International Pop Overthrow - Chicago starts tonight (Friday, April 19) at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side. See the first post I did on April 15 (there were two that day) for a preview of tonight’s lineup.
The festival continues at Montrose Saloon through April 27, with several acts scheduled to perform. Here’s a look at next Tuesday night’s showcase. All of the Tuesday night acts are from Chicago.
Singer-guitarist Billy Nixon will get things rocking and rolling at 7:30 pm, backed by his full band (he sometimes does acoustic solo gigs). Nixon’s October 2023 album Late Fees, like his 2021 effort C’mon Let’s Rattle, evokes sock hops and malt shoppes with catchy and fun arrangements. “Make My Way To Memphis” and “Tears Won’t Come” are particularly well done. Five-member band Secret Forest Service crafts its own style of indie-pop by adding a bit of alt country and 1980s elements. “We’ll Break The Wall” and other tracks from their Animal Mineral Digital album have been getting airplay on CHIRP radio. Singer-songwriter Packy Lundholm’s rare solo appearance will find him exploring originals he doesn’t often perform. He recently reworked his first effort American Soccer, and it’s now available.
The Mark Watson Band has done well on the Chicago club scene with an energetic power pop approach that draws on Cheap Trick and Fountains Of Wayne. Their song “When Two Still Feels Alone” was included on the impressive 2021 Big Blast Records compilation The Big Singles Vol.1. Modern Daybreak released their first single “Piece Of Mind” last summer, kicking off their goal of creating catchy rock with a supportive vibe. They released the Music For Love EP a month later, and put out the more rock-oriented single “Wake Up” this past February.
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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