Unless you were frequenting New York City's alternative-music nightclubs at the dawn of the 1980s, you've probably never heard of the Cosmopolitans. And that's a real shame, because they were an amazingly fun little tangent of the new-wave era. "Wild Moose Party," "(How to Keep Your) Husband Happy" and their other Cosmpolitans chestnuts were lighter than air, evoking a smart-aleck punk-rock take on the girl-group era. And they also knew how to put on A Show, with costume changes and ace choreography.

While they were very much a New York phenomenon, the Cosmopolitans' one commercially released single did get airplay in some unexpected places. Glen Tig, who is now a psychotherapist who splits time between Carrboro and Vancouver, was a fan and friend of the Cosmopolitans. He remembers hearing "Husband Happy" on the BBC in London in early 1982.

"I remember being mesmerized by Laurie Anderson's hit 'O Superman,' which was No. 2 on the British charts at the time," Tig recalls. "And suddenly the tranquility was broken by the Cosmopolitans! I think it was probably the contrast of the two, Laurie's mystical tranquility followed by [the Cosmopolitans'] hilarious irreverence. That memory has stuck with me for 27 years. I loved it and still do."

Alas, the Cosmopolitans broke up later that same year and have not been heard from since. But they're back together for a reunion show that plays Cat's Cradle on Saturday, with fellow underground Tar Heel pop legends Don Dixon and Mitch Easter also on the bill. For much more on the reunion, check the feature in Sunday's paper. 

In the big picture of North Carolina rock history, the Cosmopolitans rank as little more than a footnote. But they're a pretty great little footnote, thanks to 1980's "(How To Keep Your) Husband Happy," one of the great obscure singles of the new-wave era. And for one night, at least, the Cosmopolitans will live again at a reunion show. The word from Jamie K. Sims:

Yes, it's a miracle. Got all musicians and club and allergies to agree on a date. This is the SOUTHERN reunion -- and I'll decide if I want to deal with NYC after we do this!

Unlike Spinal Tap, who will be touring as age appropriate adults (and without wigs), we will be making complete fools of ourselves attempting to do our exact medically accurate show with original choreography and costumes! I am working on a new song that addresses some important issues of this time, hoping it will be ready by then to premier.

Click here for a story on the Cosmopolitans from a few years back; then check out some vintage video goodness.

For years, Mitch Easter seemed  reluctant to play songs from his legendary 1980s band Let's Active. So Easter's recent willingness to revisit the Let's Active catalog onstage under the name Gravel Truck (a moniker cribbed from the title of an instrumental on 1984's masterwork "Cypress") is wonderful news. Gravel Truck plays tonight at The Cave in Chapel Hill; and as an added bonus, Jon Heames -- a veteran of Let's Active as well as Motorolla -- will sit in on drums for this show.

ADDENDUM (10/27/08): Review.

The Revolve Film & Music Festival gets underway tonight in Winston-Salem, continuing through the weekend with a cool schedule of independent films. For our purposes, the festival's main event happens Friday -- a show at the Werehouse in Winston-Salem featuring recently regrouped '80s-vintage new-wave band Pylon. But I'm more interested in opening act Gravel Truck, a Let's Active tribute band (named after a song on Let's Active's 1984 magnum opus "Cypress"). Since Gravel Truck consists of Let's Active main man Mitch Easter "and friends," and since Easter went many years without playing Let's Active songs at all, this one is highly recommended for North Carolina music history buffs.