A Double Dose Of IPO - Chicago For Its Finale

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago will wrap up its 2026 run at Montrose Saloon with a pair of showcases tomorrow; one in the afternoon, and one at night. Looking at both sets for this last day serves as a reminder of the eclectic approach IPO Founder David Bash takes in choosing the acts he invites to this festival. 

The Saturday afternoon set starts at 2:00 pm with singer-songwriter Finn Swingley, who has performed as a solo act and in numerous bands over the years. He released the full-length album Pet Hates last year and The Wild Hunt in 2020. His offbeat observations are engaging, whether he’s dealing with a troubled relationship on “Ex-Lovers” or spinning a sailor’s journey on “The Captain.”
Progressive hard rock band Refrestramus will likely showcase the adventurous songs from its latest release Morri’s Rock Boutique, as well as its 2024 debut Intourist. Freetoed has performed at a number of IPO - Chicago shows in the past, with an alt rock sound that’s influenced by Wilco, Pearl Jam, and Bon Iver. Their latest album, Cure For The Common Sound, is available on Bandcamp.

The Jeremy Band, led by Kalamazoo, MI vocalist-guitarist Jeremy Morris, traditionally cuts loose with high-powered, melodic rock at one of the Saturday afternoon showcases, and that’s exactly what will take place this Saturday. His latest album, Opener Of Eyes, once again finds Morris collaborating with Ken Stringfellow of The Posies. Mrs. Smith And The Present will likely perform their catchy recent singles “Pretty Things” and “Big Man” at their IPO - Chicago showcase. They also have four solid tunes on their 2024 She’s Right Here EP to choose from. The Nobodies will close out the afternoon showcase with offbeat and satirical lyrics set to arrangements that range from the garage rock of  “You’re Making Me A Headache” to the country and western twang of  “Drunk Text My Ex.” They’ll likely showcase songs from their 2025 EP Even The Score, Vol. 1. 

The Saturday evening showcase kicks off at 7:30 pm with Einstein’s Sister. The band is a veteran of IPO Chicago and IPO - Los Angeles festivals. Their Exit Strategies EP dropped in November, 2023, and this year, they’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of their Humble Creatures album. Kerosene Stars have been releasing power pop albums since their 2014 self-titled effort, and put out the fun “Ants In The Bathroom” single last year. Their set at IPO - Chicago this Friday night will most likely also feature the catchy song titled “Kerosine” (yes, the spelling’s different), which was posted on Bandcamp last year. The Incurables released their Inside Out And Backwards album of non-stop energetic and often humorous garage rock in 2024. The highlights included “Soda Pop,” a bass-driven tribute to the fizzy beverage, and the hard-edged rejection voiced in “Go Away.”

Singer-songwriter Tom Henry is a regular on the Chicago club scene and has posted well-crafted videos for catchy songs such as “But I Loved Her” and “Bella.” He released the album Songs To Sing And Dance To last summer. Nashville, TN musician/filmaker Greg Pope will be backed by The Popmonsters at his IPO - Chicago set. He’s been recording albums since 2008, and released The Roar Of Silence last year. Pope’s knack for social satire is especially noteworthy on the catchy “Fanboy” and “Worthy Son.” As the title of their 2021 album National Absurdatory suggests, The Embryos view life through satiric glasses. That album had plenty of highlights, and so does their 2024 effort Selling What You Want To Buy. There’s the humorous country weeper “Desiree,” the 1960s flavored silly dance number “Do The Donkey,” and the blistering but catchy satire “He’s A Hypocrite. They’ll have vinyl copies of their new Full Disclosure EP, for sale at their IPO - Chicago gig. (It’s also available to download on Bandcamp.)
Who’s This Mary? once again has the honor of bringing IPO - Chicago to a close with their midnight performance. The Chicago scene veterans have also rocked IPO - Liverpool, and bill themselves as “celebrated globe-trotting power pop sons,” with a particular emphasis on Britpop.

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago 2025 schedule. You’ll also find links for most of the acts who’ll be participating this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you even see the band perform.

Weekend Reminders

Weekend Reminders on Thursday posts focus on events that were previously mentioned on Broken Hearted Toy, and are taking place during the upcoming weekend. Plus, the occasional event taking place this weekend that has just come to my attention, or concert tickets going on sale.

John Cowsill and Vicki Peterson will likely showcase songs from their debut album Long After The Fire, along with songs from The Bangles and The Cowsills, when they perform at The Woodstock Opera House in Woodstock, IL this Saturday. They recently opened for The Smithereens at the Des Plaines Theatre in Illinois, and were a blast. Their opening act at The Woodstock Opera House will be the multi-talented Chicagoan Dag Juhlin, who recently toured with Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy on their Celebrate The 40th Anniversary Of R.E.M.’s Lifes Rich Pageant Tour. He’s also known for his work with Sunshine Boys; The Slugs; and Sonic45.

The Black Ensemble Theater on Chicago’s north side is presenting The Jackie Wilson Story through this Sunday. Black Ensemble Theater is now celebrating its 50th season.

Metric’s 10th album Romanticize The Drive drops tomorrow, and the Toronto indie rock band is staging a release eve party tonight at the Xanadu Roller Arts in Brooklyn, NY. Metric won’t be performing, but plans to film “as many fabulous cameos of as many people as possible so with any luck you will end up in the official ‘Crush Forever’ video with the band.” Metric’s upcoming tour with Broken Social Scene and Stars kicks off on June 8 in Austin, TX. Other cities include Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago  (July 24 at Aragon Ballroom), Boston, Philadelphia, and New York.

The folk-rock/acid folk-rock  trio Esmerelda’s Boys, which has been picking up gigs on the Chicago club scene since forming last spring, will start recording at the Loft Studio in Saline, MI next month. Their fans can expect a single some time this summer. In the meantime, they’re performing at Phyliss’ Musical Inn in Wicker Park tonight.

 The B-52’s are currently in a return engagement at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, NV that will continue tomorrow and Saturday. 

Paul Weller’s upcoming release Weller At The BBC Vol. 2 will be available in 3-LP or 3-CD formats tomorrow.

The Wailers will celebrate the anniversary of the Rastaman Vibration album they released with Bob Marley 50 years ago, in a 7:00 pm concert at The Old Town School Of Folk Music tomorrow. The 9:30 pm concert that same night will feature The Wailers performing their 1977 album with Marley, Natural Mystic.

Ike Reilly & The Zimmermen have a DO DYLAN event coming up at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL tomorrow night.

IPO - Chicago: Friday Night Preview

Photo from Michael Steven Cohen Facebook age.

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago 2026 will finish up at Montrose Saloon this weekend with a six-act showcase on Friday night, and a doubleheader (six acts in the afternoon, seven in the evening) on Saturday. Long-time IPO - Chicago fans will notice familiar faces scheduled for both days, as well as a few acts making their debut.

One sure thing about Mike Cohen’s set at Friday night’s IPO - Chicago show at Montrose Saloon is that he won’t have trouble finding the venue. Cohen has literally performed there 100 times as a solo act and as part of various bands. He’s also a Chicago - IPO veteran at its various locations dating back to the days when he led The Abbeys with vocalist-guitarist Jeff Janulis. As for tomorrow’s Chicago - IPO gig, Cohen noted on Facebook that he’ll “put together a set of some great songs” an will be accompanied by bass player Edward Hasse. The power pop band The Thin Cherries have released two albums and a few singles dating back to 2017, with material ranging from the mysterious “I Love Your Ghost” to the catchy though still a bit unsettling “Weird World.” The band’s vocalist-guitarist Steven Delisi has released solo music they can also perform. The Spindles have spent several years on the Chicago club scene perfecting their British Invasion flavored power pop. Their Past And Present and Wavelength albums each offer an entertaining mix of originals and well-chosen covers. Vocalist-guitarist and chief songwriter Jeff Janulis was a band mate with the above-mentioned Mike Cohen in the power pop band The Abbeys.

Judging from its Bandcamp page, Sample Quincy features the same three musicians as Bur, a band that has performed at IPO - Chicago in previous years. Certainly, the two songs on Sample Quincy’s very recently released Soup And Salad digital effort offer the same style of engaging harmonies, ornate pop, and guitar-driven rock as on Bur releases. The Minneapolis, MN band High On Stress has been recording music since its 2005 full-length album Moonlight Girls. Their soon-to-be-released album Still Here features catchy indie rock songs such as “House Of Cards” and “Over/Thru.” The Queue have been bringing their melodic Brit pop style tunes to IPO - Chicago for quite a few years now. Their song “Settle Down Your Gun” was included on the Dum Sun Records Compilation, Vol. 3 Halloween Edition last fall. Earlier efforts include the single “Love Save Us All” and the hard-edged EP Fire And Lies.

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago 2025 schedule. You’ll also find links for most of the acts who’ll be participating this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you even see the band perform.

IPO - Chicago: Thursday Night Preview

As far as I can determine, tomorrow night’s showcase at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side brings a mixed bag of International Pop Overthrow - Chicago veterans and rookies. They all look pretty interesting.

Singer-songwriter Cody Piper’s set tomorrow night will not only be his IPO - Chicago debut, it will be his first-ever gig in this town. He’ll likely showcase tunes from his new Revealed album. Tomorrow also seems to be Max Loebman’s first IPO - Chicago appearance. His 2025 double single offers the well-crafted folk rock of  “Room For Love” and “Halfway There.” He might also pick a few of the easy-going tracks on his 2016 album Wild. The Oh Boys, whose Facebook page lists their location as Chicago, Philadelphia, and Vancouver, expertly tap into vintage rock and roll, and then tweak that era with their own offbeat sentiments. Tomorrow night will be at least their second IPO - Chicago set. Also of note, The Oh Boys’ drummer Kieran McCabe portrayed The Kinks’ drummer Mick Avory in the Chicago Shakespeare Theaters’s production of the critically acclaimed musical Sunny Afternoon last year.

New England native Andy Lampert’s IPO - Chicago debut will be a solo acoustic set. His two albums, 10 Songs of Pain and The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, draw on 1960s and ‘70s rock and pop artists for inspiration. The Sonnets are veterans of the local club scene and certainly no strangers to IPO - Chicago. They specialize in an intriguing mix of glam, mod, power pop, garage, surf, and blues. You can find three albums packed with party songs on their Bandcamp page. The Shifties have recorded songs for film and TV projects, and on their nine-track CD Song Dynasty and six-song EP Patty, they pursue a variety of musical styles. From what I can tell, they’ve performed at IPO - Chicago on few occasions in the past.

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago 2025 schedule. You’ll also find links for most of the acts who’ll be participating this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you even see the band perform.

IPO - Chicago: Wednesday Night Preview

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago returned last Friday for its 23rd year, and will present evening showcases through this Friday, and two showcases (afternoon and a nighttime) for the finale on Saturday. All shows will take place at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side. I’ve already posted previews for the lineups through today, so here’s a look at tomorrow’s performers.

On a sad note, Wednesday night’s opening act The Walkdown has cancelled its performance due to the death in the family of one of the band members. My deepest condolences to that person. 

Singer-guitarist Kristin Rose Kelly’s frequent performances on the Chicago area club scene include engaging ballads as well as hard-edged rock. Her IPO - Chicago gig will likely showcase songs from her recently released Pantyhose album. Mark Winkler and Preston Pisellini are from The Webstirs, the Chicago-based band that’s been a reliable source for well-crafted and witty indie rock for decades. The band’s latest album, High Up In The Trees came out last November, which, along with several previous releases, will give Winkler and Pisellini lots of fun material to choose from.

Rolling Numbers will likely showcase songs from their two albums, 2023’s Killer Machines and their self-titled 2022 release. The band’s harmony vocals play a major role on melodic songs such as “Best Of Luck” and “Memories Of You.” I could be wrong, but I think tomorrow night will be Danimal’s first appearance at IPO - Chicago. Singer-guitarist Danny Doom from the Chicago group Milk At Midnight is Danimal’s sole member, and he supplied the “vocals, guitars, all other noises” on the 2025 album Perseverance Hotel. “All I Want,” with its Beatles Revolver feel, is one of the highlights, along with  “Note To Self” and “Crawl.”

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago 2025 schedule. You’ll also find links for most of the acts who’ll be participating this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you even see the band perform.

IPO - Chicago: Tuesday Night Preview

Photo from the River Rats Facebook page.

I was determined to post today’s preview last night, but ran into technical difficulties trying to navigate the official International Pop Overthrow website. Sorry for the delay. IPO - Chicago continues through this Saturday night at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side.

On a sad note, Wednesday night’s opening act The Walkdown has cancelled its performance due to the death in the family of a band member. My deepest condolences to that person.

This night’s opening band Brother Derek is well acquainted with Montrose Saloon, and is returning to IPO - Chicago for the fourth time. Their new EP Bootlickers, UNITE! takes a satirical point of view while exploring various genres, much like their 2022 album Parade Rest. South Bend, IN trio River Rats describe their approach as classic pop punk rock, and they have several releases on their Bandcamp page. Son Of Dad, released just last month, offers revved-up tracks such as “Odd Years” and “Bob Dylan’s Chair,” as well as the more experimental “Living In The Dark” and “Ode To Slow.” Channahon, IL quintet Space Age Zeros craft a punk rock power pop blend designed to appeal to fans of  “The Ramones, Screeching Weasel, Material Issue, Cheap Trick and beyond.” In a recent Facebook post Space Age Zeros promised they’ll perform four brand new, recently recorded songs at tonight’s show.

Rollo Time is equally impressive with the psychedelic rock of “12-17” and the Who-inspired “Spider In The Hole.” Their full-length new album One Thing Is Everything is available in vinyl format only on the official Rollo Time website. The Long Goodbye has been performing a blend of adventurous covers and their own material on the Chicago club scene since 2019. Their 2024 songs “Leavin’ And Yer Gone, Part 1” and “Leavin’ And Yer Gone, Part 2” showcase the band’s varied approach, as have entirely different arrangements from each other.

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago 2025 schedule. You’ll also find links for most of the acts who’ll be participating this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you even see the band perform.

Incoming

Psychedelic Soul: A Journey Through Rhythm And Time recently opened at Motown Museum in Detroit, MI, and will run through September 27. The website states the exhibit will focus on the years 1967 through 1975, “when the label expanded beyond its signature love songs to embrace experimentation and socially conscious storytelling.”

The folk-rock/acid folk-rock trio Esmerelda’s Boys, which has been picking up gigs on the Chicago club scene since forming last spring, will start recording at the Loft Studio in Saline, MI next month. Their fans can expect a single some time this summer. In the meantime, their next live gig is this Thursday at Phyliss’ Musical Inn in Wicker Park.

Jack White will spend most of June touring Europe before returning to North America for a July 10 concert in Washington, D.C. From there, he has several North American gigs, including one at the Chicago venue Radius (640 West Cermak Road) on July 23, and an outdoor gig at The Salt Shed in Chicago on July 24.

Ike Reilly & The Zimmermen have a DO DYLAN event coming up at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL this Friday.

Metric’s 10th album Romanticize The Drive drops this Friday, and the Toronto indie rock band is staging a release eve party the night before at the Xanadu Roller Arts in Brooklyn, NY. Metric won’t be performing, but plans to film “as many fabulous cameos of as many people as possible so with any luck you will end up in the official ‘Crush Forever’ video with the band.” Metric’s upcoming tour with Broken Social Scene and Stars kicks off on June 8 in Austin, TX. Other cities include Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago (July 24 at Aragon Ballroom), Boston, Philadelphia, and New York.

The Black Ensemble Theater on Chicago’s north side is presenting The Jackie Wilson Story through this Sunday. Black Ensemble Theater is now celebrating its 50th season.

Singer-songwriter AJ Rosales has been impressive in live performances on the Chicago club scene as well as on his 2025 album Phasedrift. His recently released LIVE AJ EP finds Rosales armed only with an acoustic guitar but still conveying the introspective lyrics of five songs from Phasedrift, along with the previously unreleased track “Dreams.”

John Cowsill and Vicki Peterson will likely showcase songs from their debut album Long After The Fire, along with songs from The Bangles and The Cowsills, when they perform at The Woodstock Opera House in Woodstock, IL this Saturday. They recently opened for The Smithereens at the Des Plaines Theatre in Illinois, and were a blast. Their opening act at The Woodstock Opera House will be the multi-talented Chicagoan Dag Juhlin, who recently toured with Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy on their Celebrate The 40th Anniversary Of R.E.M.’s Lifes Rich Pageant Tour. He’s also known for his work with Sunshine Boys; The Slugs; and Sonic45.

Paul Weller’s Weller At The BBC Vol. 2 will be available in 3-LP or 3-CD formats this Friday.

The Wailers will celebrate the anniversary of the Rastaman Vibration album they released with Bob Marley 50 years ago, in a 7:00 pm concert at The Old Town School Of Folk Music this Friday. The 9:30 pm concert that same night will feature The Wailers performing their 1977 album with Marley, Natural Mystic.

Sons Of The Silent Age - The Cracked Actor Cabaret is coming to City Winery Chicago, located straight west of the downtown area this Thursday. These guys have been impressing audiences around town with their David Bowie tribute for years; this particular event will feature them performing stripped down arrangements of his songs.

The B-52’s have a return engagement at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, NV this Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.