IPO Boston 2014

 
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CLICK HERE to see IPO Boston 2014 Artist Yearbook Photos
 

Artists From Boston

 
1.4.5. – They take their name from the classic three chord progression that rock is built upon. They played many famous clubs in the early ‘80s (Max’s Kansas City, CBGB’s, The Rat, etc.) and were playing loud punk-pop with a three-piece lineup fronted by Paul Armstrong (also of The Flashcubes) while Green Day were still playing Little League! The band reformed after a 20 year hiatus to play IPO in 2007, and we’re always glad to have ‘em back!
 
Corin Ashley – A singer/songwriter who for several years was the driving force behind the hyper mod-pop band, The Pills. Ashley’s first solo album, Songs From The Brill Bedroom, is a stripped down, organic and homegrown affair which falls halfway between Neil Finn and Neil Young. His latest, New Lion Terraces, builds upon this simple foundation and interlaces it with gentle layers of intricate harmonies and instrumentation that will also appeal to fans of orchestrated soft pop. Not only is the music beautiful, but it also serves a beautiful cause, as a portion of the proceeds go to benefit Boston Children’s Hospital!
 
The Eric Barao Band – Long-time fans of Boston powerpop may remember Barao as a co-founder of local pop-darlings, The Cautions. In his latest project, he’s teamed up with some of the coolest musicians from the Boston pop underground to perform some of the best orchestrated Beatle-esque pop around! The “…long-awaited debut [self-titled] album blends clever lyrics with indelible melodies to form an instant powerpop classic” (Bandcamp.com) Fans of Jason Falkner and Bleu (who co-produced the album!) will also dig it!
 
Bedford Davis – Somewhere between new wave punk and indie-pop lies the artfully quirky and delightful melodies of Bedford Davis. Imagine The Shins covering The Talking Heads in a weird ‘80s movie starring David Bowie, and you get the picture!
 
The Brigands – The latest incarnation of this band of brothers (known as The Bouncers in the ‘80s) has been going strong under their family name since the late 1990s, rocking it up with their pulverizing mix of ‘70s and ‘80s Mass Ave. scene covers, as well as Brigands originals. A totally fun band who will appeal to fans of The Clash, The Ramones, and The New York Dolls! While their self-titled CD totally rocks, this is one band you will want to see live, so don’t miss their IPO showcase!
 
Brian Charles – Fans of Matthew Sweet and Myracle Brah will love his CD, Sadderdaydreaming. “The choruses on almost every track jump out of the speakers, forcing one to take notice, not to mention sing along uncontrollably” (Amplifier Magazine). He’s also quite the Renaissance man, as he owns a recording studio and has produced some of the bands playing IPO Boston!
 
Didn’t Planet – A four-piece rock/alt-rock band from Boston’s South Shore who started as a cover band, working the local circuit from Faneuil Hall to Block Island to the ski resorts of New Hampshire and Vermont, but have since turned to originals…and we’re glad they did. Fans of twangy powerpop will love their combination of solid rock sound and catchy hooks that you’ll hear on their recent album, We’re Goin’ Nowhere, and fans of great brain-teasers will love the challenge of listening to see how many name-checks of local landmarks you can catch in their lyrics!
 
Drunken Logic – Brewing an eclectic powder keg of alternative rock and indie-folk in their shoddy Boston apartments, Drunken Logic blend a myriad of influences with potent, topical lyrics. Since the 2013 release of their debut album, Something New to Burn, this quintet has rocked AT&T Park (home of the San Francisco Giants) and have been regularly featured performers at Faneuil Hall. Check out their energetic live show at IPO, and watch for their new album, Long Day’s Journey to the Middle, due out soon!
 
Dugway – A classic rock/indie band founded by Chris Considine and Blake Poore with an upbeat sound made to be played on the radio! If you like pop/folk/rock from the ‘60s, when melody & harmony ruled (and what self-respecting pop fan doesn’t?), Dugway is for you. But be forewarned – this is no retro band: their combination of influences, from ‘60s to ‘90s radio, and even a bit of hip-hop and reggae – gives them a fresh and unique sound all their own! Check out their album, The Up and Up, and hear for yourself!
 
Fireking – A band sired by former members of Figures On A Beach, who claim to be the “rock experience of the 21st Century.” The sound on their Live A Little, Love A Little CD falls somewhere between Face To Face-era Kinks and The Stooges’ Funhouse, and their performance at The Cavern at IPO Liverpool in 2005 had many of the locals begging for more! Speaking of “more”, they will have mixed their upcoming album by the time you read this!
 
Fox Pass – A veteran Boston pop/rock band with an enigmatic name and fortuitous mystique! Their music is a blend of rootsy Americana and power pop, with multiple lead singers, three-part harmonies, upbeat inspiring songs with clever lyrics, and jingle jangle airy guitars over driving rhythms…and you have to love when a band’s latest release is a double LP on CD, as they’ve done with Intemporel! Buy it now!
 
Modern Day Idols – A power trio who combine gritty indie rock with powerpop hooks, MDI was born of their mutual love for honest, memorable, melodic, and energetic rock and the collective desire to spread that love to all within earshot! Their debut CD, Almost Glad To See You, will appeal to fans of fellow Boston rockers Sidewalk Driver, Watts, and Airport, to name but a few!
 
Arthur Nasson – A rock Renaissance man with seven albums to his credit, Nasson seamlessly shifts from quirky Dylan-esque folk to art rock, jazz, and Beatle-esque powerpop….sometimes in the same song (several of which have been picked up by MTV)! Fans of ELO and The Cars will also dig this stuff!
 
Michael Oliver & The Sacred Band – Yin and Yanxiety, Oliver’s latest album, is a touchingly personal collection of intelligent pop and rock songs reminiscent of Matthew Sweet, Marshall Crenshaw, REM and even The Archies! It is an emotional meditation on the past, filled with beautifully crafted songs that glisten, glow, and grandly unfold, with vocals lingering and lyrics resonating long after the songs have faded.
 
Richie Parsons – Bittersweet powerpop with a just the right amount of country-fied jangle is what you will find on Honey and Tears, the latest disc from Parsons and his band, which has been receiving rave reviews. Fans of Marshall Crenshaw, The Jayhawks, and The Replacements will eat this stuff up for breakfast!
 
The Pomps – A local quartet who bring their infectious blend of powerpop, reggae, and soul to IPO! Their songs on their recent Top Of The Pomps! CD are sure to put a smile on your face, as they also throw in a dash of humor in their lyrics. As fun as they are on CD, we can’t wait to see them play live!
 
Powderhouse – With a sound that combines alt-country, garage rock, power pop and classic rock, Powderhouse is not unlike a combination of Kathleen Edwards, Liz Phair and Beth Orton fronting Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers. Check out their latest EP, Life in Black and White, and hear for yourself!
 
John Powhida – Long a fixture in the Boston music scene, Powhida is a multiple Boston Music Award nominee whose songs have been featured on network TV series, such as My Name Is Earl and Men In Trees. His latest project, The John Powhida International Airport, is a potent six-piece rock, disco, soul, and pop fusion entertainment unit of the highest original order, whose latest album, Airport Life, will also appeal to fans of folk rock, electronica, and orchestrated pop!
 
Sinnet – Their forte is shimmering “indie jams” with cool chord changes and harmonies, and influences such as Neutral Milk Hotel, Wilco, Simon & Garfunkel, and Phil Spector (a dinner with all of those people would be fun to attend)! Alternately light and dark, the tunes on their latest EP, Year Of The Whale, will infiltrate your brain and never let go!
 
Trick Wallace Trio – A power pop trio meets jazz trio all-in-one! As if that wasn’t enough, they also throw in a bit of punk and grunge. Truly a unique band that you must experience for yourself, and we’re thrilled to have them back to kick off the festivities for IPO Boston yet again!
 
 

U.S. Artists From Outside Of Boston

 
The Lannie Flowers Band – Although he and the band hail from the great state of Texas, they’ve done what no other artist in the history of the LA Music Awards has done…namely, taking home four awards from last year’s event in November! Flowers’ latest studio CD, New Songs, Old Stories, picks up where his earlier disc, Circles, left off, but rocks even harder, and the band’s latest, Live In NYC, shows why you must see them in person! Badfinger-esque in-your-face guitars and vocal harmonies blend with softer shifting harmonies more reminiscent of XTC, but that fans of artists from The Raspberries to The Velvet Underground will be sure to appreciate! We also appreciate that he and his band have played the IPO festival in many cities throughout the world and continue to do so, with no sign of slowing down!
 
Zac Mac Band – If Tom Petty and The Killers had a baby it would be the Zac Mac Band! Chelmsford-based ZMB offers songs with catchy hooks and infectious melodies, and a sound that can range from dark and moody synth driven ballads to bright and uplifting fast-paced alternative rock. They’ve already got two full length albums to their credit, and are hard at work on a third, which may even be available by the time of their IPO show, so watch for it!
 
The Tripping Souls – A cool slice of indie rock meets Brit pop from Concord, New Hampshire, “…the mature jam rock [on their debut self-titled EP] is reminiscent of the post-Nirvana mid-‘90s scene with a hint of a ‘70s Brit-pop-punk hybrid.” (Ben Conant, The Concord Insider) Their brand new Don’t Waste Your Life CD will be available by the time you read this! Fans of Paul Weller, Oasis and The Beatles will dig it!
 
Wizard Farm Music – A collective from Hartford, Connecticut who weave beautiful sonic waves for your aural enjoyment. Their debut self-titled CD is a magical fusion of psychedelica, pop, and rock – with a few surprises thrown in for good measure! This is one show you will not want to miss!
 
 

International Artists

 
Dave Rave – He began popping very powerfully indeed a near quarter century ago as part of the legendary Canadian bands Teenage Head and The Shakers, and has often been referred to as “The Canadian Nick Lowe.” In addition to being one of the most entertaining and hardworking powerpoppers around, he’s also been known to display his jazzy side on several collaborations with fellow Canadian singer/songwriter, Mark McCarron. His recent CD, Live With What You Know, was nominated for a Grammy, as was one of its songs, “Anne Marie”!! He’s played nearly every IPO for nearly four years running (including as many as 50 in a row!), and we look forward to many more. Thank you, Dave!!
 
The Stanleys – Meeting and forming the band over Myspace, Australia’s Mark Di Renzo (Gigantic) and Jamie Horsburgh collaborated with Norway’s Tomas Dahl (Turbonegro), eventually hitting studios in Oslo, Paris, Perth and Sydney to track their first generation of songs. Their debut, The Always EP, is an infectious slice of powerpop that will appeal to fans of classic bands such as The Cars and Cheap Trick! They’ve been locked in studios in Australia and Europe tinkering away on their debut album but are breaking on out for their 5th tour of the USA, the Start Your Engines Tour, and we’re thrilled that IPO can be a part of it!