EPK: Sweet Fatality

It’s been a lot of years since Neil Young’s manager Elliot Roberts contacted Ryan Sexton to see if he could turn some demos into an album. The band Sexton formed for the task became The Customers, and the assuredly punk album, “Green Bottle Thursday,” became the debut release on Young’s then fledgling Vapor Records. There’s been a ton of shows since, and a bunch of songs waiting to be made; the timing just hasn’t been right… until now.

SWEET FATALITY is that album. 10 songs mired in the pathos of failed existences, unrequited pursuits of knowledge, and a hesitant yearning for answers- the underpinnings of everything resting tenuously in the realization that such answers may not exist.

Produced by Kevin Bowe (Etta James/Paul Westerberg), “Sweet Fatality” is a collection of post-punk musings and alternative Americana featuring a swaggering array of artists including Daniel Murphy (Soul Asylum/The Scarlet Goodbye), Terrance J. Fisher (Run Westy Run), Ivan Julian (Richard Hell and the Voidoids), Patricia Lacy (Luther Vandross), and Minneapolis phenoms John Eller, Terry Isachsen, Peter Anderson, Pat Frederick, and Noah Levy among others. The result is an astonishing musical tapestry wound in and around Sexton’s laconic vocals and rhythm guitar.

About The Customers

The Customers are a rock band formed in Los Angeles, CA in 1995 by Ryan Sexton. A demo of Sexton’s songs found its way onto the desk of Neil Young’s manager, Elliot Roberts, who was then in the process of launching Young’s fledgling label, Vapor Records. Roberts enquired as to whether a band might be formed to support the songs, and The Customers were born.

The band spent two weeks that summer recording at Jackson Browne’s Groove Masters Studio in Santa Monica. Their debut album Green Bottle Thursday, a vibrant and melodic, guitar-laden collection of songs was the result. After making the festival circuit in Europe- playing bills that included Neil Young and Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, and Bjork, The Customers occupied the next two years touring US and Canada with Ben Folds Five, The Meices, playing several opening slots for Iggy Pop, as well as an appearance on The Conan O’Brien Show.

After moving back to Minneapolis (Sexton’s hometown) in 2000, The Customers released the five song EP Severybuddyappy which included the college-friendly “Until Now.” A bunch of years passed while Sexton pursued other interests, but writing songs nevertheless. In 2022, he teamed up with renowned Minneapolis producer, Kevin Bowe, to make the post-punk/Americana LP, Sweet Fatality. The album features appearances by Daniel Murphy (Soul Asylum/The Scarlet Goodbye), Terrance J. Fisher (Run Westy Run), Ivan Julian (Richard Hell and the Voidoids), Patricia Lacy (Luther Vandross), and Minneapolis phenoms John Eller, Terry Isachsen, Peter Anderson, Pat Frederick, Ian Prince, and Noah Levy.

The band is set to go back into the studio to record a new EP tentatively titled “Living Like Gods.” The record will be produced by Daniel Murphy (Soul Asylum/The Scarlet Goodbye).
(Learn more about current members.)

Sweet Fatality

  • 1-One Delight (2:45)              
  • 2-Duel (2:15)*                            
  • 3-Collide and Cry (3:40)*          
  • 4-Maybe Wednesday (3:59)*   
  • 5-Forgot the Reason (3:13)         
  • 6-Chain or Disguise (3:43)*
  • 7-Sweet Fatality (3:33)
  • 8-The Game (3:32)*
  • 9-All Over Town (3:04)
  • 10-Everything (4:58)
    *suggested tracks: 2, 3, 4, 6, 8
    +all tracks FCC clean
    Get lyrics and musicians for each song

photos by Stephanie Birch:
download hi res image (left) – download hi res image (right)

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Publicity: Krista Vilinskis, Elephants & Flowers Media / elephantsandflowersmedia@gmail.com / 612 242 1727