IPO Boston 2019

 
Click on artist name to go to their music page
 
CLICK HERE to see IPO Boston 2019 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!
 
The Amplifier Heads – Any band featuring Sal Baglio (of Boston classic pub-rockers, The Stompers!) has got to be great…but as if that wasn’t enough, he’s teamed up with other Boston power pop and rock luminaries, Ducky Carlisle and Paul Armstrong (of The Flashcubes and 1.4.5 – see above) for an unbeatable rockin’ good time sure to get you on your feet. Check out their just released album, Loudah, and make sure you don’t miss their IPO showcase!!
 
The Eric Barao Band – Long-time fans of Boston powerpop may remember Barao as a co-founder of local pop-darlings, The Cautions. In his latest project, he’s teamed up with some of the coolest musicians from the Boston pop underground to perform some of the best orchestrated Beatle-esque pop around! His recently released album, Obsolete, proves great melodies are anything but, and features guest appearances from Mike Viola and Roger Joseph Manning Jr. Fans of Jason Falkner and Bleu will also dig it!
 
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!
 
Dave Charles – Brother of Boston musician/producer extraordinaire Brian Charles, if you come to Dave’s IPO show you can see that the apple hasn’t fallen far from the genes, as he delivers song after song of sparkling pop/rock!
 
CrunchTime – If you like pop punk punchy and crunchy, then look no further than CrunchTime! They follow in the footsteps of fellow Bostonian pop punkers, such as The Ducky Boys and The Dogmatics, with their infectious in-your-face tunes and energetic delivery. They’ve been hiding out in the studio for the past couple of months, and are planning to emerge with a release of some sort to have available at their November and December shows, which we hope will be ready in time for IPO…don’t miss this opportunity to see them rock and to take them home with you!
 
Glowbox – Like many great power pop bands, Glowbox is built on a foundation of two guitars, bass, and drums, with all four members of the band sharing an affinity for the classic melodic rock of the ‘60s and ‘70s. As such, their latest album, Fossil Fuel, will appeal to fans of artists such as Squeeze, The Who, and The Knack. We can’t wait to see and hear them rock their first IPO!
 
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 debut full length album, Pop Tricks and their IPO showcase!
 
Kid Gulliver – One listen to their latest EP, Spree, is sure to put a smile on your face! The two boy/two girl combo take their inspiration from a wide array of influences – anything from British Invasion to New Wave/Punk and moody ‘90s Indie Rock to Opera! The result is at once both surprising and familiar, not to mention ridiculously catchy!
 
Arthur Nasson – A rock Renaissance man with eight 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! He’s been getting some recent internet buzz from the likes of PopMatters, Rock and Roll Globe, and Goldmine, and his latest album, Whack Mythology, even had a couple of songs that cracked the Top 10 in the UK indie charts! Check out his IPO showcase to see and hear what all the buzz is about!
 
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.
 
Richie Parsons – Bittersweet power pop with beautiful melodies and harmonies, with a just the right amount of country-fied jangle, is what you will find on Black Throated Blue, the latest disc from Parsons and his band. The album was produced by Ken Stringfellow, who also plays and sings throughout all 12 songs. Fans of Marshall Crenshaw, The Replacements, The Posies, and The Zombies will eat this stuff up for breakfast!
 
Stuck Stars – The brainchild of former frontpersons Lesley Goldberg and guitarist Neil Meehan of Liberte, they are an Indie/Ambient Rock band with flavors of bands like Nirvana, The Foo Fighters, Garbage, and early Coldplay, who can take you deep within yourself on one song, and send your spirit soaring on the next.
 
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

 
Kris Rodgers & The Dirty Gems – Known for years as “rock n’ roll’s secret weapon”, Kris ‘Fingers’ Rodgers has been a recording & touring sideman in top garage rock and power pop acts like The Connection, Scott Sorry, The New Trocaderos, Bullet Proof Lovers, and Kurt Baker Band. He took center stage with his 2017 solo full length debut, Losing The Frequency, an album of ‘70s inspired arena rock gems replete with Rodgers’ bashing piano keys and raspy throated growl, and Baker pulling sideman duties on bass, and hasn’t looked back! Every Little Crack, his latest release with The Dirty Gems, is a rollicking old school record, available as a limited 7” glow in the dark vinyl, on Little Steven’s Wicked Cool Records! How wicked cool is that!?
 
Tiger Bomb – An all-girl feline frenzy from Portland, Maine, that fuses catchy original garage-pop songs with tight harmonies, ferocious guitars, and a high-energy attitude for a purr-fectly captivating experience. Their debut LP, Uproar, features14 original garage-pop songs with tight harmonies, ferocious guitars, and a high-energy attitude, mastered by the renowned “Slaughter” Joe Foster (My Bloody Valentine; The Jesus & Mary Chain). Fans of girl groups from Josie & The Pussycats to The Pandoras will dig it!
 
V As In Victor – A quirky energetic pop combo from Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, V As In Victor will appeal to fans of artists from The Knack to The Rubinoos to Fountains of Wayne. Their four-song self-titled EP and their IPO showcase will leave you longing for more!
 
The Shellye Valauskas Experience – Based in the New Haven area, The Shellye Valauskas Experience is led by Shellye Valauskas (a high school biology teacher) and Dan Falcone (who wears many hats). In addition to being Valauskas’ songwriting collaborator, bandmate & producer, Falcone has served the Connecticut music scene since the early ‘80s with Jon Brion in The Excerpts, his own Dean and the Dragsters and a host of others. Their 2008 EP, Box It Up, was named one of the top 10 local releases in yearly roundups by The New Haven Register and New Haven Advocate. Their debut full-length, History of Panic, was 10 years in the making, and followed suit with appearances near the top of many a 2018 “best of” list, as their shared love of the punchy pop of Crowded House, The Posies and Aimee Mann helps them nail a distinctive, accessible, radio-friendly sound from the start.
 

International Artists

 
Dave Rave – 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, has often been referred to as “The Canadian Nick Lowe,” and is now an inductee in the Canadian Indie Music Hall of Fame!! (Congratulations, Dave!!) A recent CD, Live With What You KnowAdventureland, is “… [j]am-packed with the melodic, catchy pop rock that Dave’s best known for, this ferocious recording captures the rambunctious, boundless energy he always displays on stage.” (Hamilton Blues Lovers). 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!!