IPO San Francisco 2022

 
Click on artist name to go to their music page
 
CLICK HERE to see IPO San Francisco 2022 Artist Yearbook Photos
 
 

Artists From San Francisco

 
Butch Berry – Already known for concise blasts of pop and energetic stage shows, Berry wanted to create a deeper intimate and more enveloping experience. His CD, Enamorado, opening with a traditional Spanish flavored song and ending with Beatle-esque strings and harmonies, more than any of his previous releases, feels like a true album in the classic sense. Epic!
 
The Bobbleheads – An absolutely engaging combo who’ve created, as they put it, a “niche of niceness” with their “bubblegum flavored indiepop”, in which can be heard musical influences ranging from flower power pop to experimental chamber music! Their latest album, Myths and Fables, is a bit more serious than their previous works (their debut, Automatic Fun, still ranks as one of the good feelin’ CDs of The New Millennium), but will still put a smile on your face. The album (released on Big Stir Records) has also been getting some well-deserved critical acclaim; the February 2019 edition of ThriveGlobal.com called it “[t]he perfect sonic intersection of modern pop flavors.” Pretty cool, huh?
 
The Campbell Apartment – The power trio of Ari Vais (vocals/guitar), Kevin Frank (bass), and Jim Bove (drums) are still going strong. Their latest single, “St Charles”, immortalizes St Charles St. in Alameda in their inimitable style: a unique combination of punk/garage with a folk troubadour lyrical sensibility. Check them out now!
 
Chillingsworth Surfingham – The alter-ego of The Bobbleheads (see above) main man, John Ashfield, Chillingsworth Surfingham is a cuddly teddy bear who teaches kids the wonderful joys of rock n’ roll playing ‘60s style surf music. His debut self-titled album is available on both vinyl and CD, and his IPO showcase is sure to be fun for grown-ups, as well as those who still think of themselves as kids at heart!
 
Leigh Gregory – Deeply steeped in the “classic” San Francisco psychedelic folk vibe of the ‘60s, the former main man of indie darlings Mellow Drunk’s latest album, Sun Salt & Air, also maintains a modern blend of melancholy and hope, growing as it did out of the COVID enforced pandemic, leaving Gregory with the time to focus on polishing his latest songs to perfection. In addition to songs from the album, Gregory’s IPO showcase will feature a brand-new band and some brand-new tunes that we can hardly wait to hear!
 
Sean O’Brien and His Dirty Hands – If you like the grittier, angular side of folk rock with just a touch of twang, you will certainly appreciate the music of this man and his band(s)! Having been a member of The Meantime, True West, Cottonmouth, The Mariettas, and Denim TV, he now performs with his band The Dirty Hands. The current live band features Greg Lisher of Camper Van Beethoven on guitar; Kevin T. White of Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express on bass, and longtime co-producer/engineer Matt Boudreau on drums, and deliver pure angular power pop led by O’Brien’s David Byrne-esque vocals, as heard on their latest album, My Colors Dark. Fans of his work will also want to check out the recent vinyl re-issues of his work with The Meantime, including the latest, Live at Berkeley Square November 1981!
 
The Secret Identities – Taking a name reflective of the dual identity taken on by so many artists who have day jobs and families while trying to keep their music alive, The Secret Identities are a happy collision of long-built sensibilities led by main men Mario DeSio and Kenny Shea Dinkin. Desio’s fluidity as a guitarist adds new sonic realms to explore in Dinkin’s songs, and Dinkin’s ideas for harmonic arrangements and 12-string guitar rhythms provides new soil in which Desio’s pop sensibilities can blossom. The results, on their Open Me Up record are a series of highly crafted pop songs laden with muscular guitar parts and dripping with power pop harmonies inspired by their mutual love of The Beatles, The Who, Big Star, Badfinger, The New Pornographers and Guided by Voices. We at IPO feel it’s time to let the secret out!
 
Richard Turgeon – A singer/songwriter/writer/illustrator who has released four LPs and numerous EPs over the past few years, consistently garnering rave reviews as “…one of the most consistently good power pop artists going…” (The Morning Call), and airplay on Rodney Bingenheimer’s Sirius XM show, The Bob Cesca Show, Bagel Radio, and others. His debut feature film screenplay, HOLY MAN, has also placed in a few notable competitions in 2021. His latest EP, Rough Around The Edges, is another twangy crunchy power pop gem, available now from Kool Kat Music. Check it out now!
 
Chris von Sneidern – A true legend of the San Francisco pop scene, this man has almost re-invented himself by being one of the most prolific songwriters on the scene for many years, delivering disc after disc of unpretentious delights. His CDs have gotten rave responses from all who have heard them, including von Sneidern’s 2nd album, Big White Lies, being awarded the #6 spot in The Greatest Power Pop Albums of All-Time, as compiled by noted pop journalist John M. Borack in his book Shake Some Action! His latest masterpiece, Emerge – which he calls The White Album of his career, was released just prior to the pandemic, and was well worth the wait to both long-time fans and new-found devotees! As good as his recorded material is, you really need to see him live to appreciate the full “CVS” experience, so don’t miss his IPO showcase!
 
The Well Wishers – The latest project by the main man of San Francisco stalwarts, Spinning Jennies, The Well Wishers sound is a little less power pop and closer to that of Shelton’s long time musical heroes, The Posies. Based on a solid foundation of melody, song-craft, and the ever important “musical hook”, the Well Wishers’ deliver a warm, full-bodied sound and engaging take on the typical power pop formula. The latest Well Wishers album, Spare Parts, is a collection of orphaned tracks, demos, and oddities that never seemed to fit any of their previous releases, and emphasizes all of the crucial elements that have brought the Well Wishers to the top of the power pop heap: hook-filled melodies, soaring vocal harmonies, big crunchy guitars and bold, layered arrangements, honed into a tight three (ish)-minute pop song. They are also working on a new album, targeted for release later this year, and we can hardly wait to hear it!
 
 

U.S. Artists From Outside of San Francisco

 
Jason Berk – A critically acclaimed singer-songwriter who comes to the west coast (he splits time between Los Angeles and San Francisco) by way of New York, Berk has proven himself to be a musical tour-de-force, teaching himself guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, ukulele, mandolin, and banjo, and garnering nationwide radio-play. His classic musical style has drawn comparison to such greats as The Beatles, Randy Newman, The Beach Boys, and Elvis Costello, to name but a few, and keeps getting better with each successive album! Check out his latest album, Strangers, and his IPO showcase to see and hear what we mean!
 
Blake Jones & The Trike Shop – Hailing from the unlikely hamlet of Kingsburg, California, this ensemble uses just about every instrument under the sun to create some bizarre, witty, quirky, yet ultimately melodic sounds, and have become an IPO fan favorite from LA to Liverpool! The Trike Shop’s “The Turtles meets Frank Zappa” stylings never fail to be delightful enigmatic and quirky, and their latest full-length album, Make, and recent pandemic-era EP, The Homebound Tapes, both released on Big Stir Records, showcase them at their delightfully zany and melodic best! Definitely something a little bit different!
 
Scott Gagner – Back in his native Minneapolis, the longtime San Francisco-based artist returns to IPO with his latest LP, Blood Moon, in hand. As on his previous album, Hummingbird Heart, which he released at IPO San Francisco in 2019, Gagner plays most of the instruments on the album himself. Combining soaring string arrangements and growling synths, driving power pop and zero gravity ambience, 1970’s piano balladry and three-part prog rock epics, the result is his most ambitious, lush, melodic, experimental, soulful, and deeply personal statement to date. “His potential is limitless!” (Powerpopaholic).
 
Jonathan Moore (of Streetcar Conductors) – The main man behind Portland pop group Streetcar Conductors, whose style can be described as power pop with elements of garage rock, 60’s pop, 90’s alternative rock, and 80’s new wave. Catchy melodies, overdriven guitars, sing-along vocals, and analog synthesizers lend a timeless appeal to their songs. This is not the flavor of the month; it’s a classic pop sound that will never go out of style. This streetcar is rolling. Hop on board for this special solo performance, and see where it takes you!
 
Brent Seavers – As the bassist/vocalist for Sacramento power pop band, The Decibels, Seavers has made a name for himself (at least among those in the know) for his catchy blend of in-your-face pop rock with a catchy ‘60s beat sense of fun. His recent album under his own name, BS Stands for Brent Seavers, is similarly hooky and fun, with a variety of moods and influences. Long time fans of The Decibels, as well as fans of artists from Fountains of Wayne to Green Day and Thee Oh Sees will dig it!
 
 

International Artists

 
Spygenius – Inspired by bands like The Beach Boys, The Beatles and Robyn Hitchcock, Spygenius offer ultra-melodic music with a light ‘60s influence. The Canterbury-based four-piece play original guitar-based pop for people with an appreciation for harmonies and clever wordplay….and who among us can’t appreciate that!? You can experience their unique brand of jangle pop madness on Man On The Sea, an ambitious double-album that earned several year-end best-of list mentions in 2020, including “Album of the Year” from Here Comes The Flood, or on their 2021 album, Blows Their Covers, which pays homage to their wide variety of influences, both classic and contemporary. A brand-new original album, Jabbernowl, was just released on Big Stir Records, and stirs up a heady brew of deep emotional themes with their free-wheeling spirit, resplendent love of language, hooks and harmonies for which they are beloved. As good as they are on record, they are truly at their best when live, so don’t miss their IPO showcase!