IPO Los Angeles 2023

 
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Artists From Los Angeles/Orange County

 
Ricky Berger – An LA-based singer/songwriter/visual artist whose style includes elements of folk and jazz and has a classic cinematic feel. Fans of artists from Gershwin to Ella Fitzgerald to Edie Brickell will dig her!
 
Jason Berk and The Jerks – A critically acclaimed singer-songwriter who comes to the west coast (he splits time between Los Angeles and San Francisco) by way of New York, Berk has proven himself to be a musical tour-de-force, teaching himself guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, ukulele, mandolin, and banjo, and garnering nationwide radio-play. His classic musical style has drawn comparison to such greats as The Beatles, Randy Newman, The Beach Boys, and Elvis Costello, to name but a few, and keeps getting better with each successive album! Check out his latest album, Strangers, and his kick ass band at IPO to see and hear what we mean!
 
The Bings – A reunion show 40-years in the making, The Bings will be performing songs from their recently released debut album, Power Pop Planet (The Lost Tapes), for which the 16-track master was recorded 40 years ago and then sat undiscovered and unreleased in a California bedroom closet until it was unearthed during the 2020 lockdown. Driven by the songwriting of David Chrenko, and fueled by big guitars and three-part harmonies, the album is a literal time capsule from the pre-MTV 1980s, when new wave, punk, and power pop were still underground genres that flourished mainly in New York and Hollywood clubs. Whether you’re old enough to remember experiencing power pop live back in the day or a more recent devotee of the genre, this is one show you will not want to miss!!
 
The Bluebell Smile – They’re reluctant to be labelled, but if Jack White hitched a lift with Kurt Cobain in Eddie Van Halen’s truck, while Thom Yorke served them at a drive-thru and Led Zeppelin looked on from under the shade of a Joshua tree, you’d get The Bluebell Smile. Their debut EP, E.T.S.A. showcases their ability to blend classic rock n’ roll, indie and alt-rock, with a touch of pop and prog, and turn it into something all their own. Pretty impressive for a bunch of guys barely in their 20s – come see and hear what all the buzz is about!
 
Bobby Bognar’s Handsome – The latest project led by Bobby Bognar, who is known to many as the leader of the late great Piper Downs, and his more recent stripped down acoustic project, The Bognar Brothers. Bognar is loved for his witty, often humorous lyrics and engaging stage banter, not to mention his modesty…or lack thereof (wink)! He’s got new songs, and his latest band is seriously gonna rock!
 
James Booth & The Return – Booth proudly proclaims on his Facebook page that he and his band are here to save Rock n’ Roll from itself, and their latest album, Postcards From The New Frontier, suggests this is not just empty boasting. Produced and recorded by the ubiquitous Fernando Perdomo (see below), this briskly-moving album is a cross-pollination between power pop and progressive rock, and paints a cosmic portrait of doomed relationships. The deeply felt poetry of the lyrics are complimented by the dynamic and stylistic shifts in the music. At once intimate and epic, accessible yet self-contained, this is easily the band’s most ambitious and polished work to date.
 
Adrian Bourgeois – The release of his 2014 album, Pop/Art, brought Bourgeois to the attention of pop cognoscenti and media alike, earning much praise for its lush arrangements, “…angelic harmonies and melodies that swoop and soar like a hook-laden roller coaster” (Sacramento Bee). His slew of recent singles do not disappoint, and have us eagerly looking forward to his next full-length album as well as his IPO showcase!
 
David Brookings and The Average Lookings – This transplant to the LA area (by way of Memphis and San Jose) has consistently released stellar albums. His music has been compared to the likes of Jellyfish, Matthew Sweet, and Rooney. His latest release, 2021’s Mania At The Talent Show, showcases both his smooth vocal style and his talent for writing a jangly pop melody…or 12 of them!
 
Buzz Killjoy – If you love garage rock, punk pop and quirky pop, you will love this LA combo! Their debut album, Critically Acclaimed, has intelligent humorous lyrics, hooky anthemic choruses, and a ton of energy. Fans of artists from They Might Be Giants and Bowling For Soup to The Stooges or The Clash will dig ‘em!
 
Blaine Campbell and The California Sound – If Blaine Campbell could afford therapy, he probably wouldn’t have to write songs. But as it is, music takes better care of him than his HMO does. The band’s brand new self-titled album is a sunshine and harmony pop soundtrack from your favorite fake TV show from the 1970s!
 
Circa 62 – Fronted by two veterans of the LA music scene, Max Goldman and Gina Romantini, who are taking center stage with their own music after years playing out as hired guns to the likes of The Wallflowers, The Jayhawks, Fountains of Wayne, Nick Fradiani, Tiffany Houghton, and many others, their self-titled EP offers a variety of classic pop sounds – the way AM radio used to be! Fans of girl group/soul to hooky rock n’ roll to twangy Americana will dig it!
 
The Circlons – A quartet who refuse to be handily categorized into any single genre, they take inspiration from the past, present, and future to create music that is eternally appealing. Each song on their EP, When The Music Was Pretty, has a different musical inspiration that ranges from pop-punk, blues funk, ‘60s cinematic pop, to Krautrock-inspired free-form improvisation. The music will appeal to fans of the Buzzcocks, The Bellrays, Scott Walker, and Can. We can hardly wait for their IPO showcase and a full-length album, which is in the works!
 
Michael Culhane – As the leader of Circle Sky, Culhane rocked the Boston night club scene and college radio, conquered the crowd in New York as the opening act for Tin Machine’s debut, and toured the world after being hand-picked by none other than David Bowie himself. Now based in LA, this fine singer songwriter is performing and recording under his own name, with several singles and a new EP, entitled This Is Now, to show for it. We look forward to welcoming him to his first IPO!
 
Dennis Davison – Long-time IPO and LA pop scene devotees will likely remember Davison as one of the leaders of the Grammy-nominated indie band, The Jigsaw Seen, who released nine full-length albums throughout their career, and were featured on numerous compilations and box sets, including the seminal Children of Nuggets. He is also the lead vocalist for neo-psych pioneers, United States of Existence, who have a new album in the works, and whose back-catalog was recently released on the great Spanish label, Guerssen Records. To top it all off, he also writes and records under his own name; his brand-new EP, Creaturefeature, combines his indie psych and pop sensibilities with a sweeping cinematic feel.
 
Drool Brothers – They put the function back into dysfunction to create psychological pop soul with a slightly warped sensibility. Studio geek real brothers Chuck Mancillas and Tom Slik have had a long reckless relationship with LA’s music culture, and have emancipated themselves within the walls of their laboratory where they amuse themselves and their fans with audio mutations. Their latest EP, Bring Your Trunks, is quirky hooky romp with shades of sunshine and psych pop. Imagine a funkier They Might Be Giants, a more soulful Frank Zappa, or what The Partridge Family might be like if they spent time hangin’ with The Beastie Boys…or better yet, just come out to see and hear them for yourself!
 
Electric Children – Blending influences from psych, garage, rock, prog, blues and a little bit of everything in between, Electric Children are a juggernaut of swirling keyboards, searing guitars, driving beats, and vocal harmonies. Their latest single, Triste Journée, is a preview of their upcoming double LP, Moon Dreams, which should be released later this year. We can hardly wait to see and hear them do their thing live at IPO!
 
Feef – Having performed her songs in bedrooms, basements, English and Scottish pubs, Dutch coffee houses, and having worked with the likes of worked of Jon Turner (Cocteau Twins), Richard Perry (Harry Nilsson) and Matt Forger (Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson), Feef brings her unique brand of folk pop to her very first IPO! Think Cat Stevens meets Cole Porter while hanging barefoot in Laurel Canyon, and you get the general idea.
 
Ruthann Friedman – Best known as the writer of The Association’s hit song “Windy,” Friedman was an active participant in the California folk-pop scene, along with Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, and Van Dyke Parks, and released her debut album, Constant Companion, in 1971. After an extended hiatus from music spent raising children, running her own company, and earning a degree from UCLA, she re-emerged on the scene in 2006, with the release of Hurried Life: Lost Recordings 1965 – 1971, and Windy: A Ruthann Friedman Songbook (on Now Sounds!), and has been going strong ever since. IPO is honored to present a special showcase by this legendary singer/songwriter!
 
Garden Patrol – A group of friends from Long Beach influenced by a wide array of pop styles who are constantly on patrol for sweet sparkling pop goodness. Their recently released debut single, Never Ever/Valentine, will appeal to fans of all kinds of sunshine and orchestrated pop, but also has a few darker melancholic tones. We can’t wait to see and hear what they do next!
 
Lori Garrote – Drawn to musical classics such as The Doors, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Garrote started performing cover songs at talent shows and other local events using whatever guitar she could get her hands on. As she developed her skills and style, she found herself infusing her raw-rock sound with various artists like Blondie, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and other well-known pop culture artists. Moving past her beginnings in South Florida, where she earned accolades such as “Best Female Rock Vocalist,” she is ready to take LA by storm. Her Subject To Change EP is loaded with hooky rockin’ should-be radio hits!
 
The Glimmer Stars – Led by one of the nicest guys with one of the coolest names, Mini Mendez, the Glimmer Stars have been an underground pop scene favorite for decades, with numerous singles and compilation appearances to their credit. Remaining true to their roots and strong belief that rock n’ roll should be fun, pure and simple, the Glimmer Stars are sure to put a smile on your face!
 
Hello Stranger – “A bombastic, riff-loving bunch, ‘90s style” (Kevin Bronson, Buzzbands.la), Hello Stranger is singer/songwriter/guitarist Sam Deffenbaugh, joined by Alex Monfort and Doug Slohm. Their debut album, Long Division, was released in 2018 and has since received over one million streams worldwide. The latest, Social Dissonance, also charted on multiple stations during the first week it was released. They have played to packed stages at iconic venues, such as Whisky-A-GoGo and The Viper Room, and we proudly welcome them to their first IPO.
 
Danny Henry – Voted as The Deli Magazine’s New England Readers Artist of the Year in 2015, the ever-colorful Danny Henry is a jukebox hero, a sexual visionary, and the last bastion of rock and roll! Born and raised in Milford, Connecticut, and now making his home in LA, he continues to write and perform his unique brand of pop, blending influences from the likes of The Beach Boys, The Kinks, Elton John, and Billy Joel. Check out any of his singles and recently released Off-Vaudeville album (many of which were recorded at Reseda Ranch Studios with the ubiquitous Fernando Perdomo – see below) and his IPO showcase, and you too will become an instant fan!
 
Rick Hromadka – No stranger to IPO audiences, Hromadka has been a key figure in the LA pop scene since the ‘90s and is known to many – not just in LA, but around the globe – as the singer/songwriter/mastermind behind the awesome bands Double Naught Spies and Maple Mars. His latest solo record, Better Days, shot to the top of many 2020 “best of” lists and deservedly so: “”Rick Hromadka and a batch of musical pals have created an album that is one of the best power pop releases in memory, a surging and artful effort that is bolstered by excellent song craft, experimental flourishes aplenty and nuanced musicianship” (Robert Kinsler, Rock ‘n Roll Truth). His IPO showcase is sure to be a musical extravaganza not to be missed!
 
Joker’s Hand – Formed in 2017 by Kevin Kawano and Matt Lau, Joker’s Hand has catapulted themselves above the noise floor of the Los Angeles music scene with their explosive live performances. Kawano and Lau, both first generation Asian Americans, seamlessly fuse together punk, alternative and hip hop to create a fresh sound that reaches across the generational divide. Fans of artists from The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, The Offspring and The Beastie Boys to Green Day, Blink-182, and Fall Out Boy will dig their latest EP, Seeing Red, and their IPO showcase!
 
Andras Jones – Purveyor of melodic witticism extraordinaire, Jones has toured the US and Canada both solo and with his band, The Previous, and is also the host/creator of Radio8Ball, author of “Accidental Initiations” (from Sync Book Press) and the star of several motion pictures. He’s back in LA and doing his thing live again after an extended hiatus, and we at IPO are thrilled to have him.
 
JonesHouse – Made up of four good friends with credits that include Game of Thrones, Poe, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Adele, Barbie, Herb Alpert, The Carpenters, and more, JonesHouse is all-original mid-century modern sugar-coated pop made with cellos, guitar, drums, and lots of singing. Their latest album, It’s! Bitchin!, is a modern musical shindig circa the 1960s – fans of Burt Bacharach, The 5th Dimension, Petula Clark, and Lulu will dig it!
 
Norman Kelsey – Hailed by Liverpool Sound and Vision as “[p]erhaps the most exciting American Soul singer/musician since the days of the irreplaceable Marvin Gaye,” Kelsey’s latest full-length album, On The Rebound, produced by his Pacific Soul Ltd band-mate, Adam Marsland, is a continuation of his journey into disco-pop that began with A Talent For Loving, taking cues from the Brothers Gibb and James Brown, along with the usual Motown suspects. But this soul-man also knows how to rock…he will be joined for is IPO LA set by Montana Shane, his long-time band mate from The Idle Kings, performing songs from their Idle Kings catalog as well as new music from their joint project, The Canyon Band, bringing together their roots in pop, rock, and soul, with a little bit of Americana thrown in for good measure – this is one show you won’t want to miss!
 
Charlie Kogen – He may look like a Jewish Kennedy, but (luckily for us!) this native of LA and student on summer break from Stanford sounds much more like a cross between The Oneders (ha!), Fountains of Wayne and Jason Falkner, raised on a diet of Brian Wilson! Check out his album, Songs From The Front Seat, available on many fine streaming services, and his IPO showcase to see and hear what we mean!
 
Corey Landis & The Attacks – Whether or not he chooses to admit it, Landis typifies the recent resurgence of gifted twenty-somethings that evoke the “golden” singer-songwriter age of the ‘70s. The ubiquitous melodies of Elton, Joel, Springsteen, Cohen, Waits, Zevon and Newman hover over Landis’ shoulder like older siblings, and he uses those influences to create his own brand of rollicking power pop….and the band adds the perfect touch of rock orchestration! Check out their self-titled debut album and IPO showcase to see and hear for yourself!
 
Leland & The Silver Wells – Led by singer/songwriter/graphic artist Leland Ettinger, Leland & The Silver Wells will take you on a journey through introspective indie folk pop and psychedelic pastoral pop, laced with intricate harmonies and instrumentation. Fans of artists from Joni Mitchell and Sandy Denny to Brian Wilson and Pink Floyd should check out all four of the band’s current albums, and be on the lookout for their latest, Riverboat, which is due out this fall!
 
George Adrian and Arwen Lewis – Some may remember this duo as two-thirds of Yellin’ Bells, who played a few IPO LA’s before the pandemic…this will be a slightly more stripped down set, but no less special, featuring the music and angelic voice of Arwen Lewis, the granddaughter of Oscar-winning actress Loretta Young and the daughter of Peter Lewis, one of the main men of San Francisco psych legends, Moby Grape, whose self-titled album was ranked as number 121 in Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” in 2003! Look for their set to include songs from Arwen’s recently released EP, Under The Stars, but don’t be surprised if you hear them throw in a song or two from her dad’s catalog!
 
The Living Dolls – Mix power pop, rock, psychedelic, garage, mod, and punkv arena rock from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and ‘00s, and you’ll get an idea of the sound of The Living Dolls! They’re an alternative blend of old and new; somehow familiar yet strangely unrecognizable. Their self-titled CD has garnered rave reviews from their home in the beautiful San Fernando Valley to Ohio to Sweden, and points in between!
 
The Living Roomers – A trio who do unabashedly in-your-face new wave punk rock with a touch of grunge and a whole lotta good vibes and fun times. Think Blondie meets Nirvana, and you get the general idea…or better yet, come check out their IPO showcase!
 
Low Coast – After more than two decades with the fan-adored band Gameface and several previous IPO LA performances as a solo artist, Jeff Caudill returns with a new band, Low Coast, and a debut album, Existing the Dream, out on Spartan Records. Low Coast is a departure from the SoCal melodic punk rock world and a foray into the direction of bands like Wilco, Gin Blossoms, and Death Cab For Cutie, so fans of those bands – as well as of Caudill’s prior work – will want to check them out.
 
Barbara Manning – We’re honored to have at IPO the legendary singer/songwriter/bass player of the bands 28th Day and World of Pooh, and several excellent solo albums! 28th Day epitomized jangle pop; Pitchfork said of their 28th Day-The Complete Recordings compilation, “…this stuff still sounds as beautiful and rich and satisfying as it ever did. Anthems of heartbreak, odes to inarticulatable sadness, paeans to the dead! Sandy Denny could have sung most of these tunes without breaking a Brit-folk sweat.”
 
The Matter – Featuring Michael Hamilton and Dennis LeBlanc on guitar and vocals, with Rick Gerardi (drums) and Erikson (bass), The Matter are a young group of old rockers who have come full circle. Gerardi and LeBlanc were part of the ‘80s SoCal punk scene and played together in a band called The Factory; their 45 single is a widely sought collectible as far away as Malaysia! Now all back in Orange County once more, The Matter’s sound is an electric pastiche of familiar shared influences and past and current fever dreams and hallucinations.
 
Miss Jupiter – Glam is alive and well, and we at IPO are thrilled to welcome this ‘60s/‘70s-rooted electro-psych-punk-glam-soul outfit led by powerhouse singer & performer Michelle Rose. Her bold stage presence is highlighted by self-made costumes, and she’s known to stun audiences with chaotic energy. The words contained in her melodic visions are carefully curated to evoke evolution of consciousness. Check out their latest album, Phallacy, and their IPO showcase to see and hear what we mean!
 
New Maximum Donkey – “New Maximum Donkey is poised and ready to make a charge at the world of music with a brand of power-pop that is all their own, fueled by a wry sense of humor and rich melodies that have you singing along by the 2nd time through the disc.” (Jeff Johnson, CDReviews.com) Said disc, Square Root of All Evil, will appeal to fans of artists as diverse as The Ramones, UB40, Frankie Lymon, Jet, and The Banana Splits! One of the most entertaining bands we’ve ever had at IPO!
 
Fernando Perdomo – Re-located to LA from his former home of Miami Beach where he led Dreaming In Stereo, whose churning style of music was coined by band and press alike as Progressive Pop, an eclectic mix of ‘70s Progressive Rock and ‘90s power pop! He’s also a label head (Forward Motion Records) and producer extraordinaire (the latest album by pop legend Andy Pratt, among others – including a few fellow IPO performers!), and a member or guest of more bands than we can count, who has been dubbed “The millennial answer to Todd Rundgren” by The LA Weekly! His latest albums, Out To Sea 4 and Jangle, showcase his talent as a prog rock arranger and instrumentalist as well as a consummate pop-rock hook-meister! We’ve dubbed him “The Zelig of Pop”, because if it’s happening, he’s somewhere in the picture!
 
Leslie Pereira & The Lazy Heroes – A four-piece punk/pop/pub rock band from Los Angeles whose tight catchy melodies have drawn comparisons to artists such as The Pixies, The Pretenders, Throwing Muses, The Breeders, and Sonic Youth. Their debut full-length album, Fight For Now, was recorded and produced by world renowned producer, Earle Mankey, who has produced artists such as Sparks and The Quick, among many others. Their latest Big Stir Records release, Good Karma, bubbles over with their joyful brand of power pop. They’re also a lotta fun live, so don’t miss their IPO showcase!
 
David Philp of The Automatics – IPO is proud to present a solo show from the leader of this seminal band born out of the UK punk scene of the ‘70s and still doing their quintessential power punk pop thing today! The Automatics headlined London’s Marquee Club, where the Sex Pistols and The Damned often performed in the late 1970s. Their 1978 hit “When the Tanks Roll (Over Poland Again)”, released on Island Records was one of the first records to be produced by Steve Lillywhite, who went on to produce U2, XTC, the Pogues and many others. Living in LA since 1980, Philip has continued to write and record – mostly kickin’ it old school and doing it live – under the name The Automatics, and has released 100 of his songs – most recorded over the past 20 years, but some dating back to 1978- divided into eight albums, available on multiple fine streaming services. If you are not familiar with their music, be sure to check it out and come see Philp live at IPO!
 
Plasma Chasms – An Australian/American neo-psych pop duo who seamlessly shift their brand of psychedelia from moody layers of swirling soundscapes to campy bubblegummy fun that will have you wanting to break out your go-go boots! Their IPO showcase will feature several new songs from their upcoming album – we can hardly wait!
 
Plasticsoul – Still collecting praise and fans around the world for their third and most rocking album, Therapy (on Big Stir Records), LA & Central California-based Plasticsoul are a hook-propelled American spin on the history of British rock from The Beatles to the Bunnymen to Oasis, blessed with the powerful voice and sharp-edged tunes of front-man Steven Wilson. Their prior releases both won multiple Album of the Year awards and garnered rave reviews. With a formidable and propulsive live act that’s pure rock and roll energy and a deep catalogue of finely crafted and emotive songs, Plasticsoul is currently at the height of their considerable powers. They have a new album in the works which we can hardly wait to hear!
 
The Popravinas – Eddy Sill, former bassist/vocalist of the infamous Los Angeles band The Mutts, has stumbled upon a few other “fellow drinkers” to form this fun and melodic band with extremely catchy songs. The Popravinas are known to combine lyrics & sounds that are reminiscent of The Replacements, evolving guitar nuances in the vein of The Rolling Stones, and interesting touches of artists such as Whiskeytown, Wilco & The Old 97’s. Their latest album, Goons West, is full of instantly memorable tunes. They are also an extremely fun and energetic live band, so don’t miss them at IPO!
 
Chris Price – An engaging artist, either solo as one of the driving forces behind LA power pop paragons, Bebopalula, Price has become known for his penchant for blending ‘60s and ‘70s sensibilities into pure ear candy filled with lush arrangements, clear vocals, and captivating melodies. Price has shared the stage with such luminaries as The Who, Ringo Starr, Micky Dolenz and Beck, and is also building quite the reputation as a producer extraordinaire, having worked on the final album by Emitt Rhodes (!), among others!
 
Sanglorians – “Daniel Brummel knows hooky guitar rock. He has spent more than a decade as bassist-singer in Ozma, played in L.A.-based bands Spain and The Elected and even filled in with Weezer for a time. His work as bandleader of the L.A. sextet Sanglorians is another beast — a maniacal collision of power-pop and prog-rock that at times has the feel of a shredder crashing orchestra practice” (Kevin Bronson, Buzzbands.la). The latest Sanglorians album, Odalisque, is big hooks and big harmonies propelled by a wall of synths…check it out!
 
Bryan Scary – Born in Chicago, and previously based in Brooklyn, but now making his home in LA, this talented singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist takes his primary influences from artists such as The Beatles, Queen, The Kinks, and XTC, painting an orchestral semi-psychedelic art-pop sound that fits somewhere between Jellyfish, The Apples in Stereo, The Olivia Tremor Control, and their followers. He has plans for a sister album to 2019’s Birds, which was delayed due to COVID limitations, and has new songs recorded for a completely different new album with a darker vibe – look for both to be released soon!
 
Morty Shallman – #1 best-selling author on the Amazon absurdist fiction charts for his latest novel, The Tyranny of Desire, and creator of the Novel with Songs genre, with his Last of the Zacharys and Pop Fiction albums, this dapper, affable Angelino is known for his cutting-edge mashups of pop songs and pulp fiction. Fusing elements of disco, dance pop, indie pop, alt-rock and EDM, with soaring melodies, intelligent lyrics and classic pop song craft, Shallman serves up a glowing succession of catchy tunes and infectious beats that will brighten the playlists of listeners, dancers, Youtubers and radio programmers alike, and was named LA’s #1 Indie Artist (February/March 2018) by Reverbnation! Check out his latest single, “Momma Taught Me How To Dance,” and his IPO showcase!
 
The Shamus Twins – Yeah, you’re right, there aren’t any real twins in this band, but their sibling-like harmonies, intelligent lyrics, unique arrangements and infectious songcraft will make you forgive their nom de faux pas. They are also all-around good guys who have been good friends to IPO for many years, and are even providing this year’s guitar and bass amp backline, which we truly appreciate! If you like loud guitars, harmonies, jangle, and twang, you’ll want to pick up both of their excellent CDs!
 
SHINE – Many IPOers may recognize main man Bobby Cox as the longtime leader of the classic ‘60s and ‘70s inspired power poppers, The Galaxies. Still firmly rooted in power pop, but with a glammier edge, SHINE also features Jeff Higa, SherryCat-Kitten, and Lon Rozelle and rocks way harder, but their songs are just as catchy! We can hardly wait to see them do their thing at IPO again!
 
Shiver – Coming from a wide range of musical backgrounds, the members of Shiver have created a canon of tunes that reflect both Modern Rock energy and Classic Rock emotion. Combining fiery guitar licks, luscious four-part vocal harmonies, and a driving, bombastic rhythm foundation, Shiver creates a sonically potent soundscape. A raucous, exciting display, Shiver assaults the stage with a near-lethal injection of passion and energy. They will also be debuting new songs at their IPO showcase, so be sure not to miss it!
 
Shplang – They’ve long been mainstays of the L.A. music scene, have lots of excellent CDs, and have a very cool, unique sound as well, with swirling psychedelics meeting solid pop sensibilities. Their latest release, Los Grandes Excritos (1994 – 2019) celebrates their first 25 years as a band, and has been called “[a] treat for power-pop-aholics to bathe in, and one which provides a definitive view into the magnificence that is Shplang” (Kevin Burke, The Big Takeover). One minute they’re sounding like the Strawberry Alarm Clock, the next: The Stranglers. Intrigued? Check ’em out!
 
Sparkle*jets UK – We’re very eagerly looking forward to a now rare performance by one of our all-time favorite local acts! It’s been a while since they’ve played, as leaders Mike Simmons, Susan West, and Jamie Knight have been focusing their efforts on passing on their vast musical and production knowledge to the next generation at the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts, which they founded and Mike still runs, while Knight enjoys a well-deserved retirement and (some fun) playing in cover bands. Their combination of unabashed playfulness with rockin’ toughness, courtesy of a mash-up of influences from ELO and Teenage Fanclub to The Jackson 5 and Stiff Records-style new wave/punk, brings out the kid and music lover in all of us! Their latest Big Stir Records release, Best Of Friends, is a double album “tribute” to the LA pop scene of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, and features a treasure trove of songs by many of their friends from that scene, done in Sparkle*jets UK’s inimitable style. They’ve also got an album full of new original songs up their sleeves set for a “TBA” release date – also on Big Stir Records – and we can hardly wait!
 
Tombstones In Their Eyes – An LA rock n’ roll outfit with a unique sound. “Some have called it shoegaze while others have called it psych rock. It’s neither. It’s both. The band’s third full-length, Sea of Sorrow, is a syrupy ride through a lava lamp where time moves slowly with a fuzzy warmth” (Chip Midnight, The Big Takeover). But don’t be lulled – although they can do slow and dreamy with the best of ‘em, they can also rock it up when they want to!
 
Turning Violet – Turning Violet sits in that satisfying spot between punk and power-pop, with the added bonus of some new wave flair. Singer & main songwriter Simone Siren’s vocals – compared by listeners to Kate Bush and Debbie Harry – helm these well-structured songs that draw on the erratic energy of the early ‘80s and some ‘90s buzz/crunch. Their latest EP, The Broken Wheel, has also drawn comparisons to The Pretenders, The Cranberries, and Patty Smyth.
 
The Ultra 4 – Cover band featuring Jerry Juden of The Shamus Twins (see above). We don’t normally feature cover acts at IPO, but they specialize in obscure but very cool ‘60s tunes, and we guarantee that any ‘60s fan who comes to see this performance will have a groovy, psychedelic time!
 
The Unclaimed – We’re glad to welcome these “guardians of the Garage Punk torch” (Nancy Neon) to their first IPO! Their latest EP, You Never Come, available digitally and (of course) on 7” vinyl from Groovie Records, has been called “A mind-blowing cacophony of heavy jangled hits!” (Emil Edinger) Need we say any more?! They’ve been doing it so well since the ‘80s, and we’re honored to have ‘em!
 
Michele Vreeland – Torn between her love of acoustic music, electropop and new age, Vreeland combined elements of all three into her “Mystic Pop” sound, which carries an aura of electric energy and the healing power of crystallized dreams, emotions, and intentions. Check out her latest single, “Take Me To The Temple”, and her IPO showcase, and prepare to be mesmerized!
 
 

U.S. Artists From Outside Los Angeles/Orange County

 
The Jeremy Band – The eponymous band led by one of the most genuine, unique people on the pop scene, as well as one of the most prolific pop artists around. Jeremy Morris’ John Lennon-influenced pop is as spiritual as it is melodic, and has been rocking a lot more lately; you can hear this for yourself on any of his recent CDs (he’s released over 60 of them, so it’s hard to keep up with which is the latest!) This Kalamazoo, Michigan resident and his band can stake their rightful place in the IPO Hall Of Fame!
 
Blake Jones & The Trike Shop – Hailing from the unlikely hamlet of Kingsburg, California, this ensemble uses just about every instrument under the sun to create some bizarre, witty, quirky, yet ultimately melodic sounds, and have become an IPO fan favorite from LA to Liverpool! The Trike Shop’s “The Turtles meets Frank Zappa” stylings never fail to be delightful enigmatic and quirky, and their latest album, Make, released on Big Stir Records, showcases them at their delightfully zany and melodic best! And we’re delighted to learn that they are nearly finished recording the next Trike Shop album, and can’t wait to see and hear what they do next! Definitely something a little bit different!
 
LuAnn Olson And Randell Kirsch – They wooed each other by writing songs back and forth in the early eighties, co-founded the band Show Of Hands (IRS Records, 1988) then started having babies. Six children, a mountain of songs, a smattering of releases later, and after sharing Randell with The Beach Boys touring band for eleven years, they’ve merrily returned to their favorite road, writing, recording and playing live together, with absolutely stellar results!
 
Vanilla – This band made up of Seattle-Tacoma music veterans features Jayson Jarmon and Scott McPherson (also the principal songwriters of Liar’s Club), Sean Gaffney, and Dana Sims (The Jet City Fix), along with a combination of players who make up the “Tiny-Vanillacano Club” family of Tacoma pop bands — members of Vanilla, Tiny Volcano, and Liar’s Club! Their debut self-titled CD has been compared to a variety of pop legends, such as The Association, Wings, and Jellyfish, while their recently released Sideshow adds some cool experimental and angular pop flourishes without losing one bit of the melodicism! Following the same formula of one song per month until, lo and behold, they have an album, that they used to assemble Sideshow, they’ve turned their considerable talents to paying homage to the year ’77 with some fab new disco-soul inflected pop confections for their brand-new album, 77! We eagerly look forward to seeing and hearing them do their thing live at IPO!
 
 

International Artists

 
Noelle Hannibal – An award-winning actress/singer who appeared in the film Star Trek: First Contact, she has the unique distinction of portraying the first female Vulcan on Earth. Although she is originally from LA, Noelle currently resides in Montreal where she runs her award-winning, independent theatre company, In the Wings Promotions. She also performs regularly in concerts, cabarets and musical theatre productions as well as travelling the world to appear as a guest at Comic Cons and Pop Culture events. Her upcoming EP, Ain’t a Tourist, produced by Grammy Award winner and past IPO performer, Scot Sax (Wanderlust, Bachelor Number One) was recorded in Nashville, TN earlier this year and is set for release in conjunction with her IPO showcase. Whether she’s doing power pop or something more R&B flavoured, one thing is certain: Noelle Hannibal’s songs will put a smile on your face!