IPO Phoenix 2022
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Artists From Phoenix
Brenyama – The brainchild and collaboration of Maki, from Miki City Japan, and Richard, of Highland Park, NJ, Brenyama has recently made Mesa their home, and New Jersey’s loss is definitely Mesa’s gain! They deliver ultra-fun power pop with a touch of ‘60s garage, ‘80s new wave and ‘90s alternative. Produced by Kurt Reil at The House of Vibes, their latest full-length album, m>Euphoria Love, includes 12 tracks aiming to capture the fun and simplicity of early rock ‘n roll with the buzzing raw energy of power pop. You also need to check out their most recent tunes, the singles “99 Lives” and “Above the Water.”!
Exploding Oranges – Hailing from Tempe, Exploding Oranges’ brand of folky harmony pop with quirky changes can be described as Elliott Smith and Nick Drake crossing paths with The Grateful Dead and CSNY, with The Beach Boys and The Beatles dropping in to play, too. If this sounds intriguing, check out their recent Troubles Move Past single or either of their previous EPs, and come to their IPO showcase to see and hear for yourself!
FEED – The term “lethologica” is popularly attributed to psychologist Carl Jung in the early 20th Century, and is defined in the 1915 edition of Dorland’s American Illustrated Medical Dictionary, as the “inability to remember the proper word.” Lethologica is also (very appropriately) the name of the recent EP released by these future rock stars from the East Valley Schools of Rock, who are all still in their teens! Their music feels somehow familiar and accessible, you kinda like it, without being able to say exactly why or to come up with the proper words to describe it…yeah, that!
Randy Forte – His music has been described as “Simon & Garfunkel meet The Oak Ridge Boys with a twist of Neil Diamond.…[His] latest studio album, Chas Randall, offers that very authentic quality—and with all the necessary pop-sensibility to boot. Catchy, love-centered lyrical hooks—for both the broken and the promised—repeatedly unite with just the right amount of electric riffing in order to create a well-rounded and authentic ode to the Pop and Country-Rock of yesteryear which—thankfully in our slightly intense world-culture—never takes itself too seriously.” (The Ark of Music)
The Joeys – Their recent EP, Punks From Outer Space, is an amalgam of everything from rockabilly to surf with a touch of ‘70s/’80s -era Bowie to all out ballsy Rock N’ Roll. Their high energy live show is also not to be missed!
Naked Chollas – If you long for the heyday of a real band that plays real instruments, who can sing and actually have melody and some killer harmonies then you need to look no further than Naked Chollas. Their critically acclaimed 1998 Let’s Go! CD is considered by many to be a desert power pop classic, and although they no longer play very often, when they do, they can still do it better than just about anyone!
The Rebel Set – Long known to many aficionados of the genre as one of the finest purveyors of desert dwelling surf garage, The Rebel Set’s latest album, Modern Living, recorded in Tucson by Matt Rendon of The Resonars, proves they are still at the top of their game! We can hardly wait to see and hear them do their thing live at their first IPO showcase!
The Sugar Skulls – Featuring a revolving ensemble cast of future rock stars (currently aged 11 – 17), The Sugar Skulls are here to entertain and amaze you with some of the hottest young talent from the East Valley Schools of Rock. Their repertoire includes everything from Led Zeppelin and The Beatles to Green Day, The White Stripes, and Adele, and their IPO showcase promises to be a good time for all!
Street Duo – An appropriately named duo comprised of Peggy Murphy Payne & Timothy Payne, who have been playing music all their lives in a variety of different bands (Peggy was the front woman of power pop stalwarts, Blue Shoes), and have been performing music together for over 12 years. Street Duo plays a variety of songs from Elvis to Fleetwood Mac and beyond, as well as originals, which remind us of the best street “buskar” musicians we encounter all over the streets of Liverpool. Their music and their energetic stage presence will make your face smile and your feet happy!
U.S. Artists From Outside of Phoenix
The Exbats – Psychedelic garage pop is alive and well in the Arizona desert, and The Exbats are a big part of that movement. Recorded by Matt Rendon of the Resonars, their latest album, Now Where Were We, blends influences from the Velvet Underground, Lou Reed, and The Shangri-Las!
Freezing Hands – Frenetic energetic pop rock with a touch of garage, new wave, punk pop, bouncy modern Brit pop and everything in between! Their brand-new full-length album, It Was A Good Run, was recorded in their Tucson home at Midtown studios by the ubiquitous Matt Rendon (of The Resonars), and will appeal to both long-time fans and new converts alike!