Featured IPO CD Artists: Morley Bartnoff & The Randy Californians, Strand, The Newds, Jerry Juden
Featured IPO CD Artist: Morley Bartnoff & The Randy Californians
IPO Vol 22 CD Song: “Dog George€”
1) What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
I wanted to create a Song for My 97 Year Young Mother Ruth & Her Dog George
who I am now Their Primary Caregiver for her to enjoy
Which of course really uplifted her
All the Experiences the tune addresses occurred in the last few years once I permanently moved into my mother’s house & I wanted to have 1 song under my own name. Moving Forward It’s possible “The Randy Californians” May Record the Sequel “Cat Jackson” at some point in time & space 😉 & Major Kudos To Mark Englert from Dramarama who produced and engineered
2) If you could spend the day with any artist who is no longer living, who would it be, and why?
John Lennon…Because
3) Same as question 2, but for any contemporary/living artist.
Bob Dylan…The Answer My friend Is
4) What has been the most inspirational moment of your musical career thus far? (can be from either the perspective of performing yourself or of seeing someone else perform)
Performing with The Negro Problem At The Fillmore West for a Sold Out Show Opening for Blondie. Once the Show Sold Out A Fillmore Poster was Generated (bucket List!) & If that wasn’t enough, After our Encore where the San Francisco audience was going absolutely crazy for Stew, I walked up the stairs and there waiting for me To give me a giant hug was Debbie Harry, Who preceded to Hold my hand & rave about Our Performance and my Playing! A Night of Knights and A Goddess
5) What do you most enjoy about being associated with The IPO Festival/CD?
It has been my home base for Decades & I appreciate all the Support from David & The I.P.O. Appreciators who are very supportive of Melodic Uplifting Music
6) Where can people who love your song on the IPO CD go to get more of your music and/or find out when and where you’re playing?
https://www.reverbnation.com/cosmotopper
Featured IPO CD Artist: Strand
IPO Vol 22 CD Song: “Best Laid Plans”
1) What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
It is the opening track and first single from our recent album Can’t Trust The Rain and it has an irresistible riff. Its also one of the ones we really enjoy playing live. We think it has a bit of a Memphis (Big Star) vibe going on but also a nod to the best of English pub rock/ new wave of the Early ‘80s, and is has lots of cool guitar sounds, which we like.
2) If you could spend the day with any artist who is no longer living, who would it be, and why?
I would love to do some writing and singing with Gene Clark of the Byrds. I love his writing and his honesty as a performer/ singer, particularly on “No Other” his masterpiece. And of course, I am obsessed with The Byrds.
3) Same as question 2, but for any contemporary/living artist.
At the moment, it has to be Edwyn Collins. I have been a fan for years, but I am currently having a bit of a man-crush. Saw him perform recently and was blown away by his sheer humanity, humility and his tenacity in the face of his challenging health situation, as well as the man’s monumental talent.
4) What has been the most inspirational moment of your musical career thus far? (can be from either the perspective of performing yourself or of seeing someone else perform)
Two things here. A gig by The Prisoners in the Project Arts Centre back in 1986, when I was only a wee fellow. It blew me away. Kind of inspired me to be in a guitar-slinging band in the first place. A few years later I was playing with my dad in a country rock outfit in The Olympia Theatre Dublin, when we were joined onstage by Rory Gallagher, the legendary Irish blues guitarist. His kindness and generosity towards the simple stuff were doing was extraordinary and gave us huge confidence as musicians.
5) What do you most enjoy about being associated with The IPO Festival/CD?
In my limited experience of it, IPO is a joyous celebration of the music that doesn’t pander to the vagaries and prejudices of the music business, allowing the artists involved to get on with the important business of performing. I also loved the audiences, who seemed incredibly generous and reminded you of what a privilege it is to be up there on the stage.
6) Where can people who love your song on the IPO CD go to get more of your music and/or find out when and where you’re playing?
“Best Laid Plans”, on the IPO CD is the opening track on our album Can’t Trust The Rain, which was released just under a year ago. You can get it through our website strandnoise.com or our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/strandniose/ or in selected record shops. Gig listings appear on both pages.
Featured IPO CD Artist: The Newds
IPO Vol 22 CD Song: “Do Or Die”
1) What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
It’s quite a funky track but still poppy the message is about hope, strength and positivity. It’s about not giving up something important to us so if a track is blasted everywhere on the IPO album then it’s a good message to get out there in troubled times.
2) If you could spend the day with any artist who is no longer living, who would it be, and why?
John Lennon on a good day would have been amazing to send time with, I recently spoke to Len Garry of the Quarrymen and said it was like John landed from outer space. Hearing about the scrapes they got into together made him ever more endearing to my mind. A living artist Paul McCartney Paul is amazing still it would truly be amazing to spend time with the man who made the music I love.
3) Same as question 2, but for any contemporary/living artist.
This is a little harder perhaps there is loads of great music still being made but perhaps less so in the mainstream. I would eavesdrop on the recording of the new Baby Lemonade album those guys are an utter inspiration and I would have a great laugh too.
4) What has been the most inspirational moment of your musical career thus far? (can be from either the perspective of performing yourself or of seeing someone else perform)
2014 International Pop Overthrow Festival when Kieran Schofeild and Paul Crompton rejoined The Newds. We were back 4 original members plus the 2 longest serving. I remember not caring what the audience thought I just couldn’t believe we were all back on stage together rockin and rolling and we are still together, priceless.
5) What do you most enjoy about being associated with The IPO Festival/CD?
We love being part of the IPO family our town was always known for hard Rock and we were never that nor had we any interest in being. To have our music respected and adopted by a community international like minds is phenomenal. It’s a great family to be a part of.
6) Where can people who love your song on the IPO CD go to get more of your music and/or find out when and where you’re playing?
We are on Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, band camp and instagram. We love engaging with fans and contemporaries so if anyone wants to say hi or hear more click the following links:
https://m.facebook.com/THENEWDS/?locale2=en_GB
https://mobile.twitter.com/THENEWDSBOLTON
https://open.spotify.com/artist/606FXB1GfeAWfUegw61oVH?si=J3J8U4ZYRQGLiSfleozZFg
https://thenewds.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/the_newds_/
Featured IPO CD Artist: Jerry Juden
IPO Vol 22 CD Song: “It Tore Me Up”
1) What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
“It Tore Me Up” is an unfinished song from my unfinished upcoming record which was on an earlier IPO compilation in an even more unfinished version. After this latest IPO version I’ve added even more vocals, so it’s less unfinished. I suppose I chose it because it’s unfinished and I still want to have a little surprise left if and when I release my record (which is nearly finished)!
2) If you could spend the day with any artist who is no longer living, who would it be, and why?
Would they be, you know, all decayed and everything? Or would they be alive and breathing? As long as we’re making this magical wish, I’d meet up with any number of them way long ago and tell them, “Hey, quit smoking”, “Don’t get in that airplane”, or “Hey, take it easy on the self-medicating”.
3) Same as question 2, but for any contemporary/living artist.
I don’t know, it’s not that appealing of an idea, actually. I’ve met a few (Brian Wilson, Mike Nesmith) in meet-and-greets, and met George Harrison in a shopping mall (he was buying underwear – briefs, if you must know). That was thrilling, I’m not sure if a whole day would stay interesting. The musicians I know personally are not that fun to hang out with! (j/k)
The obvious would be McCartney. But the Beatles hit the U.S. when I was nine years old and I’ve read so much about him since that day that I probably know more about him than he remembers! However, of his Beatle days and their massive and relentless output I would like to know are there any times he’s thought “Shit, I wish I would have played this on Eight Days A Week”, or, “Dang, I could have sung that better”. Mike Nesmith wrote a really good autobiography called “Infinite Tuesday” and he talks about what he calls “Celebrity Psychosis”, how the fame and adoration and money skewed his behavior, not always for the better. My interest in my favorite rockers tends to go in that direction – what cars did you buy, did your big head get you into trouble, that sort of thing.
4) What has been the most inspirational moment of your musical career thus far? (can be from either the perspective of performing yourself or of seeing someone else perform)
Living in L.A. I’ve been fortunate to see a lot of my favorite bands, having an interest in pop music that began very young, just prior to the British Invasion. But I gotta tell ya, possibly the biggest inspiration was this past summer, McCartney at Dodger Stadium. Last show of his tour. Three freakin’ hours! I’d seen him in 2002, this time his voice was in about the best shape I’ve heard in recent years. And I watched him play his cool Mr. Kite bass lines – it didn’t look easy singing it at the same time! Ringo joining him for Sgt. Pepper Reprise and Helter Skelter – when are you going to see that happen again?
On a personal level – when you play a tune that came out of your head and heart, and the audience likes it and whoops it up – that’s a warm and fuzzy moment right there. My band The Shamus Twins had a particularly satisfying show at IPO this past summer!
5) What do you most enjoy about being associated with The IPO Festival/CD?
I like the “flavors” the bands bring to the power pop table. You get Beatle-y, New Wave, Americana, soul, psychedelia, pretty much an infinite array of nuances and styles all within the pop framework. Also, I’ll see total pros play a set one minute, then kids maybe doing their first real gig following them up. Democracy!
6) Where can people who love your song on the IPO CD go to get more of your music and/or find out when and where you’re playing?
Well, I have a regular band called the Shamus Twins, we have tunes on the web. This IPO compilation song, “It Tore Me Up”, and 12 others I’ve been working on since the dawn of time should be out soon, I don’t know. I’m probably the worst guy in the world for touting my stuff and doing publicity and self-promotion. I don’t care. I suppose I should hire someone to do that stuff for me. I’m happy knowing I can write a song and play guitar and bass pretty good, that’s all that matters. So I doubt most people will ever hear more of mine! 😉