IPO New York 2019
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Artists from New York/New Jersey
100 Year Party Court – Moog-driven indie-pop from Brooklyn, in the spirit of Stereolab, Broadcast, and My Bloody Valentine, with male / female vocals reminiscent of X, Low, and The Swirlies. Meditations for Subway Stations, their recently released limited edition EP – on 12 inch clear vinyl, no less! – is a mix of dreamy ambient pop, moody angular pop, and fuzz-laden indie rock!
Joe Benoit – A mild-mannered singer songwriter who LOVES rock n’ roll, who – when not rocking it solo or with his former band, The Regulars, can be found teaching the next generation at a high school in Brooklyn. His just released sophomore solo album, Too Old to Be a Rock Star, is reminiscent of classic rock and power pop heroes, such as Matthew Sweet, Cheap Trick, and Big Star!
The Bobbies – Founded in 1980 by then high school buddies Kennie and Mickie, and with two CDs released in the ‘90s, The Bobbies are still going strong with a new CD and plenty of live shows, and IPO is glad to have ‘em! As the kings of heavy bubblegum and progenitors of bubblepunk, their music has oft been compared to the power pop of the ‘70s. With drummer Pete, they continue to wave the flag of power pop and they wave it high! Check them out, you’ll be glad you did!
The Carvels NYC – If the Ramones and the Ronettes had children and Lou Reed was the nanny, they would grow up to be The Carvels NYC. They’re led by Lynne Von Pang, former front woman of seminal NYC “scum rock” blues punk band Da Willys and later the tight hard rocking outfit Trick Babys, and rounded out by a cadre of seasoned musicians – co-founder Brian Morgan on lead guitar, Steve Pang on drums and David Spinley on saxophone. Their 2017 EP, Everything With You Is A Travesty, was a favorite of legendary DJ Rodney Bingenheimer, and their 2019 EP, Late Night Heart, is due out imminently. “If you do not love The Carvels NYC, you do not love Rock n’ Roll!” (Rich Quinlan, Jersey Beat)
Changing Modes – The ensemble led by Wendy Griffiths and Yuzuru Sadashige, a pair of classically trained composers whose influences range from Bartok, Stravinsky to Nirvana, along with King Crimson & Sparks! Changing Modes creates unique, darkly complex art rock delivered with punk energy and prog-rock flair, all the while maintaining a melodic pop sensibility. Their brand new album, What September Brings, has been called “their most savagely brilliant record yet” (Delarue, New York Music Daily), adding a touch of Motown sax to their wildly eclectic sound! Fans of Zappa and The B-52s will love this band!
Michael Collins – Fans of ELO, XTC, and Klaatu: rejoice – this may be your next new favorite artist you’d never heard of! His Last Laugh album has everything a power pop lover could want: sweet vocals, lush orchestration, and energetic hooks galore! We’ve been (understandably!) looking forward to having him back at IPO, and hope the rest of New York power pop fandom feels the same after catching his set! Look out for a new album soon!
Mike Daly & The Planets – Daly is best known as the lead singer of New Jersey power pop stalwarts Every Damn Day, and this is his latest recording and performing project! Fans of Every Damn Day, as well as notable pop artists from various solo Beatles to Matthew Sweet, Tom Petty, and The Posies, will appreciate the band’s 2010 debut four song EP, The Cosmic Adventures of ManBoy. Their long-awaited full length, All It Takes Is One, is finally available, and was well worth the wait!
Harrison Clock – Harrison Clock is beyond category. Big hand, little hand, second hand, everyone shake a hand. The music speaks for itself, as always, literary and current. Something unique is a special way to conceive it. Come one come all and enjoy.
The Hell Yeah Babies – Loud, fun, and smarter than they look…or act…or sound, The Hell Yeah Babies are a four-piece rock n’ roll outfit from Astoria with that garage-glam-power-pop thing that we at IPO just can’t get enough of! One listen to their debut album, All The Things That You Believe, and you too will be hooked! Hell Yeah!
Wendy Ip – This very impressive New Yorker (by way of the Canadian prairies) is back from a stint in London, for which New York pop fans should be very grateful, as she writes some of the coolest songs around, with eccentric hooks that sneak up on you and hit you hard! Her latest full-length CD, A Different Kind Of Life, is replete with unforgettable melodies that linger in your head even if you’ve heard them only once. She’s working on material for her next opus, Bad Example, and her IPO performance will feature a set of all new original songs that we can hardly wait to hear!
Karma Gambit – Their debut LP, This is Probably A Mistake, But…, has been called “…a forceful forging of signature Jack Linden folk-rock with blasts of Beatlesque/Bowie-like power-pop…” (Bob Makin), earning it top honors as the Record of The Week on his Makin’ Waves blog earlier this year. Fans of modern Brit rock, a la Fratellis and Arctic Monkeys will also dig it!
Steve Katz – One of the main men of The Wind and Tan Sleeve, Katz goes it solo for his IPO performance! Beautiful and rich melodies along with his own distinctive style of guitar work compliment Katz’s soulful voice. His style can be likened to Cat Stevens, Damien Rice, David Gray and James Blunt. His recent EP, Barricades, is a confident five-song debut…[and] should serve as a perfect demo to intrigue any record company interested in this breed of pop.” (Wes Britton, Blog Critics)
Lieder – Formed in the spring of 2007, Lieder (which means “songs” in German) was personally given its name by rock legend Pete Townshend of The Who! They display an aggressive style of power pop, steeped in the tradition of American and British rock n’ roll, and thrive on playing live. They revel in the immediate response to their energetic style of play and challenge anyone not to enjoy their enthusiasm! They’ve become a perennial highlight of IPO New York each year, so make sure you don’t miss them!
Tris McCall – Writer, pundit, humorist, and author/blogger of The Tris McCall Report, McCall also happens to be a fine singer/songwriter in his own right! His recent single and video, “Conspiracy Theory” is a lushly orchestrated mixture of hooky power pop and acerbic wit, and was produced by George Pasles of Overlord (see below). We can’t wait to see and hear what McCall has in store for his first IPO showcase!
meyerman – A band who strive for crunchy power pop goodness in all they do – and succeed quite nicely! Their long awaited debut CD, who do you think you are? was mixed by Kurt Reil of the Grip Weeds, and was hailed as one of the best power pop releases of 2011! If you love Badfinger, Big Star, Cheap Trick, Teenage Fanclub, and The Replacements – and let’s face it, what power pop fan doesn’t? – then you will love meyerman!
The Midnight Callers – Whether you call it power pop, pop rock, alt-rock, or just pure and simple rock n’ roll, the Midnight Callers are it! We’re especially honored that IPO New York will be their first gig in support of their brand new debut album, produced by none other than Kurt Reil of The Gripweeds! We can hardly wait!
The Modulators – Their reunion show at IPO New York in 2009 meant a lot to me personally, as in the early ‘80s I used to hang around guitarist Joe Riccardello as he managed the quintessential northern New Jersey record store, Vintage Vinyl. Joe is responsible for turning me onto artists like R.E.M. and Marshall Crenshaw, and when I found out he was a member of a Crenshaw-inspired band called The Modulators, I couldn’t wait to buy their first 45 (“She’s So Cynical”). They have the distinction of playing The Dirt Club more than any other band, and their excellent album from 1985 is available as a reissue on CD by Kool Kat! Not ones to rest on their laurels, they released an album of current music, Try, Try, Try, which proves they’ve still got it! They’ve floored IPO audiences from New York to Boston to Liverpool every time they’ve played, and I can’t wait to see ‘em do it again!
Eli Musser – A New York singer songwriter with a unique voice, Musser pairs the spirit of boundless, inspired songcraft of earlier decades, with a more modern sensibility rarely found in lyrics, chords and melodies. A student of classical composition and improvisation, Musser prefers to let instinct and feel lead the way when it comes to his own material. His debut album, Content, is absolutely amazing!
Onesie – The musical moniker of Brooklyn-based singer songwriter Ben Haberland, Onesie stitches together vivid, hooky guitar pop anthems from scraps of British pop, American punk, and classic rock, dealing in the currency of anthems written on the voyage toward modern adulthood. Their recently released sophomore opus, Umpteenth, has been described as “…[a]ngular, clever, left field Pop that sits somewhere between Psych Pop and Pop Rock…” (I Don’t Hear A Single), and has been noted as a likely contender to appear near the top of a number of 2019 year end “best of” lists! Fans of All American Rejects, Weezer, and Fountains of Wayne in particular will want to check it out…now!
Overlord – A Brooklyn-based indie-pop band comprised of vocalist/guitarist George Pasles, bassist Sarah Brockett (Palomar), synthesizer player Tris McCall (My Teenage Stride, and solo IPO performer – see above), and drummer Matt Houser (The Human Hearts), Overlord draw inspiration from ’60s British Invasion, ’70s Bubblegum, ’80s New Wave, and ’90s self-involvement. Their latest album, The Well-Tempered Overlord, will particularly appeal to fans of The Who and Queen, and we can’t wait to see them do their thing again live! Definitely one of IPOs faves of recent vintage!
The Penultimate – An All-American power-trio, they proudly proclaim themselves as loud and fast, influenced by the ‘70s and ‘80s American and British punk and mod movements, but playing the rock of the future. Fans of The Jam, X, and MC5 should check them out!
Phoneboy – An indie rock trio of musical magicians from Hoboken, New Jersey, who deliver a shifting and shimmering dose of soft pop and ‘90s style radio rock. Their debut single, “Acid Girl”, will appeal to fans of artists from Brian Wilson to Blink-182!
Caroline Purr – A talented singer/songwriter from the heart of Queens, Purr has been singing harmonies on countless Doo-Wop songs with her family since she was four, performed in her first band at the tender age of 11, and has never looked back! She is currently the Lead Vocalist in Red 30, a Soulful Rock/Country band in NYC, and “Off The Chart,” New York Presbyterian Hospital’s Rock band, as well as recording and performing as a solo artist (as she will at IPO New York). Fans of Vonda Shepard, Janis Joplin, and Katy Perry in particular, will dig her!
Perry Serpa – IPO is glad to welcome this singer/songwriter/arranger, who will be remembered by some as the leader of the acclaimed symphonic pop band, The Sharp Things. With an eclectic assortment of influences ranging from classic orchestral pop to rock, including Mark Eitzel, Scott Walker, Jimmy Webb, David Bowie, Burt Bacharach, Marvin Gaye, The Who, Radiohead, Randy Newman and The Beatles, The Sharp Things’ album, Adventurers Inn, was a melodic feast for the senses. We can’t wait to see and hear Serpa in his IPO debut as a solo artist!
Jordan Siwek – Inspired by the legendary songs of The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Billy Joel, and John Legend, Siwek draws inspiration from any genre of music which revels in beautiful and catchy melodies and lyrics. His musical roots stem from his experience on Broadway as a child actor as well as his love for blues, jazz, and soul, which he infuses into his piano-based tunes. The L.A. Music critic, Bob Leggett wrote that Jordan’s music, “…truly belongs on the radio, and his songs would also make great placements for commercials as well as television and film…we may be witnessing the birth of the next Elton John…” Pretty high praise, indeed, but also spot on! If you don’t believe us, just check out his debut album, Sun Inside You, and his IPO showcase to see and hear for yourself!!
Slyboots – IPO was proud to host their debut performance in 2016, as well as their Liverpool debut in 2017, and we’re even more delighted to have them back to do their thing in their hometown again after a one year absence, since they just keep getting tighter and funner (if that’s not a real word, then it should be!) with each passing performance! This is the latest band featuring KG* Noble and Margaret LaBombard, whose guitar hero glitter glam and solid bass lines were the power behind the great Lily Sparks, but we think they’re even better as Slyboots, especially with the addition of new lead vocalist Tiffany Lyons !! Expect cleverly crafted songs, an engaging performance, and the rock turned up to 11!!
Snir Yamin – Hailing from Israel, but now based in New York City, Snir Yamin is a singer and songwriter with a personal and eclectic approach to his music. His songs bridge the gaps between the intimacy of folk, the appeal of pop and the energy of rock, echoing the sound of talented performers the likes of Damien Rice, Jeff Buckley, Neil Young or Elliott Smith, just to mention a few. Intricate melodies, moody atmospheres, and soft-spoken lyricism are the hallmarks of Yamin’s work, as the singer conveys feelings of both darkness and light within his tunes, going for a melancholic, yet uplifting sensibility. Check out his recently released self-titled album!
Sonny Lee & The Layovers – A band with a plan to keep it sneaky simple: make a little noise, rattle some glasses, pound some tables, and tip some chairs…and in the process, put a smile on your face with their brand of indie rock meets twangy powerpop. Fans of artists such as Steve Earle, The Rolling Stones, REM, and The Smithereens may want to sit up and take notice of this one! They’re back in The Big Apple after far too long an absence and IPO is glad to have ‘em!
Speed The Plough – Founded by John and Toni Baumgartner and Marc Francia, this New Jersey-based band has had numerous line-ups over the years, including former members Rich Barnes and Chris O’Donovan (of Wild Carnation), Stanley Demeski and Brenda Sauter (of The Feelies), writer Jim DeRogatis, John Neilson (Wharton Tiers), and veteran DJ Frank O’Toole. Their latest album, …And Then, the follow up to 2016’s Now, represents a return to the band’s more stripped-down origins…sparse, a little psychedelic, heartfelt, but just as cool as their more rockin’ side! The 2019 IPO show will be their last performance for a while, as they make plans to hunker down in the studio for the winter, so make sure you don’t miss it!!
Zombies Of The Stratosphere – The duo of J and A Zombie follow in the tradition of their idols Ray Davies, Elvis Costello, and Brian Wilson, i.e., churning out gem-like compositions with maddeningly infectious tunes and obscure lyrics – songs built to last by nerdily obsessive craftsmen with big record collections. Their fourth – and most recent – release, The Physical Kids, adds a glammy space-rock touch that fans of Bowie will really dig!
U.S. Artists From Outside New York/New Jersey
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 debut full length 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. Their just released sophomore album, Relative Dimensions, turns up the buzzing Garage Rock and New Wave fun to full volume, infused with even more exciting riffs and dreamy synth sounds. Check it out now!
Mark Evans Band – Emerging from the studio with their debut album release, Carousel, Philly-based songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, and producer Mark Evans is poised to open a new creative chapter and take his band to great heights. Backed by a rhythm section of Philly stalwarts, Roy Fisher (bass), Jeff Pancoast (drums), Grammy winner Pat Robinson (keyboards), Allen James (lead guitar), and a string quartet and three-piece horn section, Carousel takes the listener on a high-wire journey through addiction to recovery, with plenty of stops for insanity along the way. Merging the psychedelic sounds of the late 1960’s with Beatles-inspired accents and pop sensibilities, Carousel showcases the emotionally charged songwriting abilities of an artist that knows no boundaries.
Holy Pinto – Inspired by his love of fabled ‘90s local emo bands The Promise Ring and Maritime, singer/songwriter Aymen Saleh left his native Canterbury England and has found a home in local Milwaukee haunts such as the Highbury Pub. Penning a one-off single about aforementioned pub and his new life, called “Wisconsin”, he ingratiated himself in the local music scene – finding the music in rotation on 88.9 Radio Milwaukee and a piece in the Wisconsin Gazette. His sophomore release, Adult, is a mix of sugary pop hooks, angular indie rock, and contemplative introspective power pop ballads in the vein of bands such as Fountains of Wayne.
The Lilacs – IPO is thrilled to host a rare performance by one of the classic Chicago power pop groups of the early ‘90s! Fronted by Ken Kurson and David Levinsky, and backed by a revolving rhythm section, the group was given their name by none other than Material Issue’s Jim Ellison, who produced their debut 7” record, The Lilacs Love You! Their debut full length, The Lilacs Rise Above The Fifth, garnered much play on college radio for its “witty, post-adolescent, rock and pop originals…[and]…sprightly ‘70s-styled youth-pop.” (Ira Robbins,Trouser Press) Their recently released The Lilacs Endure, produced by the legendary Richard Lloyd (Television, Matthew Sweet) and recorded in Nashville at Studio 19, is their first release in over 25 years, and features four never before recorded Lilacs songs! How’s that for endurance?! This is one show you will not want to miss!
International Artists
Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold – She sings like Benatar, plays like Jett and has a penchant for writing ‘90s-inspired anthems. Acclaimed one of the Top Ten indie talents across Canada and the Number One local band in their hometown, Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold have quickly established a reputation for equally writing catchy songs and compelling audiences. Expect a high energy rock n’ roll experience reminiscent of “all that we remember being great about the ‘90s.”