IPO Arlington 2023
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Artists from Arlington/Dallas
The Dirty Reeds – “American indie meets The Beatles!” The Dirty Reeds deliver catchy melody-first original songs with jangly guitars, melodic bass lines and toe tapping beats. This DFW based trio formed after Sean Hayward (Vocals\Guitars) and Ed McClung (Vocals\Bass) won the Cokers BBQ singer\song writer competition. Deacon Durell rounds out the outfit on drums.
Dogs For Senate – A new independent project by DFW-based musicians Anthony Stroud and Nick Roels, Dogs For Senate is a group that wants to invoke emotion in its listeners, and wants people to feel the love they themselves feel for their music. They share this love via memorable melodies, effective lyrics, and infectious grooves, all of which can be heard on their recent Now & Then EP and brand-new “Cross Your Mind” single.
Lannie Flowers Band – They’ve played IPO in many a city – from LA to Vancouver to Stockholm, and even Liverpool, England, at The World-Famous Cavern Club – earning fans across the globe with their in-your-face guitars and equally in-your-face sweet vocal harmonies delivered with punch and panache. We’re therefore excited to see them play to their home crowd as the stars of our SpyderPop Records showcase. Lannie and the band’s newest album, Flavor of The Month, a joint release by SpyderPop and Burbank’s Big Stir Records, is a collection of tunes originally released as singles throughout the buildup to his previous album, Home, all lovingly and expertly re-recorded. “Big Hooks, bigger choruses and melody at its core…Pop Rock / Guitar Pop at its very best” (I Don’t Hear A Single).
Wade Johnson – A prolific singer/songwriter, Johnson has been cranking out songs for the past 50 years. His influences range from country to rock to power pop and everything in between. His latest release, Two Hearts/You Know It, is available now as a Big Stir digital single, and his live show is sure to paint a smile on your face.
Lucky Pierres – Dallas keepers of the Ray Price beat, Lucky Pierres have been bringing their blend of honky tonk and roll, country rock, and Americana to Dallas and beyond since 1995, when they played their first few gigs at the legendary Naomi’s on Canton Street in Deep Ellum. Fans of Patsy Cline will dig them!
The Mullens – They’ve been performing and releasing their brand of Texas Garage Rock, rock, sunny pop and blues since the release of their blistering album debut on Get Hip Records way back in the ‘90s. Several albums, singles, and decades later, they are still going strong with no signs of slowing down. Check out their latest album, Get What You Deserve, and their IPO showcase to see and hear for yourself!
The Pengwins – A band of buddies (including Lannie Flowers-see above) who had their heyday in Fort Worth, Texas in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, back when power pop was king! Taking cues from the greats such as Badfinger, Cheap Trick, and The Raspberries, their music is power pop all the way….and they can still deliver it better than just about anyone!! One of SpyderPop Records’ finest artists!
The Pozers – The Tyler, Texas band has definitely become more of a favorite with each IPO they play! “…[G]reat melodies, lovely tunes, cool harmonies, psych-drenched guitars, and sweet power pop sounds to delight your ears! The Pozers are a real power pop group that sounds like a mix of Cheap Trick, Beatles, and Apples in Stereo. This formula is a winning blend…crossing the bridge between major label and indie sounds…Grade A power pop!” (Jeremy Morris, Jam Records). We’re especially honored that they’re making their IPO Arlington showcase the official release show for their latest album, Something Pop. We can hardly wait!!
September Moon – A high energy vocal band that creatively blends country, rock and Americana into one unique sound connecting with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. The band prides itself in delivering lively shows and impressing audiences with tight three-part harmonies, alternating lead vocals and catchy melodies. In September 2022 the band released their self-titled debut album, which charted 5 singles including their first Top 40 song (34) on the official Billboard chart for Texas independent country radio! We look forward to welcoming them to their first IPO!
John Stevens – A fixture on the Fort Worth music scene for over 25 years, Stevens’ musical adventures have included everything from jazz to blues, reggae to garage rock, Americana and – of course – power pop, for which he’s become known to many IPO’ers as a member of The Lannie Flowers Band (see above). His debut solo album, Living Room, blends his various influences into his own compelling and beautiful mixture that fans of Paul Simon, John Lennon, Steve Earle, as well as long-time fans of Lannie Flowers, will love!
Velvet Love Box – Formed way back in 1997 at an acoustic jam session at a local sports bar, Velvet Love Box more closely resembles a three-ring circus than a band. Velvet Love Box, sometimes described as “acoustic anarchy”, features three veteran musicians from the north Texas area: guitarist/vocalist Scot Cloud, percussionist/vocalist Brandon Bumpas, and vocalist/bassist Neil Schnell (the latter two, also of Lannie Flowers band). Their classic 2002 Pilot album features favorites from their live sets, with just the barest hint of studio magic.
The Vintage Yell – “Hailing from North Texas, The Vintage Yell’s enchanting music is a perfect blend of soulful vibes and genuine Americana spirit….Jesse Spradlin, a Virginia-born and Texas-grown singer-songwriter, comes from a family with deep musical roots, her father being a renowned blues Hall of Famer. Meanwhile, Chris Raspante, a Texas native with two decades of experience in Nashville, boasts an impressive resume, having performed on the Tonight Show, the Grand Ol’ Opry, and other notable venues alongside countless artists. As a formidable live act, The Vintage Yell has captivated audiences all over North Texas and beyond with their authentic performances and heartfelt lyrics. Now, they’re ready to take the music world by storm and share their passion with you.” (Tom O’Connell, The Post at River East)
Danny Wilkerson – He’s been a Mayor, a Pickle, and a Pengwin. He’s played music all over the world, sang on a Weird Al Yankovic record, and recorded at Abbey Road Studios. Danny Wilkerson has accomplished quite a bit since he first began playing music at age 13, but there’s one thing he didn’t check off his bucket list until 2018. With the release of his most excellent, 10-song debut – simply titled Wilkerson – he can now add that to his wealth of accomplishments! The album is anything but simple, as it’s filled with an abundance of intricate harmonies and lush arrangements to dazzle the senses, and is very deserving of the high ranks it received on many a year end “best of” list! If you don’t yet own it, you should!
U.S. Artists From Outside of Arlington/Dallas
Barry Knoedl – I first became acquinted with Mr. Knoedl when, in 1979, I heard a 7” with covers of the Lennon/McCartney tunes “Tip of My Tongue” b/w “One and One Is Two”, by his band, The Badbeats. Circa 44 years later, and he’s playing his first IPO! He’s recently released several CDs of his solo work, as well as himself and longtime Badbeats partner, Bill Kern (RIP), and it’s all lovely singer/songwriter pop with Mersey elements. You can find them all at his website, and I highly recommend that you do. He’ll be coming in from Tyler, Texas, joined by his daughter, Utthita Cassandrasana, making his IPO set all the more personal.
The Lunar Laugh – An indie-pop band based in Oklahoma City spearheaded by the singer/songwriter trio of Jared Lekites, Connor Anderson, and Campbell Young, the group intertwines their modern pop and rock structure with hooks under the influence of power pop masterworks of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Their latest release, Nighthawks!, is an exciting collection of never before released live material and a pair of brand new exclusive studio tracks. Come see and hear why they have become one of the most beloved power pop bands on the scene!