Automatic 6-way “House Afire!” – SNERT Records, 1984
Automatic 6-way was a high-energy, post-punk/pop group from Iowa who had some regional success in the early 80’s. The group consisted of Purina Fortuna (Jane North) on vocals, Oscar Billy on guitar, Sufjan Johnson bass, Jenn Air on keyboards, and Cliff (Cliff Nixon) on drums. Much of the band’s fame can be traced to Purina Fortuna’s unique “Captain Beefheart meets Geddy Lee” voice.
The band self-released a few cassette EPs and 7″ records before recording their lone, full-length release “House Afire!,” on SNERT Records, in 1984. The album consists of both new and reworked tracks, including “Automatic Self,” which saw some airplay on regional stations.
Beyond “Automatic Self,” stand-out tracks include “Boisterous Monkey” and “Flaming Ostragoths,” all of which benefit from Purina’s startling vocals. The intricate interplay between the keyboards and bass on “Pork Weasel” is also noteworthy.
The band toured in support of the record during the spring of 1985 but only completed 5 shows before breaking up on stage, in Ducktown, TN. Sources inside the group claim tensions came to a head when Purina continually referred to Cliff as “Tricky Dick” on stage.
After the breakup, the members went their separate ways. Purina Fortuna quit music altogether and is now an Iowa county clerk. Oscar Billy and Sufjan Johnson both went into construction. They’ve stayed in touch and continue to play together in local bar bands. Cliff is rumored to have changed his name, gotten married, and moved to Spain. No one has seen Jenn Air since 1988.
