Photo of The Bon Mots from the official Bon Mots Facebook page.
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. This is the sixth straight year Montrose Saloon has hosted the event, creating a sort of home away from home for IPO CFO/Founder David Bash after his years of booking the fest at several local venues. As in the past, he has over 60 acts scheduled to perform, many of which fans have enjoyed at previous IPO - Chicago shows.
Named after the Chicago band Material Issue’s 1991 stellar debut album, International Pop Overthrow was born in Los Angeles back in 1997. Bash has added IPO festivals around the globe over the years, with mostly local talent showcased in each city. 2026 will find International Pop Overthrow visiting Chicago, Liverpool, Stockholm, Los Angeles, San Diego, Vancouver, New York, Boston, and Toronto.
There are no newcomers among the six acts performing at Montrose Saloon this Friday night. In fact, Alpine Subs will be IPO - Chicago’s opening act for at the fourth straight year. The six-member band has released four albums of easy-going melodic pop since 2019, with the double album Up With Geese being the latest. 45 Souls consistently deliver melodic songs with harmony vocals, whether it’s on an energetic pop tune such as “It’s All Right,” or a ballad such as “Lemoncholy Melondrop.” They’ve released six EPs over the years, all of which can be found on their website. The Unswept, a Chicago band whose members hail from Sheffield, England, recently released a new EP on Bandcamp titled Bittersweet On Repeat. As on previous releases, The Unswept take an offbeat and humorous approach to describing romantic relationships.
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 catchy single “When Two Still Feels Alone” was included on a 2021 Big Blast Records compilation. Melodies are a priority for songwriters singer-guitarist Mike Coy and singer-guitarist Eric Chial of The Bon Mots, who’ve been performing on the Chicago scene for several years. The band can tap into numerous well-crafted indie pop songs from recordings they’ve released over the years. The power pop/indie rock band Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club has released several impressive albums over the past 10 years, and frequently performs on the Chicago club scene.
I’m hoping to post a preview of each of the IPO Chicago lineups, and you can 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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