The Unswept in action.
International Pop Overthrow - Chicago started this past Friday night with a packed house at Montrose Saloon and will continue at the north side venue through April 29. Most of the 60+ acts involved are from the Chicago area, although there are some out-of-state visitors. Sunday brings a six-act afternoon showcase and a five-act evening showcase, separated by a short break.
The first set kicks off at 2:00 pm with All City Affairs, which sounds like a government agency but is actually a solo project from Peter Andreadis, drummer for the band Baby Teeth. His latest album, Dough Nation, mixes satirical observations with catchy techno arrangements. IPO veterans Freetoed have been releasing albums since 2002, with Cure For The Common Sound dropping exactly a year ago. It’s a mix of acoustic-based tracks such as “Down Here” and the hard-hitting “TIABASA.” The Omaha-based Le Bon Ton are a recently formed band and will be making their IPO Chicago debut. Judging from the video clip of “Running Late” on Facebook, they bring a punk edge to their material.
The Alright Maybes formed in 2020 and released their debut EP Always Almost a year later. Led by charismatic vocalist Angela Reinhart, the quartet crafts melodic pop songs with strong harmonies. The second EP, Blue Sky Thinking, arrived last October. The Unswept’s 2022 album, Fast Casual was more adventurous than previous efforts, adding new approaches to their consistently fun vintage British Invasion sound. Particularly recommended for those who enjoy music with a wry sense of humor. Phil Yates and The Affiliates also take a humorous approach with their lyrics, and have three albums worth of catchy, guitar-driven pop to prove it. They’ll wrap up the afternoon showcase with their 5:45 pm set.
Sunday’s evening showcase kicks off at 7:30 with Einstein’s Sister, a band with previous experience performing at IPO showcases in Chicago and Los Angeles. They’ve been recording power pop songs influenced by Squeeze, XTC, Oasis, and Beatles for over 20 years. The Thin Cherries were founded about five years ago by Steven Delisi from the punk/avant-garde band Phenomenal Cat and Mark Lofgren from psychedelic scene veterans The Luck Of Eden Hall. Their self-titled debut album featured the clever and melodic “Dorian Gray” as well as the more progressive “Oven Mitt.” Baby Money and The Down Payments, led by vocalist/guitarist/filmmaker Pamela Maurer, create off kilter but engaging tunes with provocative lyrics, such as “You Are A Flower” and “Oh I Know.”
Wheel Of Giants have played Montrose Saloon before, but it looks like Sunday night’s gig will be their introduction to IPO Chicago. The quartet strives to create melodic and thought-provoking rock. Kobanes will wrap up Sunday night’s showcase, and while the band name might suggest a Nirvana influence, this trio bills itself as “Chicago Style Ramones Core.” Kobanes live performances apparently don’t happen on a frequent basis, as the official Facebook page notes, “I am not sure when we will play again so if you can make it out on a school night, this will earn you some serious punk rock street cred!”
Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago schedule. You’ll also find links for just about all the acts who’ll be participating in Chicago 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've even seen the band play.
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