Featured IPO vol 26 CD Artists: Athanor, Andras Jones, Blake Jones & The Trike Shop, Andrew Stonehome, Peter Baldrachi
Featured IPO CD Artist: Athanor
IPO Vol. 26 CD Song: “If You Want To Know The Truth”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
I had just written and recorded “If You Want to Know the Truth” with ATHANOR, and it was getting a really good reception on independent charts and on Sirius XM Radio’s “Little Steven’s Underground Garage” show. The song itself was a tribute to J.D. Salinger’s Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of my favorite novel. It was a natural choice at the time, and I really liked Jeff Murphy’s harmonies.
2. Please describe your most fun or most rewarding experience thus far as a musician / band
I was a working as a freelance writer in Chicago, and I had managed to get Dion on a local TV show in exchange for an interview with him. He gave me free tickets to his concert that night, and near the end of the show he said, “There’s a guy in the audience who I bought breakfast for this morning. Come on up here and help sing this next song.” I was very nervous as I ascended the stairs, and soon we launched into “Teenager in Love.” We nailed it–got a standing ovation. Dion gave me a low-five, and I was thrilled for a week afterward.
3. Please describe your worst or your most humorous experience thus far as a musician / band
I had somehow gotten an appointment with a Warner Brothers A&R guy and I played for him my newest single, a power-pop psychedelic song. He listened to the whole thing and then told me, “You need to sound more like The Captain and Tennille.” End of meeting. Needless to say, I had no intention of sounding morel like The Captain and Tennille.
4. What is it about music (yours or that of other musicians you admire) that inspires you to keep writing / performing?
I’ve loved pop music since I was a kid, back when my older sisters bought me 45 RPM records. I got an electric guitar and started writing songs I when I was fifteen years old, and I’ve never stopped. It’s exciting, and the songs are like a diary.
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with the IPO Festival / CD?
I like being part of a group of enthusiastic writers and performers. The CD collections are very professionally designed and produced, and they’re a great showcase for the new works of some very talented people.
6. Where can people who love your song on the IPO CD go to get more of your music / find out where and when you’re playing?
ATHANOR songs are all over streaming services–yotube.com, Spotify, apple i tunes, Bandcamp.
Featured IPO CD Artist: Andras Jones
IPO Vol. 26 CD Song: “Hating the Haters”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
Weaponized partisanship that destroys genuine solidarity between friends, colleagues and communities drove me to write and produce this scrappy non-partisan track. Seems like the kind of thing John Lennon would say if he hadn’t been assassinated. Around the time I wrote this song, some online pop guys we know were talking trash about Julian Lennon (for appearing on Joe Rogan) and Sean Lennon (for being insufficiently angry at Elon Musk’s salute). Both Lennon children were called “Nazis” on the vile thread. I don’t listen to Joe Rogan or have any love for Elon Musk but when hatred for these individuals drives pop guys to slander the children of John Lennon as “Nazis” using the same kind of McCarthyite guilt-by-association logic the whole 60’s “revolution” was a revolt against, something is very wrong. And when something is that wrong, it deserves a song.
2. Please describe your most fun or most rewarding experience thus far as a musician / band
I’ve been playing at a blues bar in south central LA called MJ’s Unique Social Club. The experience has been VERY rewarding. Come on down sometime.
3. Please describe your worst or your most humorous experience thus far as a musician / band
Being excluded from events with my friends because of misinterpretations about my political beliefs is THE WORST.
4. What is it about music (yours or that of other musicians you admire) that inspires you to keep writing / performing?
Music is medicine. Every time I’ve tried to quit, something will happen in my life and the only way I know how to heal it is by writing about it. I hope my medicine can be there for others when they experience similar things in their lives.
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with the IPO Festival / CD?
I love getting to play for people who may have similar record collections to mine plus, I’ve been doing IPO since its early years, so it just feels right.
6. Where can people who love your song on the IPO CD go to get more of your music / find out where and when you’re playing?
www.previouslyyours.com
https://www.instagram.com/andrasjones/
https://www.facebook.com/AndrasJonesSongwriter/
Featured IPO CD Artist: Blake Jones & The Trike Shop
IPO Vol. 26 CD Song: “Fascist Bumblebee Winter Social”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
It seems very timely. It’s about the Proud Boys–the far-right group that has been bringing
its bullying ways to our country as of late. (They tend to wear yellow & black as their colors, thus the title.)
And who else do you know, who in spite of such a bothersome topic, can deliver a song
that still makes you wanna tap your foot, wiggle your backside, and sing along?
2. Please describe your most fun or most rewarding experience thus far as a musician / band
I think it had to be the first time we met up in Liverpool for the International Pop Overthrow Festival at the Cavern Club! [2007 I think it was.] So fun seeing your musical pals all show up there on Matthew Street to enjoy the festival and share the music! We have had the good fortune to travel over to the UK and Europe several times now, but that first time just sticks in my memory and still brings a big grin to my face.
3. Please describe your worst or your most humorous experience thus far as a musician / band
I wish I could choose the humorous option, but 2025 was a super-serious and super-sad time for the band. Our long-time drummer and dear friend John Shafer, who had accompanied us for 20 years including that first trip to the IPO in LIverpool, and then subsequent tours all through the UK, Germany, and the States, lost a long-time battle with cancer. Then, not so long later, our drummer from way back [who also had travelled with us on our last trip to England as John’s back-up in case he wasn’t strong enough] came down with ALS. We lost both John and then Don Ockey in 2025.
4. What is it about music (yours or that of other musicians you admire) that inspires you to keep writing / performing?
What is that quote from M. Ghandi? “Whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it is most important that you do it.” I believe this with all my heart. Creating music, and hashing it out with a group of people, are all things that add a little light to this world—and heaven knows, we need as much light as we can get.
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with the IPO Festival / CD?
The IPO, at its most effective, is all about making community, and that community shines brightest when we are all together. (Did I already exhaust that ‘light’ metaphor?) We get to hang out, make new friends, form new alliances, and support one another. Thank you, David and Rina!!!
6. Where can people who love your song on the IPO CD go to get more of your music / find out where and when you’re playing?
Our own personal band website is kind of growing weeds at the moment. (We do hope to get in and refurbish it this year.) Luckily for us, there is a wonderful place to learn a bit about the band, and acquire our music: it’s the Big Stir Records site! www.bigstirrecords.com.
(Just search us under the ‘artists’ tab.)
Featured IPO CD Artist: Andrew Stonehome
IPO Vol. 26 CD Song: “Then You Fly”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
“Then You Fly” is a song that means a lot to me for many different reasons. It’s a letter to my inner child, and every word of it is personally meaningful. It’s also my favorite song that I’ve written so far and I wanted an opportunity to share it with others.
2. Please describe your most fun or most rewarding experience thus far as a musician / band
I put a lot of work into making the music video for this song, and it was selected for the Oregon Short Film Festival. Attending the festival and seeing something I had worked so hard on play on the big screen in front of an appreciative audience was incredibly rewarding. Other memorable experiences have included hearing my songs on the radio for the first time, performing with Bo Diddley, and having David Bash include my album (and later EP) on his “Best of” lists!
3. Please describe your worst or your most humorous experience thus far as a musician / band
I’ve had many humbling experiences in music. Like most musicians, there have been times when the number of us performing exceeded the number of people watching. When I was playing in a band in college, we thought it was funny to put a short, six-inch mic stand with a mic at the front of the stage, right next to the lead vocal mic, as if a tiny six-inch person were going to come out and sing. Now that I think about it, nobody probably had any idea what it was, so it was probably only funny to us.
4. What is it about music (yours or that of other musicians you admire) that inspires you to keep writing / performing?
Music has often been a way for me to process and express thoughts and feelings that I didn’t feel comfortable expressing in other ways. There are some things in life that are difficult to describe with words alone, and music is a powerful way to capture and share them.
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with the IPO Festival / CD?
I appreciate being a part of a group of people who are creating music and musical experiences.
6. Where can people who love your song on the IPO CD go to get more of your music / find out where and when you’re playing?
The best place to start is my website: https://AndrewStonehome.com
Featured IPO CD Artist: Peter Baldrachi
IPO Vol. 26 CD Song: “Tomorrow”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
The IPO comp provides great exposure for artists. David puts so much heart into the project, its an honor to be included.
2. Please describe your most fun or most rewarding experience thus far as a musician / band
Just the fact that I’ve been able to put out a few records over the past twenty years, and being able to have some amazing musicians and producers work on my stuff has been so rewarding.
3. Please describe your worst or your most humorous experience thus far as a musician / band
Too many to list!! 🙂
4. What is it about music (yours or that of other musicians you admire) that inspires you to keep writing / performing?
The great feeling you get when a song comes together.
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with the IPO Festival / CD?
The folks at the IPO and the genre itself are good people and very supportive.
6. Where can people who love your song on the IPO CD go to get more of your music / find out where and when you’re playing?
Check out my website: peterbaldrachi.com