IPO Boston 2016

 
Click on artist name to go to their music page
 
CLICK HERE to see IPO Boston 2016 Artist Yearbook Photos
 

Artists From Boston

 
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!
 
Airport – Raised on a steady diet of K-Tel, AM/FM radio, Hee Haw, and Crowded House, this Boston area quintet churn out sweet, twangy, hooky, jangly, old school ‘70s-inspired rock, full of chiming chords billowing in the breeze of sugary melodies and stacked harmonies. Fans of Tom Petty, Cheap Trick, ELO and The Band will dig their 2011 album, Go Up, as well as their more recent singles and their IPO showcase!
 
American Beauties – An original folk-rock/folk-pop band in today’s thriving Cambridge/Somerville indie music scene, their music is reminiscent of the East Coast, LA and San Francisco folk-rock bands of the late ‘60 and early ‘70s. As such, they’ve sometimes been compared to CSNY and The Jayhawks, as their music conveys the same radio-friendly qualities of folk, rock, and pop for which those artists are known. Their debut full length album, Too Worn To Mend, was recorded at Ice Station Zebra in Medford, Massachusetts by Grammy award winning engineer Ducky Carlisle – check it out!
 
Big Giant – Fans of classic power pop and rock n’ roll artists such as Cheap Trick, The Rolling Stones and The Cars will surely love the music of this Boston sextet! The hooks and subtle boy-girl harmonies (courtesy of Andrea Kremer, who was instrumental in helping us the first few years we did IPO in Boston) on their debut self titled EP will get stuck in your brain for days!
 
The Brigands – The latest incarnation of this band of brothers (known as The Bouncers in the ‘80s) has been going strong under their family name since the late 1990s, rocking it up with their pulverizing mix of ‘70s and ‘80s Mass Ave. scene covers, as well as Brigands originals. A totally fun band who will appeal to fans of The Clash, The Ramones, and The New York Dolls! While their self-titled CD totally rocks, this is one band you will want to see live, so don’t miss their IPO showcase!
 
Didn’t Planet – A four-piece rock/alt-rock band from Boston’s South Shore who started as a cover band, working the local circuit from Faneuil Hall to Block Island to the ski resorts of New Hampshire and Vermont, but have since turned to originals…and we’re glad they did. Fans of twangy powerpop will love the combination of solid rock sound and catchy hooks that you’ll hear on their debut album, We’re Goin’ Nowhere, and fans of great brain-teasers will love the challenge of listening to see how many name-checks of local landmarks you can catch in their lyrics!
 
The Downtowners – They may be one of Boston’s newest garage bands, but their credentials read like a “who’s who” of Boston garage rock, as the band-members include Jeff Kabot (The Venusians, Superkools), Matt Burns (The Varnints), and Miguel D’Amore (The Cryptic Edge). As such, you can expect a steamy brew of swirling guitars and snarling vocals that is impossible to resist! You’ll want to wear your dancing shoes for this one!
 
Field Day – Witty, erudite lyrics, precise musicianship, elliptical approaches to melody that manage to catch the ear, and conversational vocals that recalled a TA’s discussion-section” are just some of the ways The Boston Globe describes Field Day and their six-song, self-titled EP. Come to their IPO showcase and hear this for yourself!
 
Fireking – A band sired by former members of Figures On A Beach, who claim to be the “rock experience of the 21st Century.” The sound on their Live A Little, Love A Little CD falls somewhere between Face To Face-era Kinks and The Stooges’ Funhouse, and their performance at The Cavern at IPO Liverpool in 2005 had many of the locals begging for more! Speaking of “more”, their long-awaited Double Trouble album was finally released last year, and features a whopping 22 tracks of their trademark high-octane rawk!
 
The FORZ – They may be from the banks of The Charles, but their sound captures all the excitement and energy of classic Merseybeat! But don’t be fooled…this is not a “retro” band….their vintage-rock sound is just as fresh and catchy today as its musical predecessors were back in the day. Check out their latest album, Running From The Past and you’ll see what we mean! They are also known for their high energy live performances, so don’t miss them!
 
Hello Susie – Hello Susie is a one time only celebration of the spirit and philosophy of all things Power Pop. With the core members of Low Sparks: Kevin Condon, Ohan Heghinian, Michael Scotti and Jose Downes, along with special guests Jonathan LaMaster and Smitt E. Smitty, Hello Susie delivers music from some of the greats of power pop: Big Star, Badfinger, Teenage Fanclub, Cheap Trick, and of course The Move. Hello Susie. A one time only celebration. One and done. Join the celebration!
 
Hummingbird Syndicate – The Mamas and the Papas led to The Archies led to ABBA. The Byrds led to Buffalo Springfield led to The Flying Burrito Brothers. The Velvet Underground and Nico led to Eno and Roxy. Ray Price led to George Jones. Hummingbird Syndicate is the love child of all of the above – one great big orgy of jangle and harmony that you have got to hear! Check out their song, “Waterfall Away” on the 2016 edition of the IPO Compilation CD, and watch for their debut full length album, Pop Tricks, which may be out by the time you read this!
 
Modern Day Idols – A power trio who combine gritty indie rock with powerpop hooks, MDI was born of their mutual love for honest, memorable, melodic, and energetic rock and the collective desire to spread that love to all within earshot! Their debut CD, Almost Glad To See You, will appeal to fans of fellow Boston rockers Sidewalk Driver, Watts, and Airport, to name but a few!
 
Arthur Nasson – A rock Renaissance man with seven full-length albums to his credit, Nasson seamlessly shifts from quirky Dylan-esque folk to art rock, jazz, and Beatle-esque power pop….sometimes all in the same song (several of which have been picked up by MTV)! Fans of ELO and The Cars will also dig this stuff! His latest EP, The Emperor’s New Sound, has been scarfing up rave reviews, and was named as one of 2015’s best releases by 1001 Records for Music Lovers and The Noise!
 
Michael Oliver & The Sacred Band – Yin and Yanxiety, Oliver’s latest album, is a touchingly personal collection of intelligent pop and rock songs reminiscent of Matthew Sweet, Marshall Crenshaw, REM and even The Archies! It is an emotional meditation on the past, filled with beautifully crafted songs that glisten, glow, and grandly unfold, with vocals lingering and lyrics resonating long after the songs have faded.
 
One To Try – Virtuoso slide guitarist Niles Elliott and songwriter Dylan Edmunds began collaborating during their first year at Berklee College of Music. Dylan’s brother, Conner, joined and they began writing and rehearsing in search of a sound they could call their own. With specialties in sound design, midi programming, and pop production, their style is maturing into an insanely catchy hybrid of Rock and Electronica. They’ve released two singles and are working on a debut EP. Fans of artists from Steely Dan to Rooney will dig ‘em!
 
Richie Parsons – Bittersweet powerpop with a just the right amount of country-fied jangle is what you will find on Honey and Tears, the latest disc from Parsons and his band, which has been receiving rave reviews. Fans of Marshall Crenshaw, The Jayhawks, and The Replacements will eat this stuff up for breakfast!
 
Powderhouse – With a sound that combines alt-country, garage rock, power pop and classic rock, Powderhouse is not unlike a combination of Kathleen Edwards, Liz Phair and Beth Orton fronting Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers. Check out their latest EP, Life in Black and White, and hear for yourself!
 
Huxley Rittman & the Rusty Hitmen – “This young man is very much the real deal and a natural. A very skilled guitarist, an adroit, unique yet accessible songwriter, song arrangements that are nuanced but full of range and exposition, a uniquely clever and mature (for his age) delivery and a cynical yet not dour point of view.” (Kerry Alaric Cheeseboro, NYC Blogger, founder of Phude) Laughs & Cries is the baby debut EP that says “I have feelings and you do too god damnit”. Doing Just Fine is its college-aged brother that’s learning how to find the balance between sanity and having a good ol’ time. Check out both EPs and his IPO showcase!
 
Trick Wallace Trio – A power pop trio meets jazz trio all-in-one! As if that wasn’t enough, they also throw in a bit of punk and grunge. Truly a unique band that you must experience for yourself, and we’re thrilled to have them back to kick off the festivities for IPO Boston yet again!
 
 

U.S. Artists From Outside Of Boston

 
Biltmore – “Swirly ecstasy rock from Providence, RI; the incipient classic “Never Let You Go” [on Biltmore’s debut album, Revolutions & Romantics,] comes roaring out of the starting gate, and the parade of dark sunshine pop, swoony and delirious, proceeds unremittingly. (Francis DiMenno, The Noise) The brainchild of mad musical scientist Glenn Bernard and singer, songwriter Phil Ayoub, Biltmore will appeal to fans of Ayoub’s solo work or artists such as U2 and Radiohead.
 
The Corrections – They “…play the kind of versatile pop music that most bands wouldn’t even attempt these days. They approach their craft with a buoyant charm and crisp clarity that denies categorization. It is with melody and rhythmic freshness that they will draw you in, and observation and intelligence that might make you a fan for years.” (Chris Trapper, The Push Stars) Having become a staple in the Buffalo music scene over the past few years, they are now stepping out to share their music with would-be fans everywhere…and IPO is thrilled to be a part of that journey!
 
Ships Have Sailed – Since their inception, LA’s Ships Have Sailed have always struck a balance between exuberant pop and substantial alternative rock, a formula for success that has earned them both a loyal following and numerous accolades from ISC, Unsigned Only and The John Lennon Songwriting Competition. Whether doing it slick and electric, as they do on their debut album, Moodswings, or mellow and acoustic, as exemplified by their EP, Whispers, their soaring melodies and heartfelt delivery will stick with you long after the last note of their songs! They were the first band ever to play all six stops in a row of our West Coast tour this summer, and we’re honored to welcome them to their East Coast IPO debut in Boston!
 
Wizard Farm – A collective from Hartford, Connecticut who weave beautiful sonic waves for your aural enjoyment. Their music is a magical fusion of psychedelia, pop, and rock – with a few surprises thrown in for good measure! Their latest release, Jams for Haiti, is a charity compilation album put together in support of the Hoof It For Haiti Foundation in Rocky Hill. Fifty percent of all proceeds go straight to the people of Haiti through their foundation, so come out and show your support!
 
 

International Artists

 
Dave Rave & Hailee Rose – The venerable Mr. Dave Rave 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”, and another recent CD, Sweet American Music, is quite probably his best ever!! One of the most entertaining and hardworking power poppers around, he played 50 IPO festivals in a row (yes, you read that right), and he still plays many of them! Miss Hailee Rose has been his protégé and backup singer for the past two years, but is also a gifted songwriter and quite the dynamic performer in her own right. The songs on her recently released debut CD, Introducing Hailee Rose, range in style from power pop to soul to blues and the power of her voice will blow you away! They’ve teamed up for a special combined set at IPO Boston that you will not want to miss!