IPO Detroit 2018
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Artists From Detroit
The Bruised Reed – Led by husband-wife duo Josh and Kirsten Wheeler, the band manage to weave dreamy layered melodies and Kirsten’s ethereal vocals together with angular chord changes in a way that is mellow and rocks at the same time. The latest installment in their two-track EP series, Doubles 4, will appeal to fans of Elliott Smith, Pedro The Lion, and fellow Michiganders (and sometimes IPO players) Glowfriends. Check them out!
Gregory Curvey from The Luck of Eden Hall – Long known as a fixture on the Chicago scene as a swirling guitar-jangling psychedelic rock experience in the tradition of King Crimson, Cream, The Beatles, and The Dukes of Stratosphear, et al, The Luck of Eden Hall released nine full-length albums and garnered much well-deserved industry praise on their road to world-wide psych-pop domination! Now living in Detroit, Curvey can still jingle and jangle with the best of ‘em, and has big things planned for 2018, including a soundtrack for a feature film and a brand new album with his new electricity free psych pop outfit, Custard Flux! Watch for it!
The Detroit Dives – Taking cues from their past lives in The Junk Monkeys, The Black Mollies, and The Sunday Painters, as well as great rock and punk band influences including The Stones, The Who, The Clash, The Stooges, and The MC5, The Detroit Dives have crafted a sound that weaves driving riffs and compelling, sometimes irreverent lyrics into a gritty but honest musical tapestry that is distinctly rock ‘n roll. The songs on their debut album, Magnificent Desolation, are proof that rock isn’t dead, and that sometimes all you need is three guys and a great hook! Their 2017 EP, House Caught Fire, takes the band’s synergies to a whole ‘nother level! Check it out!
Elsie Binx – Michigan made and Michigan proud, Elsie Binx is the passion project of Detroit songstress Erin Elise Accomando. With the help of producer Kevin Wesley Williams, the band has evolved and grown over the years, and typically plays as a 6 to 8-piece ensemble, lending an amalgamation of talents and textures to the songs. Rockers and pop lovers alike will relate to the catchy hooks and rock riffs on their latest release, That’s What She Said.
Matt Fig & The Disappointments – Hailing from the suburb of Wyandotte, Fig and his band combine the in-your-face rock n’ roll influence of Aerosmith with hooky slightly self-deprecating power pop in the best tradition of artists such as Robbie Rist and Fountains of Wayne! Fig (the man minus band) did many shows with Enuff Z’nuff; how cool is that?? Whether solo or plus band, Fig is one performer you will not want to miss!
The Hangabouts – Purveyors of whimsical psychedelic power pop extraordinaire, The Hangabouts’ latest album, Kits & Kats and Saxon Wives, wanders from the fantastic daydreams of devout Anglophilia into the soul of Americana, and emerges with a misty eye cast toward an uncertain future. Anything goes on this 13 song, or is it 12 1/2 song, platter, which parlays the band’s understanding and affection of the touchstone power pop groups from the golden era, with a distinct breath of Pacific Coast Highway air.
John Holk & The Sequins – Don’t let the embroidered pants, bolo tie, boots and cowboy hat fool you – although Holk and his band do have a strong country influence, the songs on their debut CD, If You See Her and latest release Where You Going are full of stick in your head hooks, jangly breezy melodies, sneaky chord changes and harmonies that fans of pure power pop and psychedelic pop are sure to appreciate! If Hank Williams, The Byrds, and Big Star are your cup of tea, you will want to know John Holk & The Sequins!
Mella – In addition to lending her voice and songwriting talents to other artists as a session singer, songwriter, and voiceover artist, Mella is an accomplished original singer/songwriter in her own right. Her debut album, Zebra Stone, will appeal to fans of artists from Carly Simon to Whitney Houston to Katy Perry, and she hopes to have a second album available soon!
Nina & The Buffalo Riders – A product and cumulative manifestation of Detroit’s legendary musical history, the six-piece outfit combines soulful vocals with instrumentation reminiscent of early blues and psychedelic rock from the likes of Big Brother and the Holding Co. and Jefferson Airplane. Nina’s voice has been called “one of the seven wonders of the Midwestern World” (Metro Times), and the band is known for their high intensity live performances and genuine desire to make real friendships with audiences everywhere, so come check them out….and also be sure to pick up a copy of their latest EP, For The Dirt!
Nick Piunti – His debut CD, 13 In My Head, flew to the top of many a “Best Of” list in 2013, and he hasn’t slowed down since! His latest release, Trust Your Instincts, has everything a power pop fan could wish for: adult alternative songs that hit hard in the hooks department, bubblegum handclaps, and bits of glam and orchestration to complement his penchant for melodies rooted in the ‘60s and ‘70s. All this, plus Piunti’s lyrical observations – which rise to anthemic pop levels on this one – make him a perennial IPO favorite!
The Pounders – If you like high energy pop with a dash of jangle, you will LOVE The Pounders! Their sound draws comparisons to everyone from Elvis Costello to The Who to The Romantics and MC5, and their CD, You And What Army?, will also appeal to fans of Tom Petty and Neil Young. The Pounders live show is a musical experience not to be missed…and word on the street is they’ve got some new tunes and a few “surprises” in store for this year’s IPO showcase, so don’t miss it!
The Romeo Flynns – Heavily influenced by the British invasion of the ‘60s, a time when it was all about the song, they learned how to do one thing well: compose songs that people want to hear! Combining their British influences with a sound reminiscent of the power pop scene of Detroit in the ‘80s, The Romeo Flynns’ latest CD, Masque of Anarchy, is a perfect example of what Detroit power pop once was and is once again!
The Starfire Band – A group of brothers and high school buddies drawn together by their love of hard rock and bands like Alice Cooper, Bad Company, Aerosmith, and Led Zeppelin. Today they draw the inspiration for their music from Detroit’s deep musical roots, writing and performing tunes inspired by The Beatles, Cheap Trick, Marshall Crenshaw, Raspberries, and Eric Carmen, characterized by good melodies and flowing chord progressions, as exemplified by the songs on their latest CD, Livin’ in the City.
The Sugar Clouds – Blending psychedelia with synth loops and quirky pop hooks, wrapped in an ambient shoegazer layer of fuzz, they are quite aptly named, as their music will make you feel like you are floating away on a cloud of sweet electronic pop confection. Check out their latest CD, Partners Don’t Do That (They Watch and Be Amazed), and you’ll hear what we mean!
Ronny Tibbs – Whether solo or with his band The 305’s, Ronny Tibbs’ songs mix personal reflections and observations with catchy hooks, gentle melodies, and subtle chord changes – whether delivered with rollicking piano pop or intimate folk pop style! Check out his latest self titled single and IPO showcase at your own peril of becoming an instant fan!
 
U.S. Artists From Outside of Detroit
Gordy Garris – The Review Magazine of Garris’ home town, Saginaw, Michigan, proclaims “Pop-rocker Gordy Garris established himself firmly as a singer with a gift for writing “hooks.” Said hooks, along with his gentle folk pop melodies, and anthemic uplifting lyrics on his latest release, Never Give Up, will appeal to fans of Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars.
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 Kalamazoo resident and his band can stake their rightful place in the IPO Hall Of Fame!
Anthony Kaczynski (of Fireking) – One of the main men of Detroit’s own Figures On A Beach, Kaczynski’s current project, Fireking, are the self-proclaimed “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 2015 Double Trouble album features a whopping 22 tracks of their trademark high-octane rawk! And when it comes to rocking the solo thing, Kaczynski does it better than just about anyone!
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 latest disc, 5000 Light Years Beyond The Speed Of Sound, and you’ll know what I’m talkin’ about!
Drew Neely & The Heroes – Neely has long been a Chicago favorite 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!
The Stick Arounds – Any band fabricated around a love for acts like The Knack, Elvis Costello, Big Star and Teenage Fanclub is bound to get our attention, and this one from Lansing definitely has it! In the more than 20 original songs that the band regularly plays live, you’ll find bombastic garage rock, sharp Byrds-esque pop, Guided By Voices inspired abandon, and classic rock turned on its ear, all themed together with a thread of instrumental ingenuity and a penchant for clever and thoughtful lyrics. Their recently released debut album, Mystery Garage, features twelve original compositions recorded live in front of an audience over two nights.
International Artists
Dave Rave – He began popping very powerfully indeed a near quarter century ago as part of the legendary Canadian bands Teenage Head (who have reunited) 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 he’s recently shown his enduring love for quirky ‘80s-style pop on Indicator, 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!!