The result is Love and Desperation. The 12-song disc casts a wide net, reflecting the disparate sounds of all their bands:  catchy power-pop, crushing rock and wounded ballads.

"I hadn't even played the guitar for months," says Petkovic. "And then, out of the blues, there were all these songs just coming out."

Recorded in Cleveland and Massachusetts, "Love and Desperation" was mixed by John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth and The Hold Steady) and Don Depew (Cobra Verde, Guided by Voices).

"I tell people that I saved John's life by starting this band," says Mascis. "But they don't believe me."

Sweet Apple is currently working on a video for the opening track, "Do You Remember," a driving, rock anthem. The band plans to tour and perform at South by Southwest.