IPO New York 2013 (Fall)
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Artists From New York/New Jersey
The Anderson Council – These Jersey boys have the most authentic, Creation-influenced mod-psych sound conceived by any band west of The Thames, and the band has both the smarts and skill to convey the sense of whimsy that defines late ‘60s British pop-psych. Their long-awaited brand new disc, Looking At The Stars, was well worth the wait!
John Brodeur – Brodeur is a one-man band in the tradition of Todd Rundgren and Jon Brion, and his work has earned comparisons to Elliott Smith, Beck, Matthew Sweet and Robyn Hitchcock. His new CD, Little Hopes, tackles both matters of the heart and battles of the soul while leaping from quirky bedroom-pop to the kind of breezy guitar rock Performing Songwriter called “power pop at its finest.” Check it out now!
Bubble – A tight, rugged power pop band whose 2000 CD, Bash Bish, sounds exactly as the title would imply. “Principal songwriter Dave Foster constantly gets it right, fashioning killer hooks into a collection of songs which demand the listener’s attention throughout and are guaranteed to provide a lot of pleasure to those of a pop inclination” (Luke Magazine). Not surprisingly, Bubble also excels at loving recreations of The Beatles repertoire, which they have been performing to sell-out crowds!
Buddy Love – That’s right…the New York power pop sensation of the ‘80s are back together again, and IPO is thrilled to have ‘em! If you missed their reunion show at IPO in 2007 – their first in 26 years – you won’t want to miss ‘em again, as they’ve been going strong ever since! Their high-energy, classic sounds are sure to get everyone out on the dance floor and, believe us when we say they’re just as good now as they ever were! Check out Buddy Love, which includes new material and vintage songs, all newly-recorded!
Madison Cano – A chanteuse who embodies the modern Lower East Side folk pop sound! She’s become known for her whimsical melodies, catchy hooks, and breathtakingly heartfelt and powerful vocals. Check out her latest disc, Pulleys, Levers, and Other Simple Machines, and you’ll hear what we mean!
Changing Modes – 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 latest CD, In Flight, features meticulous arrangements with intricate vocal harmonies and tight rhythms, shifting from prog to punk to funk and a bit of everything in between! Fans of Zappa and The B-52s will love this band!
Crazy Mary – Crazy Mary carries the flame for a time when downtown Manhattan was at its post-punk apex: gritty, smart, artful, edgy and sexy, before its soul was taken over by corporations. But true to the ideals of the era from which they emerged, the band remains fully engaged with the modern, eschewing sentimentality and nostalgia. Their latest album, Dreaming In Brilliant Color, carries their music forward and keeps their mélange of psychedelia, tribal music and Velvet Underground-inspired no wave very much alive and well. Check it out now!
Bibi Farber – A singer/songwriter bred in both her native Manhattan as well as in Sweden, her music is inspired by both the classic rock n’ roll icons she grew up with as well as by ‘80s punk and new wave. Fans of artists from The Rolling Stones to David Bowie to Television are sure to appreciate her blend of gritty rock attitude with subtle pop melodicism.
The Hillary Step – A NYC-based acoustic band whose songs feature an eclectic mix of styles, from rock to reggae to jazz to pop. Their lush vocal harmonies, as well as tight and unusual instrumental arrangements, combine to form a sound which is both unique and accessible. Their latest CD, Note To Self, is sure to appeal to fans of Jellyfish, Chicago, and The Beatles, to name but a few!
Ivory Daggers – Four friends with a mutual love for indie powerpop and hard-hitting rock who will rock their way into your heart! Their tunes are all about sunny harmonies, catchy pop rock hooks, gutsy, no nonsense guitar, infectious melodies & unashamedly heartfelt lyrics. Fans of both ‘90s powerpop and ‘60s girl groups will want to check them out!
John Laprade – A former member of New York power pop outfit Astro Chicken, who throughout the late ‘90s and early 2000’s were much praised by such as The Daily News, Mojo Magazine, and Hits Magazine. His debut solo album, World Class Faker, displays and obsession with The Beatles, Elvis Costello, Squeeze and others, and has won the hearts of many an Americana and powerpop fan!
Latvian Radio – As their name might imply, Latvian Radio plays super catchy radio friendly pop songs. Their CD, Kill The Static, blends influences from some of the most beloved pop bands from the ‘60s through today, such as The Kinks, Fountains of Wayne, The Archies, and The Ramones – yes, it’s that good!
London Egg – This totally groovy band blends the chic of swinging London with the modern mod rock energy of their New York home turf. Fans of artists such as The Rolling Stones, The Small Faces, T-Rex, and The Jam will dig both of their CDs, including their latest, If It Takes Forever, produced by the legendary Kurt Reil of The Grip Weeds, who will be joining London Egg on drums for their IPO NY and Boston shows!
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 powerpop releases of 2011! If you like Badfinger, Big Star, Cheap Trick, Teenage Fanclub, and The Replacements – and let’s face it: what powerpop fan doesn’t? – then you will love meyerman.
Daniel Miz – A multi-talented singer/songwriter, Miz produces his own music, using his guitar, piano, drum, and ukulele skills to create catchy beats, and weaving them together with layered vocals. Fans of artists from Paul Simon to Jason Mraz to Beethoven will want to be on the lookout for his soon to be released debut CD!
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! 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!
Party Lights – A delightful Brooklyn power trio who whimsically blend power-punk-garage and girl group sounds into their own hooky sticky bubblegum-flavored pop! If you like The GoGos, Josie & The Pussycats, or Joan Jett, you need to check them out!
Jana Peri – She has had two critically acclaimed CDs: Catching Flies With Vinegar, produced by Daniel Rey (Ramones) features “Go Ahead,” (also on International Pop Overthrow – Volume 7) and a self-titled EP, which boasts “Dating Sucks.” In 2009, Jana released her single “I Hate The Holidays (But I Love Spending Them With You)”and 2010 saw two new ones: “Ballerina Of The Bowery” by Gar Francis (Doughboys) with drums by Kurt Reil (Grip Weeds), as well as Jana’s own, “Gallery Whore.” Jana also sings with Loser’s Lounge.
Matthew Pop – Matthew Pop is an artist who you’ve probably heard a dozen times but couldn’t pick out of a lineup. Still, Pop has had his music featured in a number of popular MTV shows, in film, on NYC radio and has even been the opening act for Regina Spektor. This prolific songwriter whose songs sound like a cross between Weezer, Superdrag, and The Beach Boys, has so much sweet pop-dom to offer that his two latest releases are compendia of his work: last year’s Lights Out: The Best of Matthew Pop, featuring 20 of his “greatest hits,” and the recently released Matthew Pop Trash: a collection of rarities, demos, and live tracks. Definitely an artist well-deserving of powerpop stardom!
Pemberton Roach & Trouble Club – Pemberton Roach is a New York based bassist, vocalist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, with a penchant for writing tasty pop hooks that will stick in your head for days! If you don’t believe us, check out their The Unbreakable Heart EP! A dynamic live performer, he has played thousands of gigs with over 100 different artists at venues ranging from hay wagons to soccer stadiums, sharing the stage with a variety of music legends, such as the Dictators, INXS, Living Colour, Psychedelic Furs, and New York Dolls, so this is one show you will not want to miss!
The Recordettes – If you like campy punky surfy garage, you will LOVE The Recordettes! Imagine The Gruesomes jamming with The Ronettes (if they had a time machine and the benefit of being influenced by Blondie), and you get the idea!
The Roebucks – Hard-hitting gritty powerpop in the tradition of such bands as Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Springsteen, or Cheap Trick is the order of the day for these New Yorkers! A band who will remind you why you fell in love with powerpop in the first place! Check out their latest self-titled EP, and you’ll hear what we mean!
Roto’s Magic Act – “Roto has arrived with a debut album of disarming intelligence and humor, underscored by a stylistically rich songcraft—drawing on ‘70s folk-rock gentility, jazzbo cool and hard rock rhythms—that dresses up his insouciant observations in sharp, well-tailored suits. Behind those smooth vocal harmonies and ringing guitars, though, there’s a biting wit worthy of Warren Zevon or Ray Davies.” (Ashley Kahn, author of Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece) Fans of George Harrison’s solo work will also dig this stuff! Check out his IPO performance as, yes, it will be in part a magic show!
The Rousers – Do you dig the rock? Discover the new standard for old school hard rock and roll. The Rousers, NYC rockers baptized at Max’s Kansas City/CBGB’s, were born to bring it with already-classic sounds you will love forever after. Their long-awaited (and very aptly named!) CD, Playing the Rock and Roll for You!, was worth the wait!
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! We’re honored that they have chosen their IPO show for the release of their new CD, produced by none other than Mr. Kurt Reil of The Grip Weeds!
Lane Steinberg – One of the main men of The Wind, the prolific Mr. Steinberg has penned many a quirky pop song and hauntingly beautiful melody, and has graced quite a few IPO stages, both in his guise as a solo artist or in one of his many duo or band projects. Case in point: a recent release is a collaboration with his old schoolmate, powerpop darling David Grahame …never mind that they haven’t been in the same room in 30 years! In similar fashion, his new release, Azalea’s Room, (under the nom de plume 8×8) is a collaboration with Alexander Khodchenko of Kiev, Russia, who he has never actually met! We never quite know what he’s got up his ample musical sleeves when he comes to IPO, but we know it is sure to be something special!
The Turnback – As their name might imply, they take much of their inspiration from the past, but these guys from the boroughs and environs of New York have a sound that is also sure to appeal to fans of modern indie rock jangle and psychedelic garage pop. Check out their debut CD, Drawn In Chalk, (as well as the movie to which the CD serves as a soundtrack, Drawing With Chalk), and you’ll hear what we mean!
Ward White – You’ll often find him teaming up with his musical partner, Joe McGinty, but White is an amazing singer/songwriter in his own right. None other than Magnet Magazine proclaimed that White is “…channeling Scott Walker’s scope with Paul McCartney’s playfulness…”. Nothing wrong with that!!
The Well-Informed – “Pop Revivalism for the Record Bin Romantic,” “Post-Modern Dixieland Standards for the Wayward Youth,” and “Cuban Missile Make-Out Music” are just some of the monikers the band use to describe their music. Whatever phrase you like, one thing that is certain, is these guys are GOOD! Fans of The Beatles, Randy Newman, and Brian Wilson (in other words, all self-respecting pop fans!) will want to check out their Everybody Knows CD!
Zombies Of The Stratosphere – The duo of J and A Zombie continue to churn out gem-like compositions with maddeningly infectious tunes and obscure lyrics, as they have on their latest CD, Ordinary People. Following in the tradition of their idols, Ray Davies, Elvis Costello, and Brian Wilson, their sound is evocative of classic Britpop wrapped in a cloud of gorgeous yet sometimes quirky orchestration.
U.S. Artists From Outside of New York/New Jersey
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!
Graham Alexander – Despite his youth, Alexander has a wealth of experience, having started his musical career while still in school, and sharing stages with the likes of Badfinger, James Taylor, The Nocturnals, and Norah Jones, to name but a few. “Inspired, musically daring and melodically contagious, Alexander’s music is the sound of an old soul being distilled through a 21st-century pop blender” (The Weekender). Fans of Sir Paul and Abba will also want to check out his recently released self-titled debut album – yes it is that good! Definitely one of Philadelphia’s finest artists!
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 new one, 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!
Xenia Dunford – East coast audiences will surely appreciate the sultry style of this singer/songwriter who recently resided in LA, but now makes her home in New England. Dunford blends her captivating voice with a catchy and eclectic mix of jazz, indie, and pop styles that is sure to appeal to fans of artists such as Carly Simon, Amy Winehouse, and Billie Holliday. Check out her recently released full length, His & Hers, and you’ll hear what we mean!
Lannie Flowers – The 2010 CD by this Texas gent, Circles, flew to the top of many a powerpop best of the year list, and with good reason! Badfinger-esque in-your-face guitars and vocal harmonies blend with softer shifting harmonies more reminiscent of XTC. His latest, New Songs, Old Stories, continues in similar vein and rocks even harder! Fans of artists from The Raspberries to The Velvet Underground will also appreciate this one, and we appreciate that he and his band have played the IPO festival in many cities throughout the world! We’re also proud to announce that he has recently won several LA Music Awards!
Neighbours – When a band lists Motown, powerpop, and The Zombies as their influences, it’s bound to get our attention, but few have the goods to pull off putting those influences to use as well as these boys from Pittsburgh! Their debut full length, Prime Numbers, is “…a blend of ‘60s garage, sweeter pop vibes, and strong soul influences – all the right stuff then, and they do it so well” (Shindig! Magazine) Check it out now!
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, and their most recent, Everyday And Then Some, is gorgeous from start to finish. Fans of Velvet Crush, Big Star, and Badfinger, take special note! We’re always honored to have Starbelly at any IPO festival they choose to play!
Vegas With Randolph – Those craving a dose of pure power pop need look no further than this band from the Washington, DC area! Their sound will appeal to fans of Fastball, Fountains of Wayne, and Sloan, to name but a few. Their second CD, Above The Blue, received well-deserved rave reviews in several quarters, and their newest (and eagerly anticipated opus), Rings Around The Sun, is picking up right where that one left off!
International Artists
Peter Colours – A really cool indie garage outfit from Ibiza, Spain! Their sound nicely straddles the line between powerpop and classic psychedelic mod. Fans of The Jam, The Creation, The Knack and Paul Collins Beat will surely appreciate the latest Peter Colours CD, Surfing to Mexico!
The Plastic Pals – Take the fiery guitars of bands like Television, Flamin’ Groovies and The Dream Syndicate, then add a pinch of Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground and a dash of magic melodies with a dark edge. Bring to a boil with a soulful and groovy base of drums and bass. Stir well and season to taste with the finest spices from the legacy of rock and roll – from Hank to Hendrix, from Gram to The Long Ryders, from The Beatles to Alex Chilton, from Townes to Paul K, from Coltrane to Television, and the list goes on. There you have the taste and the sound of these guitar slingers from Stockholm, Sweden! Check out their latest record, Turn The Tide and hear for yourself. Dinner is served – Bon Appetit!
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.” His latest CD, Live With What You Know, was nominated for a Grammy, as was one of its songs “Anne Marie”!! He played every IPO for three years running (that’s a total of 50, folks!) before taking a brief hiatus earlier this year. Join him on the 5th stop on his latest IPO journey! Thank you, Dave!!