Don’t panic, Ralph’s just having fun. Photo from the Ralph Covert Facebook page.
International Pop Overthrow - Chicago 2024 got off to a rousing start at Montrose Saloon last night, with each act having the luxury of performing to a full house. That’s how new fans are made. The nine days of rock and power pop fun continues with afternoon and evening showcases today. Check out my April 16 BHT post for a rundown of all today’s IPO - Chicago acts.
Moving ahead a bit, here’s a look at the acts that will be performing on Wednesday, April 24. I suspect IPO Founder David Bash wanted to make things a bit quirky for this midway-through-the-festival lineup. It sure looks interesting. Unless otherwise noted, the following acts are from the Chicago area.
Singer-songwriter Rob Schulz will be the first act up to the plate, at 7:30 pm. He’s performed at International Pop Overthrow - Chicago numerous times, and he’s also known for his Wrigleyville solo acoustic gigs at Merkle’s Bar and Grill during the baseball season. Schulz has a knack for putting political and social satire to catchy melodies, especially on his 2022 album Tragedy And Comedy. Olympia, WA actor/singer-songwriter Andras Jones recorded five albums with a variety of bands, and has worked with Spearhead, Rickie Lee Jones, Jackson Browne, Patti Smith, and other well-known recording artists. He has a brand new album with the intriguing title Recognize, De-escalate and De-code, and it’s likely he’ll promote it at IPO - Chicago. Ralph Covert has found success creating catchy and clever songs with The Bad Examples, and offering fun musical lessons to kids via Ralph’s World. I’m not sure what he has planned for his Ralph Covert And Panic at The Costco IPO - Chicago gig, but rest assured, it will be worth seeing.
Named after founding member Jerry Schwartz, The Jerrys have been creating Anglo-influenced, guitar-driven pop since releasing their debut album in 2001. They’ll follow their 2022 release Ready Or Not with an album of cover tunes in the near future. The Unswept, a Chicago power pop band that brings catchy songs and a bit if British humor to each performance, recently released a nine-track live album. Highlights include a cover of Marshall Crenshaw’s “Cynical Girl” and originals such as “Got Lucky” and “Try To Forget You.” The Unswept has several fun releases available on their Bandcamp page.
Check the official International Pop Overthrow - Chicago 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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