Featured IPO CD Artists: John McMullan, The Slang, The Top Boost
Featured IPO CD Artist: John McMullan IPO Vol 20 CD Song: “Smile At Me” 1) What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD? I happened across a ragged cassette that contained a demo of “Smile At Me” that I made in the early ’90’s. Don Smith (Good Question/Van Duren producer) and I simply felt that it needed to be recorded again, with the new version featuring (former Zuider Zee drummer) Robert Hall playing real drums. I also rearranged the synthesizer parts, and Don and I...
read moreFeatured IPO CD Artists: Crickle, Leslie Pereira & The Lazy Heroes, Diamond Hands
Featured IPO CD Artist: Crickle IPO Vol 20 CD Song: “Penelope Please” 1) What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD? Well, thanks to you David for requesting “Penelope Please” to be included on the compilation! I’m very grateful you did and I think it’s the best power pop tune I ever wrote. It’s a good representation of a Midwestern band being influenced by ‘60s psychedelic pop, and ‘70s classic power pop. 2) If you could play your dream gig, which...
read moreFeatured IPO CD Artists: The Viewers, Jonathan Segel, The Shamus Twins
Featured IPO CD Artist: The Viewers IPO Vol 20 CD Song: “Who’ll Be The One” 1) What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD? The song, “Who’ll Be The One” is one which we end each live show with. Its upbeat “Motown” tempo always gets people on the floor. It’s also a song which has gained us radio airplay all over the world. 2) If you could play your dream gig, which other three to four artists would be on the bill with you? They can be living, defunct, or dead. Being...
read moreFeatured IPO CD Artists: The Starfire Band, Rob Schulz, Caper Clowns
Featured IPO CD Artist: The Starfire Band IPO Vol 20 CD Song: “Treat Me Bad” 1) What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD? I chose “Treat Me Bad” a song I wrote a few years ago influenced by my appreciation for “Roy Orbison”. 2) If you could play your dream gig, which other three to four artists would be on the bill with you? They can be living, defunct, or dead. Eric Carmen, John Lennon and Marshall Crenshaw. 3) Which artists are you/your band...
read moreFeatured IPO CD Artists: The Morning Line, Cosmo Topper, and The Jeremy Band
Featured IPO CD Artist: The Morning Line IPO Vol 20 CD Song: “All Mine” 1) What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD? It’s maybe the most melodically complex song on our new record “Smoke,” and full of 12-string, which always makes me happy. 2) If you could play your dream gig, which other three to four artists would be on the bill with you? They can be living, defunct, or dead. The Records, Buffalo Springfield, Dream Syndicate, and Elvis Costello. And about 175...
read moreMy 10 Favorite Beatles Songs of All-Time
10. It’s Only Love-Like most people I know who were raised in the U.S., I was “weaned” on the U.S. version of Rubber Soul, which of course contained this song, while the original, UK version did not. I know that, with the 9/10/09 release of The Beatles remasters the U.S. Rubber Soul is considered to be “obsolete” in the minds of many, but you can’t count my mind as one of them. Until they erase my memory banks, the U.S. Rubber Soul will always be the one for me; besides being ingrained in my consciousness, I...
read moreBash On Pop – David Bash’s “Best Of” 2016 Lists
Hi Everyone, Here are my lists of favorite albums of 2016. As is my usual custom, I’ve broken this down into several categories, as I’m just not comfortable ranking unlike entities on one list. Those marked with an * are vinyl-only releases. Those marked with an ** are cassette-only releases. Contemporary Categories I. Top 125 Albums Disclaimer alert: I heard A LOT of fine albums this year, perhaps even more than 2015, which surprised me…but even paring it down to 125 was a daunting task....
read moreIn Tune With the Times: An interview with David Bash
by Mark R. Madler copied from the July 11, 2016 edition of The San Fernando Business...
read moreBash On Pop – Liverpool, Stockholm, and a whole lot more!
It’s been a month since Rina and I returned from IPOs Liverpool and Stockholm, and I must admit I’m still on a high from both of them. There’s nothing quite like IPO Liverpool; the bands are all top shelf, the excitement and camaraderie are palpable, and it’s The Cavern Club, for god’s sakes! Each time I walk down those steps it feels like the first time (sorry, Foreigner haters), and I always look forward to seeing all the bands, those who have previously played and our newcomers. The lineup was especially good this year, and...
read moreBash On Pop-The Power Pop Hall of Fame
With all the hoopla and brouhaha surrounding the recent inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I thought it might be fun to put together a list of artists who I feel worthy of inclusion in a Power Pop Hall of Fame. I urge you to please read the entire article (aka, “the disclaimers”) and not merely the list, so that, while you ultimately may not agree with my selections and even call me an “American Idiot,” (hint, hint) you’ll at least know where I’m coming from with some of the more controversial ones. First of...
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