The Cosmopolitans

American new wave/garage rock/burlesque dance band, formed by Jamie K. Sims and Nel Moore and mainly active in New York City between 1979 and 1982. The Cosmopolitans released two singles in the United States and the UK, touring extensively across the East Coast. With the quirky, provocative live shows featuring go-go dancing, baton routines and buffoonish acts, Cosmopolitans created an original crossover between neo-cabaret aesthetics and pre-Riot grrrl raw, punk energy. The band reunited in the mid-2000s, producing two retrospective compilations and giving one "comeback" concert in August 2009 at Cat's Cradle club in Carrboro, North Carolina. Cosmopolitans began as the "North Carolina Progressive Dance Troop" at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1977, Sims and Moore relocated to New York City, changing the name to "Cosmopolitan Dance Troop" and struggling to find theatrical gigs on the highly-competitive scene. Two friends occasionally hosted go-go dancing lessons at Club 57 and began performing on stage with local bands and artists, including The dB's, The Fleshtones and Bobby Pickett. Encouraged by the success of these impromptu club appearances, Sims decided to give up choreography. By the spring of '79, The Cosmopolitans began performing in rock clubs locally, playing Jamie's original songs and popular covers, accompanied by pre-recorded instrumental tapes; they briefly became a trio, with Leslie Levinson joining Sims and Moore for a few months. In the summer of 1980, Sims and Moore returned to North Carolina to record a booking demo with an old friend Mitch Easter at his Drive-In Studio in Winston-Salem; they also invited Chris Stamey (guitars) and Will Rigby on drums. The group spread demo tapes around New York City, resulting in the release of the (How To Keep Your) Husband Happy 7" single on Alan Betrock's Shake Records in November 1980. The title track referred to an eponymous fitness/household advice '64 LP by Debbie Drake that Jamie Sims remembered from the mother's record collection; the B-side, "Wild Moose Party," was dedicated to her 22-pound cat. Both songs became popular at local dance clubs in New York and got rotation on WNEW-FM radio. In 1981, Albion Records re-released the band's hit single in the UK, backed with a new song, "Chevy Baby." They also appeared on Shake To Date LP compilation co-produced by Albion and Shake Records. Shortly after the debut 7" single, Sims and Moore invited additional members to play full-fledged live concerts without backing tapes, and Cosmopolitans now featured drummer Evan "Funk" Davies, guitarist David Itch and Jeff Dedrick (2) on keyboards. The band performed at some of New York's most prestigious venues, including Hurrah, Max's Kansas City, Mudd Club, New York, CBGB, The Ritz, New York, The Peppermint Lounge and Irving Plaza, New York, and toured along the East Coast. Despite the initial success, the Cosmopolitans disbanded in November 1982 after Jamie Sims got diagnosed with Epstein–Barr disease. In November 2003, Lee Joseph, head of California-based label Dionysus Records, contacted Sims and suggested a retrospective compilation with original Shake recordings plus unreleased studio and live tapes. The resulting Wild Moose Party – New Wave Pom Pom Girls Gone Go-Go, NYC 1980-1981 CD came out on Dionysus imprint Bacchus Archives in 2006. Three years later, the Cosmopolitans played a live reunion show — the first on-stage appearance in 27 years; the concert took place in August 2009 at Cat's Cradle club in Carrboro, a mile away from the band's UNC "alma mater." Four original members, Jamie Sims, Nel Moore, Mitch Easter and Evan "Funk" Davies, were joined by Don Dixon on bass. In June 2022, a Chicago-based boutique label, Beloved, presented Party Boy EP with two previously unreleased songs. The Cosmopolitans line-up Jamie K. Sims — vocals, keyboards, harmonica, tambourine, sticks, woodblock Nel Moore — vocals, harmonica, sticks, pan Mitch Easter — guitar, drums, backing vocals Faye Hunter, Lib Easter — backing vocals Live/guest & intermittent members Leslie Levinson — vocals Evan "Funk" Davies, Robert Crenshaw, Will Rigby, Neil Winograd — drums Chris Stamey, David Itch, Judy Monteleone — guitar Cathy Harrington — keyboards, vocals Jeff Dedrick (2) — organ, piano Corey Sims — trumpet, horns