A Note on "Live" Recordings
This album is presented as a "live" recording from its respective venue (e.g., The Crucible or The Norfolk Scope). The tracklist, banter, and crowd energy reflect the band's story at that specific moment in time.
This "live" sound was created by Michael Ragsdale (as Director) and Gemini (as Co-Producer) using Suno AI. We used the "Cover" function to re-record studio tracks with specific "live" style prompts. Post-production was done in GarageBand to enhance audience sounds and layer in crowd effects, creating the final stadium atmosphere.
Live in Chicago
The 1990 "Stop-Gap" EP
Released in 1990 to capitalize on the Neon Hearts tour, this live EP is a snapshot of the band at the height of their "cold war" with Apex Records.
The 26-minute runtime features a strictly studio-mandated setlist of "safe" synth-pop tracks. However, the mix is infamous: Apex engineers intentionally buried Cassidy's signature "Stardust" synth leitmotifs deep in the background, attempting to suppress her contribution to the sound.
Tracklist & Lyrics
Exhibit A: The "Smoking Gun"
Track 1 ("The Stardust Engine") became the central piece of evidence in the 1994 Friction trial. In the intro, Ryan explicitly introduces Cassidy as "my sister, Cassidy!"
This 10-second clip proved definitively that executive Julian Vance's defense—that he "didn't know" they were siblings when he demanded the Friction concept—was a lie. He had never bothered to listen to his own label's release.
The Vetoed Setlist
Noticeably absent are the band's true fan-favorites: "Chain Reaction," "Not Your Doll," and the sacred CPI anthem "Ignition."
As the opening act with a strict 30-minute slot, Apex Records explicitly banned these heavier rock songs, refusing to let the "Engine" roar for a pop audience.
