IPO Nashville 2016
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Artists From Nashville
The Black Lemons – The ‘70s and ‘80s pop influences (a la The Beatles, Bowie, Steely Dan, and ELO) are clear in the music of this combo featuring the ubiquitous Scot Sax (see below) on drums, but the magic is in how all of these references come together: The catchy tunes belie the complicated lyrics. You’re bopping your head along to the music before you realize you’re contemplating the nature of your existence. Their new EP, You’re Never Gonna Have Enough Money, features four on the floor rhythms, and puts the David Bowie influence front and center. Check it out now!
Richard DuBois – He says he owes a great debt to both Elvises, both Heartbreakers, and two out of three Hanks. Savvy Nashville music scene-sters may also recognize DuBois as the leader of Shamalam, a local radio favorite in the ‘80s, as well as more recently as the leader of The Velvet Tremblers and The Forget-Me-Nots. Now performing under his own name, he continues to crank out gritty, poppy, soulful, edgy, and melodic rock ‘n roll with hooks that will stick in your head for days – check out his recent Where Does The Time Go? EP and hear what we mean for yourself!
Walter Egan and the new Hip – Remember the ‘70s radio hit “Magnet and Steel”?…if you don’t your parents probably do! Egan has lent his songwriting chops and distinctive vocal to many projects since, and shows no signs of slowing down, as evidenced by his latest album, Walternative, a blend of jangly Americana, harmony folk pop ballads, and alt-rock grit that will appeal to a wide array of audiences. IPO is honored to host a performance by this veritable pop icon and his current band!
The Euclids – A rock n’ roll quintet from Nashville by way of the Iowa plains, The Euclids can do it gritty and bluesy, soft and pretty, or hooky and poppy – sometimes within the space of a single song! An EP is in the works, with plans for a full length album soon! Fans of Jet, The Guess Who, and The Black Keys will dig ‘em!
Nick Flora – Pulling influences from artists such as power pop favorites Phantom Planet, Jenny Lewis, and Coconut Records, Flora’s latest album, Futureboy, shows that the quirky and left-of-center pop/rock can be just as fun, accessible, and infectious as its Top 40 counterparts. Known for weaving quick wit with elemental truths in songs that speak to the core of the human condition, Flora has also crafted a live performance that’s altogether intimate and unforgettable along with cultivating an online community of fans that have come to expect the unexpected, so be sure to catch his IPO showcase!
Joshua Ketchmark – Joshua Ketchmark has made a damn good soundtrack to his life, and you should care. Why? Because it very well could be the soundtrack to yours. He rocks what he’s lived – from falling in love to crashing into heartache, watching friends self destruct to lifting them higher, and searching for truth to landing on the rocks of reality. He delivers it all with melodies and riffs that leave shout-out-loud anthems ringing in your head. Fans of The Beatles, Matchbox Twenty, and Radiohead should check out his List Of Regrets CD and his multitude of fine EPs!
Bill Lloyd – Although he’s best known as half of the late ‘80’s RCA country-rock duo, Foster and Lloyd, he has also had an illustrious career as a songwriter, sideman, producer, session player (working alongside greats such as Ray Davies, Glenn Tilbrook, and Martina McBride, to name just a few), and not-so-secret pop-meister. His 1994 album, Set To Pop, was even named one of the 200 top power pop albums of all time by acclaimed writer and pop aficionado John M. Borack! His latest release, Lloydering, features classic pop covers that have appeared on various tribute discs over the years, lovingly brought together in a single collection by the good folks at SpyderPop – check it out now, and don’t miss the special IPO showcase by this Nashville legend!
The Nearly Deads – Mixing the polished pop vocals of singer Theresa Jeane with the aggressive instrumentals of Steve Tobi, Javier Garza, Josh Perrone, and Kevin Koelsch, The Nearly Deads create a truly unique genre that not only gives a nod to gritty grunge, but brings it back in a way never heard before. Their zombie-infused music video for their song “Never Look Back” skyrocketed past six million views, and they’ve been crowned as the Best Pop Punk Band at the Nashville Industry Music Awards in both 2014 and 2015! Check them out before they take the world by storm!
NEW MAN – The latest project from Nashville based popster Cody Newman, NEW MAN features ‘60s soft pop inspired piano pop extraordinaire! If you love Brendan Benson, Harry Nilsson, and The Turtles, you need to check this out!
Our Vintage Film – Blending SoCal-styled arena rock with symphonic strings and reverse instrumental riffs, the songs on Our Vintage Film’s self titled EP are designed to take you to a place of nostalgia – as if your greatest memories were being played back on a vintage 8mm camera. OVF’s lyrical themes are elegantly intertwined through each and every phrase, always leaving behind a message that truly resonates. Self-produced and proudly independent from the heart of the “New Nashville” alternative-rock scene, OVF’s creative intention is to spark listeners’ memories with their music. Fans of All American Rejects and Taking Back Sunday should pay special attention to these guys!
Greg Pope and The Popmonsters – “It’s Greg Pope’s power pop world, and we’re all just living in it….Pope’s sound is a compendium of power pop through the ages – from British Invasion to the “mod” sound of The Who to straight-up ‘70s styled Badfinger/Raspberries pop to the today’s modern power pop” (AbsolutePowerpop.com). Sounds too good to be true? Just check out Fanboy, the latest CD by this affable gent, and you’ll be instantly hooked!
Scot Sax – Sax is a Grammy and Gold Record winning singer/songwriter who continues to push the boundaries of his craft. He co-wrote “Like We Never Loved At All” for Faith Hill/Tim McGraw, for which he won the Grammy, and his own “I Am The Summertime,” featured in the blockbuster movie American Pie, propelled him to the top of the charts and a Gold Record. Although his various power pop outfits (Wanderlust, Feel, Bachelor Number One, and his latest, The Black Lemons – see above) have always carried a hint of blues and soul, his latest solo album, I’m In A Mood, brings these influences to the fore, and is sure to be appreciated both by long-time fans and new audiences alike!
Scarlett Hill – A Country duo who recently moved to Nashville from Atlanta, and Atlanta’s loss is definitely Nashville’s gain! Armed with a foundation of Folk and Americana roots, Scarlett Hill’s music is driven by tight harmonies, twangy guitars and banjos, and experiences of love and life growing up in the Midwest. Their debut full length, Wildfire, will appeal to fans of The Dixie Chicks, Mumford and Sons, Bruce Springsteen, and The Avett Brothers, to name but a few!
Seizer – Fans of classic pop-punk artists such as Blink-182, Green Day, MxPx, and Offspring, as well as the more traditional songwriting of artists such as Johnny Cash and The Beatles, will dig the music of this Murfreesboro power trio. Their debut EP, Past Regrets & Haven’t Yets, is the beginning of the storyline involving the title character, Seizer, that will be continued in every album to come.
Vista Blue – You know any band featuring members of the Loblaws, Second Saturday, and The Robinsons has gotta be great, and Vista Blue does not disappoint! Influenced by power pop greats such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Ramones, and Fountains of Wayne, their various EPs feature hook-filled melodies, wry lyrics, and a heaping helping of energetic harmonies! We can’t wait to see these guys live!
U.S. Artists From Outside of Nashville
Lannie Flowers Band – Although Flowers and the band hail from the great state of Texas, they’ve done what no other artist in the history of the LA Music Awards has done…namely, taking home four awards in a single year in 2013! His latest CD, New Songs, Old Stories, picks up where his earlier disc, Circles, left off, but rocks even harder! Badfinger-esque in-your-face guitars and vocal harmonies blend with softer shifting harmonies more reminiscent of XTC, but that fans of artists from The Raspberries to The Velvet Underground will be sure to appreciate! We also appreciate that he and his band have played the IPO festival in many cities throughout the world and continue to do so, with no sign of slowing down!
The Shazam – One of the most respected and beloved pop bands of all time is back, and IPO is glad to have ‘em! Their trademark blend of mod, garage, power pop, and down and dirty rock n’ roll on all of their five excellent CDs has earned them much critical acclaim and comparisons to bands like The Who, The Sweet, T Rex and The Rolling Stones. If you don’t already have them – or even if you do – be sure to check out their brand new Record Store Day vinyl release, Shazam Gold, which features a selection of tunes from their entire illustrious career!
The Slang – With catchy melodies, layered guitars, and driving rhythms, The Slang is carving out a niche all their own within the indie-rock scene. Chuck Taylor, writer and senior editor for Billboard Magazine and voting member for the Grammy Awards, has described The Slang as a “nice, smooth ride…with numerous instrumental hooks,” and added that the guys have “instrumental savvy, vocal finesse, and a sing-along hook.” Check out their recently released self -titled EP and hear for yourself! Definitely one of the most exciting new bands to come out of Columbus, OH!
The Uncommon Houseflies – A foursome from Louisville, Kentucky who play accessible powerpop/rock, with a heaping helping of jangle and incredibly humorous lyrics. Their musical style will appeal to fans of Nerf Herder and Fountains of Wayne, and with song titles like “The F*ck You Song” and “Beating Up Hippies,” you know these boys like to have fun!
Aaron Williams and Michael C. Hayes – Two of Chicago’s finest crop of new singer/songwriters share the stage in this special IPO performance! Williams has been writing and recording with Grammy producer Johnny K, generating a slew of songs that carry infusions of classic, indie, and punk rock melded into the original sound on his debut full-length,
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.” In addition to being one of the most entertaining and hardworking power poppers around, he’s also been known to display his jazzy side on several collaborations with fellow Canadian singer/songwriter, Mark McCarron. A recent CD,