IPO Chicago 2017

 
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Artists From Chicago

 

Aethereal – Inspired by such greats as The 13th Floor Elevators, Todd Rundgren, Yes, and The Moody Blues, Aethereal delivers a groovy psychedelic prog rock sound reminiscent of what made the music of the ‘60s so great! Check out their recently released single, Walking Away/Serenity Come Back To Me now! The band features Andrew and Tommy Clark, son of the great Ellis Clark (see below!)
 
Along The Drive – Known for their driving rhythms, wall-of-guitars sound and melodic songwriting hooks, Along The Drive create a modern sound with a vintage vibe. Fans of Delta Spirit, Kings of Leon, and The Black Keys in particular will enjoy their recent EP, Time Lapse, and upbeat alt-rock collection of pop hooks amidst driving rhythms and serious guitar riffage, polished to a sheen with ambient textures to tickle your ears (warrants headphones), but equally appealing with the car stereo cranked and driving fast!
 
Phil Angotti – The venerable musician is practically a household name in power pop circles, and especially in his home town of Chicago. Both he and his band The Idea have released a bunch of tremendous CDs, and Phil’s latest effort, Life and Rhymes, proves he just keeps getting better! We were honored to host the debut performance of Material Re-Issue at IPO Chicago in 2011, and Phil Angotti’s lead vocals and guitar channeled the spirit of Jim Ellison as well as it could possibly be done.
 
The Artist Formerly Known As Vince Band – A fun new old school band whose latest record, On Display, is an actual record…on spiffy colored 12” vinyl no less! Glitter glam garage all the way, baby!
 
Jason Batchko – Though some may be more used to seeing Batchko behind the drums in several local pop/rock acts – most noteably Caviar and Scott Lucas & The Married Men – he’s also a singer/songwriter/comedian in his own right. Come check out his IPO showcase for a dose of mirth, merriment, and music, as only he can do it!
 
The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club – Drawing from a diverse array of musical styles, The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club’s brand new disc, cheekily named Don’t Buy This Record, has a bit of something for everyone. Song arrangements are the product of technique, style and innovation with great attention to detail in the areas of tone, rhythm, harmony and song structure. The band’s instrumentation is largely guitar-based but includes a wide range of other instruments, such as keys, trumpet, synth, harmonica, percussion instruments and even occasionally a theremin or ukulele, to craft unique sounds, moods and tones. The result is a mix of indie rock, power pop new wave, and dance club R&B that is truly infectious!
 
Blind Trust – An all-original rock and roll band whose four members are veterans of the Chicago music scene, Blind Trust’s trademark musical approach combines strong musicianship, catchy melodies, acerbic songwriting, and rollicking on-stage energy. Check out their recently released debut album, The Top End, and their IPO showcase to see and hear for yourself!
 
Doug Bobenhouse – Known by many as the lead vocalist behind the great St Louis band, The Sun Sawed In ½, Bobenhouse has made himself a fixture in the Chicago pop scene, lending his sweet vocals to Dad’s Magazine (see below) and multiple other projects. Don’t miss this rare chance to catch him in a solo set…and be sure to check out any of The Sun Sawed in ½’s seven (count ‘em!) excellent albums, available via their bandcamp page!
 
Boolean Knife – A post-modern pop-rock quartet who are getting some serious attention for their debut EP, Astrid and the Killer Penguin! If “…[s]mart, guitar-driven music heavily indebted to college radio playlists from the late 1980s/early 90s…” (Radio One Chicago) is your thing, you will not want to miss them!
 
Tony Calderisi Band – Calderisi is known to many an IPO-goer as the main man of Telstar, who came most highly recommended by the estimable Mike G of local stalwarts, The Valley Downs. Calderisi specializes in a warm combination of power pop and Americana, and he and his new band are ready to rock!
 
Ellis Clark & The Big Parade featuring Ary Jeebie – Long a fixture of the Chicago music scene, Clark released his first LP at the tender age of 19 as a member of local power-punk-pop darlings, Epicycle, and later went on to front Social Act, who receive much airplay, toured nationally, and released several albums. With his current band, The Big Parade, Clark once again shows his penchant for penning a catchy pop hook, drawing upon a wide array of classic influences. His latest album, LP Number One, will appeal to fans of The Beatles, Jellyfish, Nick Drake, and 10cc, to name but a few! But wait…there’s more…they’re joined on stage this year by Ary Jeebie, the powerhouse leader of The Amazing Heebie Jeebies, whose songs draw on various eras and genres from hillbilly, gritty blues, and ‘60s garage punk, deep from the underworld of moody psychotic rock n’ roll to create their unique Garage-abilly sound! The combination is a one-two-power pop punch you will not want to miss!
 
Co-Stanza – A rapper at IPO, you ask disbelievingly? Not our usual thing to be sure, but when it’s this lyrical, melodic, and witty, why not? Otherwise known as Jack Costanza, Co-Stanza combines hip-hop, rap, pop and poetic elements into fun and musical observations about life in the burbs.
 
Paul Coady and The Edsel Brothers – A fixture on the Chicago music scene for many years, Paul Coady specializes in straight up rock n’ roll with a storyteller’s ear for lyrics. They often draw comparisons to Springsteen or The Rolling Stones, but “…there’s also some power pop/bar band/Americana/rootsy/Midwest alchemy going here (that no Brit band could fake, no matter how many trips to Chess Studio they took)…” (Jake Austen, Roctober Magazine). Their latest album, Our Fathers’ Sons, has been called their best yet!
 
Michael Steven Cohen – One of the main men of The Abbeys and Pop Dollys does a rare solo performance for us this year! If you like the aforementioned bands, you will definitely dig this special showcase…so don’t miss it!
 
Collectors – Hailing from Chicago and led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Michael Mazza, they have been described as “expertly crafted Brit inflected indie rock”. With a vast array of classic British influences ranging from the ‘60s British Invasion to Blur to the Buzzcocks, Mazza’s songs are known to contain very catchy and memorable hooks and the band is known for its energetic live performances. Their brand new record, Future Tense, is in the works, and slated for release later this summer…watch for it!
 
Dad’s Magazine – A Chicago pop scene super group made up of members from Swinger, The Sun Sawed in ½, The Webstirs, and Dad Factory. You know that with this group you can expect sweet vocals, big choruses, jangly guitars, chunky bass lines and super catchy melodies….and what power pop fan could ask for anything more?!
 
Steve Dawson (of Dolly Varden) – For 18 years Dolly Varden has been wowing and charming audiences with the emotional potency, intelligence and undeniable melodicism of Steve’s songwriting (as well as the warm and sublime interplay of vocal harmony between him and his wife, Diane). Their latest release, For A While, takes the listener on a journey of sonic adventure and lyrical experiences….for a more intimate, but no less lyrical journey, you won’t want to miss Steve in this rare solo appearance!
 
Larry O. Dean – A Chicago-based singer, songwriter, guitarist, band-leader, poet, journalist, educator, existentialist, and raconteur (and all-around great guy!), who has appeared at past IPO Chicagos in many guises: Whether performing as the main man of his many projects such as The Post Office, The Me Decade, or The Injured Parties, as the host of his monthly “Folk You!” series, or solo – as he will at this year’s IPO – Dean’s songs are filled in equal measure with melody and wry witticism, making him a perennial IPO favorite! Check out Good Grief, his 13th solo CD, and the first since 2001 to feature all new material!
 
The Diff – Fans of Frisbie will want to take special note of this one, as their straight up power pop laced with new wave and hook-filled approach to song-writing was a huge influence of Steve and Liam (who will be joining them on stage at this rare and special IPO performance) ! There are bound to be some other surprises in store, as many of their mutual friends are also on the bill…all we can say is you will be glad you came to see them!!
 
Gerald Dowd – Described as “the hardest working drummer in Chicago” (Richard Milne, WXRT), he’s played on over 100 albums, and averages150 live dates a year around the world. In recent years, he’s been releasing solo albums of original material, starting with his 2012 release, Kingsize EP. His style has been called “…hook-heavy, cleverly crafted tunes….with humor and catchy melodies, influenced by everything from country to rock to R&B, all tied together with a great pop sensibility.” (No Depression)
 
Christopher Joseph Elam – A singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist currently working on his third solo record. Past bands include Plains, Shelley Miller, and the Nashville Wreckers. His folky style and silky voice may remind one of Elliot Smith if he was part of the Canterbury scene in the early ‘70s!
 
Food and Drug – A band fronted by the dynamic duo of Rick Sparks, lead singer of This Magazine is Haunted and member of supergroup Dad’s Magazine (see above), and Kate Burns of the Chicago band, Tuffy UK. Their sparse indie-folk pop style with male-female harmonies and pretty melodies is what The Everly Brothers might sound like if they were operating in today’s indie pop scene…and one of them was a girl!
 
Freetoed – They bring to the stage nearly ten years of playing music together around Chicago. With roots influenced by the likes of Wilco and Badly Drawn Boy, their songs climb and fall, peeling back and layering on both the melodic and dissonant. While these qualities are better emphasized nowhere else than at their live show, longtime fans and new converts alike will also want to check out their latest EP, Bubble Psychology//2//Elliptical Perimeters!
 
The Joy Poppers – Beloved among power poppers and indie-rockers “in the know” in the mid- to late- ‘90s, The Joy Poppers had the perfect blend of neo-psychedelic jangle and harmony combined with mind-bending chord changes. Their 1995 album, Zoomar!, is a classic of the genre. The played the first ever IPO in Los Angeles in 1998, and we’re thrilled to welcome them back for a special performance in their hometown!
 
The Last Afternoons – Something of a Chicago pop scene super-group, The Last Afternoons are Brett Neveu and Rich Sparks singing their hearts out for your bemusement. They are joined by Dag Juhlin, Freda Love Smith, and Jacqueline Schimmel to become a full band. Look out for witty lyrics, quirky chord changes, and a whole lotta melody!
 
Lovejoy – Dave, Cal, Zach, Duncan, Sam and Kris have united to make lovely music for lovely people, and are here to groove with you and put a smile on your face. Their soulful brand of pop combines theatrical vocal croonery with bits of surf, lounge pop, harmony pop, and ‘70s Britpop mixed with playful tempo shifts. Fans of The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Sam Cooke, and Tom Jones will dig ‘em!
 
Packy Lundholm – A fixture on the Chicago scene for quite some time, Mr Lundholm has lent his talents to many local acts, such as I Fight Dragons, Kory Quinn, and Gold Coast All Stars, but is an accomplished power popper in his own right! His debut album under his own name, American Soccer, combines Americana and classic rock elements with that heartland power pop energy that we love! Fans of Springsteen and Lou Reed should check him out!
 
Judah Michael – One of the main men of the local punk/alternative band, Behind The Heart, Judah Michael is also a strong solo performer, penning and performing heartfelt and hook-filled folk pop songs that fans of artists from John Mayer to Josh Rouse to Justin Bieber will be sure to enjoy. Check out his recent – and first ever – video, Your Eyes!
 
Rich Miller from Waiflike – Miller writes moody music that is catchy and clever and lyrics that are both interesting and intense, as can be heard on Waiflike’s debut CD, Fifty Pence Piece of Mind. The sound will appeal to fans of The Beatles, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, and classic Chicago area power pop. He’s been hard at work in the studio with Right Rongly’s Scottish McMillan, recording some new songs, which we can hardly wait to hear!
 
Drew Neely & The Heroes – Neely has long been a fan favorite at IPO Chicago for his quirky brand of power pop with folk-pop-styled story-teller lyrics, punk pop sensibilities, and sticky hooks. With his current band, The Heroes, he takes his penchant for intelligent lyrics and catchy melody to a whole ‘nother level! Watch for their forthcoming album, This Could Be You, due out soon!
 
Mike Pecucci – IPO welcomes the lead singer of Letterbomb to the stage for a special solo performance. Letterbomb specializes in indie rock n’ roll reminiscent of Husker Du or The Replacements with an ironic lyrical twist, and Mike’s solo show is sure to be similarly fully of hooks and humor. Check out Letterbomb’s recent Down With The Ship EP – it’s a little soul, a little groove, and a healthy dose of good, loud rock n’ roll!
 
The Pickpockets – The band’s debut, By The Time We’re Through, contains thirteen tracks where distinctive vocals relate indelible narratives while guitars alternately dignify and rub dirt on the agreeable melodies. The band’s sound is influenced by British and American post-punk and indie music of the ’80s and ’90s, and over the last several years the foursome has displayed its devout allegiance to tunefulness through its vigorous live shows – so be sure to catch their IPO showcase!
 
Private Instigators – One of the most unique and engaging bands we’ve encountered in quite a while, Private Instigators deliver irreverent doo-wop with a raucous punk pop twist. Their recent full length album, The Case Files of The Private Instigators – Reopened, picks up where their 2013 EP left off, and will appeal to fans of Little Richard, The Misfits, and The Ramones, and we cannot wait to see them live at IPO! As stated by PunkPop.com, “The high energy antics of the Private Instigators are not to be missed”!
 
The Queue – Building a reputation for their roaring guitars and unforgettable hooks, The Queue have found a way to fuse solid melodies, indelible harmonies and gritty rock to produce a sound their fans have identified with and called their own. With a distinctive British pop influence, interlaced with an American alternative sound, their style (which can be heard on their EP, Turn It Up, Turn Me On singles them out from the traditional. As they say in Liverpool, “These are too good!”
 
Steve Ramone & The Pensioners – Ramone is a midwest born and bred singer songwriter with a love for all kinds of sounds, and who proudly proclaims on his Soundcloud page that a three minute pop song with a great hook really does the trick…a sentiment with which we at IPO could not agree more, and which is clearly evident on his band’s Snowballs In The Summer EP! The band – which debuted live at IPO Chicago last year, for which we are truly grateful – also features long-time Midwest powerpop legend Chip Z’nuff on bass, and really rocks!
 
Reaction – Active in the Chicago scene throughout the ‘80s, Reaction put out several demos and sparked some major label interest, but alas broke up without ever releasing their songs…Luckily for us, they remained friends and have not only reformed and put out their original material, but have also followed it up with not one, but two additional CDs of new songs! Their latest release, Edison Park, will appeal to fans of ‘80s college radio rock and Britpop as well as modern fans of modern indie rock – think REM and Echo & The Bunnymen meet Interpol and Arctic Monkeys!
 
The Red Plastic Buddha – Rising out of the ashes of the mid ‘90s Chicago band Sub Rosa, they’re led by singer/ bass guitarist Tim Ferguson (Hop on Pop, Me Decade), and they’ve developed a sound that blends the best elements of late ‘60s British psychedelia with modern dynamics, alternating between swirling sonic landscapes and catchy, melody driven pop. Their latest CD, Songs For Mara, is a must have for fans of both space rock and pastoral psychedelic pop!
 
The Red Wigglers – A quirky art-pop-rock combo with horns! Fans of artists such as The B52s, The Talking Heads, or Chicago indie-popsters (and IPO veterans!) Beatnik Turtle should check out their ultra-entertaining live show at IPO!
 
Rollo Time – The describe themselves as just a bunch of guys who’ve played music together over the years, who finally got together and recorded a bunch of songs. Said songs can be heard on their latest CD, Victims of the Crown, and will rock you out in the classic power pop tradition. Think Mathew Sweet, Cheap Trick, Guided By Voices and XTC all rolled into one, and you get the picture!
 
The Romeros – IPO is proud to present a rare performance by this quintessential midwestern band singing classic late ‘70s/early ‘80s inspired power pop in the tradition of The Buzzcocks, Raspberries and Cheap Trick, but adding saxophone to create a whole new thing! All four members believe in the power of rock ‘n roll, and are, as the title of their debut EP claims, Cooler Than Your Boyfriend!
 
Rob Schultz Band – IPO audiences may recognize Schultz as one of the main men behind Swinger, but he’s also put out a couple of fine CD’s under his own name. Influences from The Kinks to The Beach Boys to Elvis Costello abound, but he brings his own unique personality and sensibilities to the fore. His work displays a wealth of hook-packed classic power pop that is earnest, tuneful, sincere, dynamic and accessible. He’s been working with Brad Jones at Alex The Great Studios in Nashville on Something to Believe In, an exciting 13 song collection of older material that never really got it’s due. It’s due out later this month, and we can hardly wait to hear it!
 
The Spindles – They cover decades of the best power pop music and original music, too… sweet harmonies with jangly, chiming Rickenbacker 12-string and no-nonsense powerhouse drumming – who could ask for anything more?
 
Too Much Saturn – Classic Midwest power pop served up with loads of crunchy hooks, soaring harmonies, big drums, 12-string bass, swirling keyboards and a liberal mix of crunchy, ambient and jangly guitars. Fans of artists from Cheap Trick to The Gin Blossoms to Fountains of Wayne should sit up and take notice of these guys! Check out their Moving Forward Sideways CD and their latest single, Shake Someone!
 
Treeshakers – Rooted in Chicago’s school of Power Pop, in the tradition of Pezband, Cheap Trick, Shoes, and Material Issue, Treeshakers stay true to their Power Pop roots with 3-chord songs about the love found and love lost experiences of the everyday soul. From there, the group branches out and refines their sound, combining it with hard-driven dual-guitars to create what only can be described as Massive Power Pop. Come check them out!
 
The Unswept – Charlie and Ryan O’Brien relocated from sunny Sheffield, UK to a small but tiny apartment in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, where they write and record power pop tunes. With their hook laden songs featuring cowbell, handclaps, and sibling harmonies, we think they fit right in with Chicago’s power pop heritage! Their latest release, Fake It, is a spiffy stereo/mono EP! Fans of Teenage Fanclub, The Beatles, and The Beach Boys will really dig these guys!
 
Mike Vanderbilt & The Suburban Garage Sound – Vanderbilt has graced many an IPO stage from Chicago to LA as the leader of the super-fun power pop/punk band, The Romeros (see above). He’s back with his latest project that blends his pop-punk heritage with a slice of alt-country which has been compared to the likes of Nick Lowe, Rhett Miller, Ryan Adams, and Paul Westerberg.
 
Sam Vicari – The quintessential nerd-rocker, Vicari’s “heartfelt delivery and sunny melodies continue to be anchored by killer power-pop arrangements” (Chicagoist) on his latest album, Giving Up. Fans of artists such as Apples In Stereo and Superchunk should check him out!
 
The Vinyl Skyway – The creation of singer/songwriters Michael Hayes and Andy Santospago, In late 2012, Hayes and his family left Boston for Chicago; despite the distance, he and Santospago continue to craft new songs together between their two cities. Their influences range from Crowded House to Teenage Fanclub to Wilco, and their two albums rank among the best of those bands. Yes, it’s completely true!
 
Mark Watson – Otherwise known as the leader of the Mark Watson Band, whose now classic coulda…shoulda…woulda… CD earned rave reviews and international airplay for its modern pop rock sound, full of hooky choruses, big guitars, smart lyrics and a heaping helping of harmonies. They’re back in the studio with a new line up and some new music, featuring bigger guitars and more bite while retaining all the tunefulness of their previous work. Watson and Band treated us to a sample of what they’ve been up to at last year’s IPO Chicago, and we can’t wait to hear some more this year!
 
The Webstirs – A truly great band whose latest CD, So Long, was hailed by Not Lame as “one of 2009’s more exciting indie powerpop releases.” “It`s chock full of sunny harmonies and Beatles riffs thrown under a metallic shower of fuzz.” (The Chicagoist) But wait…there’s more…their 1994 debut album has been re-discovered, re-mastered, and re-imagined…with super-deluxe extra tracks, and cheekily titled The Webstirs Re-Present Smirk. If you like ELO, Jellyfish, and Cheap Trick, and The Beach Boys, and don’t yet own these CDs, you will want to seek them out, along with the Webstirs’ latest release, Now You’ve Really Done It!
 
Weekend Vinyl – The latest project of Swinger (and Ginger Records) main man, Mike McLaughlin! As their name might imply, their sound is as smooth and pleasant as a lazy weekend listening to some of your favorite old vinyl records. The gently jangling guitars overlaid with airy vocal harmonies on their debut CD, Easy Chair, are sure to appeal to fans of The Replacements, Wilco, and The Jayhawks, to name but a few!
 
Aaron Williams – Emerging from the studio (where he and the band have been writing and recording with Grammy producer Johnny K), they come to IPO armed with new songs that carry infusions of classic, indie, and punk rock melded into an original sound they are proud to share with the world. Check out the slew of singles they put out last year, and you’ll be hooked!
 
Young Distractions – An alternative garage power trio who combine power pop hooks, passionate (and ironic) punk pop vocals, and just a touch of twang to rock their way into your heart! Their latest release, The Radiation EP, sounds like your ex still has all your favorite records: All your Husker Du and Replacements records; all your Ramones and Sam Cooke records, leaving you with no recourse but to grab your guitar and write a killer song!
 
 

U.S. Artists From Outside of Chicago

 
Coke Belda – One half of the duo Cokeroque, a multi-band-tribute (Jellyfish, The Rembrandts, The Posies, Toy Love, Squeeze, Roxy Music and many others), this gentleman from Pittsburgh (by way of Spain and Germany) is also an artist to be reckoned with in his own right. His debut album, simply entitled Coke Belda I, features gentle jangly powerpop melodies, intricate instrumentation, and a host of chord changes that fans of Jason Falkner, The Merrymakers, Paul McCartney, and the aforementioned artists to whom he pays tribute as part of Cokeroque will love! His latest, Nummer Zwei, picks up right where the debut left off!
 
Cabin Essence – The nom de plum of Milwaukee-based singer/songwriter/muti-intrumentalist Nick Maas, Cabin Essence writes and plays sunny pop stuff inspired by influences such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Big Star, The La’s and The Zombies. Check out their latest EP, A Place For Playing Games, and their IPO showcase to hear for yourself!
 
Certain Stars – Forwarding the melodic sound and power pop of bands such as Superchunk and Big Star, a Certain Stars hook can take up space in your head for days. All members of this Milwaukee combo take on songwriting duties that uniquely add to the whole. Their latest CD, The Great Destroyer, adds a classic album rock feel that’s impossible to resist! They’ve also recently gone back to the studio to record new material for an upcoming 2017 release that we can hardly wait to hear!
 
Douglas & Tucker – The latest project by one of the main men of the venerable Illinois band, Einstein’s Sister, whose Humble Creatures CD has been described as “Like early Elvis Costello taking tea with Squeeze’s Glenn Tilbrook, while Lennon and McCartney fuss over the scones in the kitchen.” (CD Baby). Douglas & Tucker picks up right where Einstein’s Sister left off! Look for Tucker’s first solo release, The Kindnesss of Strangers, due out soon!
 
The Jeremy Band – The eponymous band led by one of the most genuine, nicest people on the pop scene, as well as one of the most prolific pop artists around. His gentle, John Lennon-influenced pop is as spiritual as it is melodic, and you can hear this for yourself on all of his CDs. This Kalamazoolander and his band can stake their rightful place in the IPO Hall Of Fame!
 
Leisure McCorkle – We’re always grateful when this gentleman makes his way to IPO (several of them!) all the way from Charlotte, North Carolina! Fans of Joe Jackson and Graham Parker will love his sturdy rock ‘n roll, as he possesses a voice so strong that he really doesn’t need a microphone! Check out his classic CD, Jet Set Baby, and his brand new disc, 5000 Light Years Beyond The Speed Of Sound, and you’ll know what I’m talkin’ about!
 
Ravi/Lola – This Milwaukee-based combo does ‘60s-inspired psychedelic baroque/neo-toytown pop to perfection! “On the group’s 20-song sophomore record, II: Ravi’s Tramadol, finger-picked guitars fall from the sky, wide-eyed melodies sprout from the ground, and a childlike sense of wonder blows in from the coast. It’s a lovely, sprawling record with plenty of joy and creativity to spare.” (Milwaukee Record) A brand new album, Shape Up Shoulders, the first featuring the live band, is set for release in June, so watch for it!
 
Trolley – If you’re looking for a band who really understands the garage pop idiom, look no further than Trolley! Fans of L.A. Explosion-era Last and all things Paisley Underground will dig Trolley – plus, you gotta love a guy who simultaneously sings and chews gum a la John Lennon, as co-lead vocalist Paul Wall does. Their latest full-length CD, Caught In The Darkness, continues in their tradition of out-doing themselves, and rose to the top of many a 2016 “best of” list! Lush orchestration with a touch of ‘60s soft pop influence underlies Trolley’s trademark melodies, harmonies and charging guitars, and makes this album their best yet! One of Milwaukee’s finest!
 
 

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.” A recent CD, Live With What You Know, was nominated for a Grammy, as was one of its songs, “Anne Marie.” In addition to being one of the most entertaining and hardworking power poppers around, he’s also extremely versatile, often displaying his jazzy/bluesy side on several collaborations with fellow Canadian singer/songwriter, Mark McCarron, including their latest Memphis Midnight, and recently showing a flair for ‘60s inspired soft-pop jangle on Radio Rave, 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!!