IPO Philadelphia 2018

 
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CLICK HERE to see IPO Philadelphia 2018 Artist Yearbook Photos
 
 

Artists From In and Around Philadelphia

 
The Afraid Brigade – With a background in comic illustration, lead singer Joe Ruff set out to make a band that was firmly grounded in the world of pulp fantasy. Full of bright guitar solos and anthemic harmonies, The Afraid Brigade is dark, catchy, irreverent and beautiful. It’s Indie-Fantasy Rock n’ Roll!
 
The GTV’s – After local garage rock heroes Mondo Topless called it a day in 2011, keyboard man and group leader Sam Steinig wasted no time launching a new project, and the GTVs show he’s taken his love of cool sounds from the past and headed out in a new direction. On their debut album, Sh’Bang!, the GTVs start with the raunchy guitars and booming drums of vintage garage rock and fuse them with classic soul and R&B influences. The latest incarnation of the band (Patrick Crowling: Bass, Ron Wandover: Drums, and Vince Duane: Guitar) can hold down the backbeat, heat up the dance floor, or push these songs into high gear as the situation demands.
 
Cliff Hillis & The Forward Thinkers – One of the Philadelphia area music scene’s favorite sons, Hillis has long been a favorite of hardcore power pop fans worldwide, drawing comparisons to Matthew Sweet, Bread, Elvis Costello, and every great pop artist in between, but has been making a name for himself nationally since the release of his critically acclaimed Better Living Through Compression CD. His recent EP, Many Happy Returns, features his clear vocals backed by lush instrumentation, driving guitars and floating synth sounds. Very cool!
 
E. Joseph and The Sparrows – One of the regular band monikers of local composer singer songwriter, Ed Neenan, who also has been known to appear as a solo artist, as leader of his other regular project, The Phantom Heart, or playing keyboards and guitars in other local acts, such as Wooden Hez and Stellarscope. His sweeping cinematic compositions with psychedelic flourishes will appeal to fans of Prince, Pink Floyd, Bowie and The Who – check out his latest EP, GloryGram vol Three, and his IPO showcase to see and hear for yourself!
 
Chris Kudela – A high-energy singer-songwriter who delivers lyric-driven power pop that speaks to both the head and the heart. His influences run the gamut from early favorites, such as KISS, Zeppelin, and The Clash, to a more mature and varied palette including artists such as The Replacements, Big Star, Elvis Costello, and Neil Finn, as well as alt-country and bluegrass. His 6-song EP, Write It Over, will appeal to fans of any of the above and anyone who likes hook-laden indie-rock!
 
The Paper Jets – Eschewing the epic bombast and hard-edged emo-punk that often defines the state, The Paper Jets deliver their own brand of pop-based alt-rock – an eclectic, melody-focused sound with the power to move, both physically and emotionally. Their critically acclaimed debut album, We Are All Strange Friends, earned them a spot in Jersey Beat’s Top 20 NJ Albums of the Year in 2013, and they’ve since been nominated (twice!) as the Best Alt/Indie Rock Band at the Asbury Music Awards. Their second full-length album, Everyday Forever, is due out in December, and combines the punkish alt-rock of early Weezer with the anthemic power and ambitious songwriting of The Who, the pop sensibility and giant hooks of The Beach Boys, and the hard-rock guitar heroics of Van Halen. Check out their IPO showcase for a preview!
 
Smash Palace – With their 12th CD, Right As Rain, Smash Palace continue to do what they do best… ‘60s jangle rock, ‘70s rock swagger, ‘80s power pop, ‘90s Brit-rock all rolled into a contemporary style that’s all their own. It’s like listening to songs you know but haven’t heard before. It’s the sound of a band that’s the real deal; a dedicated outfit that’s paid its dues and continues to create some of the best melodic rock ‘n roll you’ll ever hear. As a testament to this fact, the sound engineer mixing them when they played IPO Liverpool at The Cavern Club in 2005 was heard to exclaim “These are great!” Zip Records label owner Art Herman apparently agreed, as he signed them shortly after seeing that appearance! But wait…there’s more…acclaimed local singer songwriter Cliff Hillis is now also part of the band, adding his vocal and guitar talents for an extra helping of harmonious jangle!
 
Jon Smith’s Voyages – Often compared to David Bowie, Queen, and Meat Loaf, the music from Jon Smith’s Voyages encompasses theatrical elements throughout eclectic (and sometimes quirky) arrangements. The Reading-based “band” is comprised only of Jon Smith, as he sings all vocals, plays over 15 instruments, and writes all the songs on the band’s debut album, Indeed. With thoughtful lyrics, unique arrangements, and a dynamic vocal range, he’s likely to captivate many a fan!
 
SOMERDALE – A power trio to the core, SOMERDALE are all about great songwriting with hooks galore, written by and for power pop lovers of all shapes and sizes. On their third full length album, Shake It Up Maggie, they throw on the wall the introspective songwriting of Badfinger, the frenetic energy of The Who, the gorgeous harmonies of The Beatles and the quirky playfulness of Fountains of Wayne, and end up with what you might expect – a very fun, very catchy, slice of well crafted ‘70s-tinged pop music!
 
Walkabouts – An eclectic mix of ‘80s frat rock, ‘70s power pop, and ‘90s indie-rock, liberally laced with quirky chord changes, sticky hooks, and soaring harmonies. Imagine Zappa jamming with Steely Dan and REM…or better yet, check out their recent Spirit Animals album and their IPO Showcase!
 
 

U.S. Artists From Outside of Philadelphia

 
Jay Bird and Haley Bee – A guitar and keyboard-based duo from Meadville, PA, with influences including The Beatles, Radiohead, Nick Drake, Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, Chopin, and Debussy. They perform classical, pop, rock and more for any occasion, and are starting to gain attention from film and television music supervisors. We look forward to welcoming them to their first IPO!
 
Brenyama – The brainchild and collaboration of Maki, from Miki City Japan, and Richard, of Highland Park, NJ, Brenyama delivers ultra fun power pop with a touch of ‘60s garage and ‘90s alternative. Produced by Kurt Reil at The House of Vibes, their latest album, Euphoria Love, includes 12 tracks aiming to capture the fun and simplicity of early rock ‘n roll with the buzzing raw energy of power pop. Check it out now!
 
Parthenon Huxley – We’re honored to welcome this Bethesda, Maryland-based singer/songwriter/producer and ‘90s American power pop icon back to IPO after too long an absence! His P. Hux Deluxe is still considered a classic of the genre, and that, along with two of his other albums, all received Album of the Year awards from Rolling Stone. “I Loved Everything” from his album Purgatory Falls even climbed to #1 on Rolling Stone‘s Exclusive Download Chart! His brand new album, This Is The One, has The ELO II and Orchestra member back at his hooky melodic best, and we can’t wait to see him do his thing live!
 
The Slang – A Washington DC-based alternative/power pop rock band who write and sing about common topics from their uncommon perspective. Their talents have earned them invitations to several premier music conferences including MPMF, NXNE, IPO and CMJ, and their songs have been used in several mainstream outlets, including HBO, USA network, and Troma Films. Their latest album, Night and Day, was mixed and produced by Russ Long (Wilco, Sixpence None the Richer), and will appeal to fans of those bands as well as Killers, Muse, and other fine purveyors of hard-hitting atmospheric indie-rock.
 
Starbelly – Beloved power poppers, they’re one of the finest bands ever to emerge from the Baltimore pop scene! Their debut CD, Lemon Fresh, is considered a power pop classic in the vein of such heavies as Velvet Crush, Big Star, and Badfinger! Their new album, Four, celebrates both the varied sounds and textures that come from having four accomplished songwriters in the band, as well as their luscious 4-part harmonies. We’re always honored to have Starbelly at any IPO festival they choose to play!
 
THE – A four-piece rock outfit from Lancaster, PA, THE is music by THE people for THE people. Their influences come from a variety of sources, including The Beatles, The Killers, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, and many bands with “the” in the name. Fans of reggae-rock and blue-eyed soul will also want to check them out!
 
 

International Artists

 
Dave Rave – He began popping very powerfully indeed a near quarter century ago as part of the legendary Canadian bands Teenage Head (who have reunited) and The Shakers, and has often been referred to as “The Canadian Nick Lowe.” A recent CD, Live With What You Know, was nominated for a Grammy, as was one of its songs, “Anne Marie,” and he’s recently shown his enduring love for quirky ‘80s-style pop on Indicator, his latest release with The Governors! From 2010 to 2014 he played 50 IPO festivals in a row (yes, you read that right), and he still plays many of them…and we look forward to many more. Thank you, Dave, and a big congrats for Teenage Head’s entry in The Canadian Indie Hall of Fame!!