San Mateo anglophiles Rich and Tom Martin pursued a different musical path to many after the Beatles epiphany they shared with millions of other American teenagers in 1964.
Smitten by The Who and The Move rather than Stones and Kinks they formed the Bay Area’s only mod band, even braving its psychedelic peak with obscure Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich covers.
In their early days, the trio were fronted by New Zealand singer Ray Columbus, who named them The Art Collection, recording tracks including garage classic Kick Me (I Think I’m Dreaming).
By 1968 the Martins had become the explosive Powder, backing Sonny and Cher, signing with the pair’s management and recording an unreleased album of quirky anglophile power pop before going acoustic under their own names after the drummer quit.
With lilting ’66 Who-style harmonies, drummer Bill Schoppe’s Keith Moon-like avalanches, amped up guitar assaults and heists of Gimme Some Lovin’, Powder stood as one of the great lost West Coast bands until some of their tracks were released in the 90s.
Ka-Pow! An Explosive Collection: 1967-1968 (2014) finally provided a grab-bag of their whole recorded output, including demos, obscurities, and unreleased songs.
Rich Martin
Vocals, guitar
Tom Martin
Vocals, bass, guitar
Bill Schoppe
Drums
