The 23rd annual International Pop Overthrow - Chicago kicks off this Friday for a nine-day run at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side. See yesterday's post for details. IPO Founder/CFO David Bash has two separate lineups scheduled for this Saturday; all acts are from the Chicago area unless stated otherwise.
This Saturday afternoon’s showcase starts with a 2:00 pm set by singer-guitarist Hannah Frank, an IPO - Chicago regular, as well as a frequent performer on the local club scene. Her repertoire includes original acoustic compositions such as “Mad Girl’s Diary” and “Is You Mine,” along with unexpected covers such as the 1939 tune “Comes Love.” Chicago music scene veterans Phil Yates and The Affiliates have four albums worth of catchy, guitar-driven pop to draw from for their IPO performance. The band moved here from Burlington, VT a while back, and its 2022 effort A Thin Thread is the first to feature the Chicago lineup. The Shake Ups utilized power pop arrangements to celebrate the fun of cartoon and pop culture on their Meddling Kids album, and these IPO - Chicago veterans take a similar approach in their live sets.
Speaking of kids, there are four elementary students in the band Sensational Gnus, along with two teachers. They’re back for their second year at IPO Chicago. Eight-member Chicago area band The Transference explored paranormal elements, along with themes of social justice and environmental preservation via indie rock arrangements on their 2024 debut EP 100 Mirrors. Vocalist-keyboards player Laura Hollingsworth and bass player MJ Johnson are the band’s chief songwriters. Otter Petter have been releasing music for 15 years, with their latest recording being the Cobwebs EP. They specialize in melodic and guitar-driven pop songs such as “The Rest Of The World” and “Surfer Girls.”
The Saturday evening showcase kicks off with Wynded, a six-piece band from Madison, WI that promises “unique covers and originals.” Their debut EP No One Else To Blame dropped last November and features a mix of classic and alternative rock. The Band Calderisi has been performing catchy originals with tight harmonies on the Chicago club scene for a while now. I heard a while back they’ve been recording material for an upcoming release, so maybe they’ll perform some new material at IPO Chicago. The Idea was one of Chicago singer-songwriter Phil Angotti’s earliest bands, and it put him on the path to crafting clever, catchy indie rock. His IPO - Chicago set will reunite the original trio, performing old tracks, along with one new song.
Van Go is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary of performing on the Chicago club scene. Their albums are packed with hard-hitting and often satiric gems such as “Your Three Minutes Are Up,” “Invisible Girls,” and “Tell Us How You Really Feel.” Night Baby has been developing a following on the Chicago clubs scene by performing songs they describe as “Old songs that sound new again and new songs that you think you’ve heard.” Rockford, IL quartet Half Catholic has released two singles and an EP in the past few years. Their hard-edged indie rock songs such as “It Takes A Lot Of Effort To Be Alone” showcase the band’s knack for clever lyrics about individual struggles in modern society.
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.
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