Cuppa Joe hosts Tom Pitts and Carmela Thompson from SF punk vets Short Dogs Grow this coming Monday, September 8th at 7pm to talk about their first new record in almost 40 years, Quit While You’re Young, and the free show they’re playing Saturday, September 13th at the Kilowatt in SF.
Short Dogs Grow is an American alternative rock group, based in San Francisco, CA. Tom Pitts (guitar/vocals/songwriter) and Carmela Thompson (bass) started Short Dogs Grow in a Victorian flat in San Francisco. Joe Pethoud (drums) and Marc Heathfield (vocals) quickly filled out the lineup. Marc left in 1986 and Greg Foot joined, adding another guitar and vocals. Joe left in 1987 and was replaced by George Fenley.
The band self-released a cassette in 1985, and was signed to Rough Trade records in 1987. They released two LPs and then disbanded in 1990. The band reunited 3 times with all original members -2008 for a celebration of the Chatterbox bar, 2009 for a bike messenger reunion, and in 2012 for bass player Carmela’s wedding. Sadly, George passed away April 10th, 2013. He is greatly missed. Short Dogs have always remained friends and are currently writing and recording new material and playing occasional gigs with legendary SF drummer Chewy Marzolo on drums.
