The Space Cossacks, Washington, D.C.'s premier instrumental surf combo, formed in early 1996. The group consists of guitarists Ivan "StratoCossack" Pongracic and Mark English, bassist Catherine Gray, and drummer Doug Hoekstra. Two years of touring the East Coast led to their debut album Interstellar Stomp, which was released on MuSick Recordings in April of 1998. Their second album Tsar Wars (2000) picks up right where Interstellar Stomp left off; Interstellar Stomp is an enhanced CD with a Tsar Wars novella by Jamie Miles (with illustrations by Steve Blickenstaff). ~ Zac Johnson