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...

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,...

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...

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,...

by Mark R. Madler copied from the July 11, 2016 edition of The San Fernando Business...

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,...