Featured IPO vol 26 CD Artists: The Falling Doves, Cosmo Topper, For Sale, The Lemon Clocks, Refestramus
Featured IPO CD Artist: The Falling Doves
IPO Vol. 26 CD Song: “Love On The Runway”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
I think it’s important to support IPO — it has given a format for discovery to younger, newer bands and also to older musicians who don’t get opportunities to do cool festivals.
2. Please describe your most fun or most rewarding experience thus far as a musician / band
I have been playing professionally now for 26 years. I will say I do enjoy the full-circle moments in my career. When I was about 20 years old, I attended my first IPO at the Knitting Factory. Believe it or not, I came as a mentee for The Rembrandts — and that’s where I first met David. Now, many years later, I have done a bunch of events for David. Funny, right? How life can be.
3. Please describe your worst or most humorous experience thus far as a musician / band
I would say the worst experience as a musician is seeing the state of the industry. I always try to encourage younger musicians not to accept terrible situations when performing. That’s why events like IPO are special — they provide a format and encourage new friendships.
4. What is it about music (yours or that of other musicians you admire) that inspires you to keep writing / performing?
Honestly, at this point in my life, it’s just a way of life. It is a mixture of serendipity when a lyric and a melody fall into my lap. I truly do it for the love of the craft, not for the money!!
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with the IPO Festival / CD?
It’s fun to be with such a broad collection of musicians from across the planet and to be part of something pure and symbolic — like a united nations of music.
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.Fallingdoves.com
Featured IPO CD Artist: Cosmo Topper
IPO Vol. 26 CD Song: “Just Say Know”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
Two Reasons:
I Wanted it included as a nod is as good as a blink to appreciate my good friends on the track
who have participated in previous IPO songs and shows with me: Nelson Bragg, Probyn Gregory, Mark Englert, Diana Faust and Susan James!
And the deeper reason is it’s written about my brother Kevin Bartnof, who was an incredible Foley Artist for Warner Brothers, and since I wrote it on his acoustic guitar and used that in the recording, it’s a literal tribute to his forever creative memory. Rest In Poetry Kev!
2. Please describe your most fun or most rewarding experience thus far as a musician / band
In the very beginning stages of recording sessions in the studio and the first playbacks or when you’re about to play your very first show with a brand-new band or project because the possibilities feel endless and potentially incredible.
3. Please describe your worst or your most humorous experience thus far as a musician / band
Right after Casablanca signed our band Bugs Tomorrow decades ago, we played 2 shows opening for The Romantics at the Old Waldorf in San Francisco and on our first night the Oberheim synthesizer that I had to open the very first song with started playing by itself automatically chromatically & chalk full of dissonance up and down the keyboard with the lighting on the keyboard flashing on and off, as if it was haunted before I could even play one note. It must’ve sounded like Rick Wakeman on extremely bad mushrooms and the PACKED audience looked completely confused and justifiably annoyed and then laughed loudly & That Ladies & Gentlemen was the introduction to the very first San Francisco performance of Bugs Tomorrow! 😳 🙈 😂
4. What is it about music (yours or that of other musicians you admire) that inspires you to keep writing / performing?
I think the feedback and the surprising compliments I get from established creative artists
who I’ve listened to most of my life, and those moments which are mostly spoken in private, are inspirational in allowing me to feel uplifted and a desire to be continuously creating
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with the IPO Festival / CD?
There’s a sense of community in appreciating the history of IPO and participating in both the shows and a good amount of the CD and it’s always fun to read the credits of all the other bands and artists that are on the same CDs that you’ve contributed too, as well as the different cities or countries they’re from and the engineers and producers & musicians involved in the making of the tracks
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?
https://cosmotopper.bandcamp.com/music
Featured IPO CD Artist: For Sale
IPO Vol. 26 CD Song: “En Vela”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
It was our latest single at the time we were invited to participate. To be honest, we could have chosen any track from our album Un día en el parque – we love them all! However, we felt that “En Vela” perfectly captured the essence of our sound during that period, and it’s a song we are proud of.
2. Please describe your most fun or most rewarding experience thus far as a musician / band
Without a doubt, our most rewarding experience was crossing the threshold of The Cavern last year—seeing our name on the poster, feeling the raw energy of that stage for the first time, and realizing that every hour of hard work in the rehearsal room had been worth it. But honestly, the most profound highlight has been finding each other again. We started as a band back in the ’90s, but then we spent 25 years without any contact at all. We finally reunited at a dear friend’s funeral; his final gift to us was bringing the band back together. It’s been a beautiful, unexpected second chapter.
3. Please describe your worst or your most humorous experience thus far as a musician / band
Every band has those nights where the crowd is… let’s say, ‘selectively small.’ We’ve definitely had shows where the empty space was louder than the music! It’s frustrating in the moment, but we always take it with a sense of humor. We just play our hearts out for whoever is there and tell ourselves: ‘Don’t worry, the next one will be packed!’
4. What is it about music (yours or that of other musicians you admire) that inspires you to keep writing / performing?
We’ve always been drawn to bands that are constantly evolving and creating new sounds. There’s nothing more inspiring than watching a song come to life—starting perhaps in the quiet of a bedroom and then growing in the rehearsal room through everyone’s contribution. At the end of the day, we simply love the craft of songwriting and the joy of playing together. It builds a unique bond between us; it’s what makes us a team.
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with the IPO Festival / CD?
Playing at The Cavern, you know “the place where it all began”, is a dream come true. It’s truly the biggest milestone we could have ever imagined achieving. The IPO is a global benchmark for Power Pop, and being part of this incredible community of musicians is a huge honor for us. We feel right at home among artists who share our passion for great melodies.
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 way to keep up with us is through our social media and streaming platforms. We love hearing from fans, so feel free to drop us a line at forsale.grupo@gmail.com! You can find all our music and upcoming tour dates at the links below:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forsale.oficial/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grupo.forsale
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@forsalegrupo548
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/artist/76jTGCcpHvpMtXsT2Xjwjl?si=j08jLAAZSlKsaqBtSJ691A
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/es/artist/for-sale/1496347593
Bandcamp: https://forsalemusic.bandcamp.com/
Featured IPO CD Artist: The Lemon Clocks
IPO Vol. 26 CD Song: “Seventh Wave”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
I actually let David and Rina Bash pick the song this time around which appeared on the cd.
2. Please describe your most fun or most rewarding experience thus far as a musician / band
Connecting with people is where it’s at!
3. Please describe your worst or your most humorous experience thus far as a musician / band
Jumping up and hitting my head on the cement ceiling on The Cavern. Blood was running down my forehead and my shirt. This was an unplanned IGGY POP moment. But I just kept on playing although it nearly knocked me out.
4. What is it about music (yours or that of other musicians you admire) that inspires you to keep writing / performing?
It’s the ultimate form of communication. The universal language!
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with the IPO Festival / CD?
The amazing connection with so many great 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?
www.jamrecordings.com. This is the place to go, or connect to my email: jeremy.morris@juno.com
Featured IPO CD Artist: Refestramus
IPO Vol. 26 CD Song: “Lakeview Samurai”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
We chose “Lakeview Samurai” because it feels both local and universal at the same time. IPO is a global festival, but in Chicago it happens right in our backyard at Montrose Saloon — and this song is very much a Chicago character study. It’s cinematic, melodic, slightly satirical, and rooted in a specific place, but the themes travel. It felt like a strong representation of who Refestramus is right now.
2. Please describe your most fun or most rewarding experience thus far as a musician / band
There’s something surreal about writing songs in your own space and then suddenly finding yourself on stage playing with musicians you grew up listening to. Getting to collaborate with David Jackson — whose work with Van der Graaf Generator meant a lot to us long before Refestramus existed — was one of those “this can’t actually be happening” moments.
It’s incredibly rewarding when someone of that caliber not only participates, but genuinely engages with the music. That raises the bar for all of us.
3. Please describe your worst or your most humorous experience thus far as a musician / band
There’s video evidence of me getting stuck in an isolation booth during a recording session because I couldn’t figure out how to open the door.
Instead of trying the obvious solution, I was feeling along the soundproofed wall, convinced the exit must be hidden somewhere in the padding. From the outside, it apparently looked like I was trying to escape a very polite prison.
4. What is it about music (yours or that of other musicians you admire) that inspires you to keep writing / performing?
We’re inspired by artists who refine their voice rather than dilute it.
The musicians we admire don’t smooth out their edges to fit trends — they lean into what makes them distinct.
For us, writing is about tension — melody and narrative, beauty and critique — and finding that moment where everything locks together and feels inevitable. When that happens, it keeps you coming back.
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with the IPO Festival / CD?
IPO keeps the focus where it belongs: on songs and community. It connects artists across cities and countries while staying grounded in craft. Whether it’s Chicago or anywhere else IPO lands, there’s a shared spirit of people who genuinely care about music.
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 www.refestramus.com for music, updates, and live dates.
Thanks again for including us on Volume 26. We’re glad to be part of it.