Slumgullion #63

Logo from t shirt created for International Pop Overthrow - London. Taken from David Bash's Facebook page.

London Crawling. Hand out the cigars and pour the champagne. International Pop Overthrow has given birth. In the interest of sexual equality, let’s not say whether the baby is a boy or a girl; only that it’s healthy and rocking out in England. At 5:45 PM today at The Bull & Gate, London will join the sprawling family of International Pop Overthrow, that celebration of power pop and indie rock that’s staged in cities like Liverpool, New York, Los Angeles (where it originated), Seattle, Milwaukee, and Chicago.

Tonight’s inaugural set opens with international superstar Ben Dlugokecki, and also includes the equally famous Kyle Vincent, Dan Clews, and Penguin Party. Okay, none of these guys rival the drawing power of Lady Gaga, but as in IPO’s other locations, the fun is in discovering new talent. I’ve come across several impressive acts I had never heard of before IPO founder David Bash corralled them for one of his Chicago showcases. Plus, tonight’s lineup includes The Len Price 3, whose 1960s style garage rock actually has won them fans around the globe, including Little Steven Van Zandt. IPO - London will have a showcase each night at The Bull & Gate from tonight through Monday. And yes, the ever-present, globetrotting Dave Rave will be performing.

Comfortably Numb In Palatine. Echos of Floyd will be performing a 10:00 PM show at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine tonight, as part of the Monsters Of Mock series. The club’s website promises the show will feature all the lasers, fog, projections, and mind-altering lighting you’d expect from a tribute to the famous 1960s sitcom barber. Actually, the band, which is comprised of veterans of the Chicago music scene, will be performing the music of Pink Floyd. With an admission price of $5, money won’t be that big of hit.

Summer Of Love. Beatles fans can kick off June in style by dropping by Martyrs’ on the 1st to catch Tributosaurus Becomes The Beatles Vol. 4. Martyrs’ is located at 3855 N. Lincoln Avenue.

God (45 & 33RPM) Speed. Best of luck to Favorite Records, which is holding its Grand Opening at 1535 W. Division tomorrow. The store carries 45s. LPs, publications, and art. The web address I found doesn’t appear to work yet, but you can find them on Facebook.

Even More Fun Than The Oscar Mayer Weinermobile. The Chicago Sun-Times recently picked up a story by Jack Gruber from Gannett News Service about The Hard Rock International 40th Anniversary Memorabilia Tour rolling into Chicago next Thursday. An 80-foot long truck packed with things like Jimi Hendrix’s Gibson guitar; the coat John Lennon wore on the cover of Rubber Soul; and Buddy Holly’s eyeglasses will be on display inside a truck parked outside the Hard Rock Cafe at 63 W. Ontario. The exhibit, which is free and suitable for all ages, opens at 11:00 AM.

The Unlike Button. The four woman band The Like has announced via its Facebook page that it’s canceling all upcoming gigs and going on an indefinite hiatus. Founding members vocalist-guitarist Z Berg and drummer-vocalist Tennessee Thomas have reinvented their band in the past; switching from indie rock to a neo British Invasion and 1960s girl group sound on the 2010 CD, Release Me. One of The Like’s Facebook followers posted a joke that Berg and Thomas will someday return with as 1980s revivalists, but here’s hoping whatever they decide, it will be soon. Meanwhile, I’m still kicking myself for not seeing The Like when they played in Chicago last year.

Tomorrow Comes Next Friday. Sci-fi rockers Tomorrow The Moon, which includes guitarist Steve Gerlach from The Bad Examples, will be kick off a triple bill at 10:00 PM next Friday, June 3rd at Darkroom. Made By Man and Cleveland’s spooky, coed rockers Mr. Gnome are the other acts scheduled to perform. Darkroom is located at 2210 W. Chicago Avenue in Chicago.

Rare Byrd Sighting In Beverly. Roger McGuinn, who wielded a mean 12-string guitar and sang lead on many hits by The Byrds, will be performing June 3rd at the Beverly Arts Center. The center is located at 2407 W. 111th Street on Chicago’s south side. Tickets are $30, $27 for members.

All The Byrds Together. Meanwhile, The Second Disc newsletter is reporting that The Byrds will be one of the first four artists featured in the Sony Legacy label’s new The Complete Album box set series. The Byrds’ collection contains the band’s entire output from Columbia in a single package, with each album sporting its own miniature sleeve. The box set can be pre-ordered from PopMarket.

How Would You Like A Million Dollars? The Arboretum Of South Barrington will hold a Summer Block Party on June 11th that will include a live performance from the hit musical Million Dollar Quartet. The mall is located at 100 W. Higgins Road, at the corner of Routes 59 & 72.

Pledge Your Love To Juliana. Juliana Hatfield’s Speeches Delivered To Animals And Plants is the latest CD to be funded entirely by fans via the PledgeMusic site, and the singer-songwriter plans to donate some of the proceeds to the Save A Sato animal shelter in Puerto Rico, and the Northeast Animal Shelter in Massachusetts. In a recent press release, Hatfield notes, “I really think that PledgeMusic and similar sites are the future of music, especially for people like me who have devoted cultish fanbases but who have never sold a ton of records and don't really fit in anywhere at major labels.” Speeches Delivered To Animals And Plants is set to be released on Hatfield’s own Ye Olde Records on August 30th.

CD Review: The Oohs - Llamalamp

Springfield, Illinois quartet The Oohs are seven-year vets of International Pop Overthrow - Chicago, and have released three CDs. Their Saturday afternoon gig at this year’s IPO was an impressive display of energetic musicianship and harmonies that culminated with a rousing cover of ELO’s “It’s A Giving Thing.” More of the same can be found on the 2006 release, Llamalamp, which is The Oohs’ latest, and by some accounts, most ambitious undertaking.

Sandwiched between opening and final snippets of exotic Eastern music are 15 well-crafted and consistently melodic tracks, with vocal arrangements that could only be called adventurous. That said, some power pop fanatics might find themselves backing away from overtly commercial fare like “Settle For Human” or “Get It Straight” that sound like they could have been recorded by Toto or Asia. “Emotion Left Unspoken” and “Sunny Day” have more of a theatrical flair and “The End Of Our Days” could have been a sea shanty.

But even if The Oohs come across as a little too polished at times, they haven’t forgotten how to cut loose with an early Beatles inspired gem like “That’s What’s She Said!” They even lovingly swipe the riff from “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” to back the nasty putdowns of “Pretty.” “Strange World” has a guitar-driven, hard-edged arrangement, while “One Step Closer To Nowhere” flashes a classic power pop allure.

Just about any type of music fan should enjoy the old time goofiness of “What Have You Done To My Girl?” which depicts a guy who would rather believe his main squeeze was abducted by aliens and replaced with a mean-spirited clone than accept that she’s simply gotten tired of his careless ways. It’s like hearing Paul McCartney turning “Honey Pie” into a Halloween song.

Slumgullion #61

All right. I’m wearing my I Survived The Blogger Malfunction of 2011 t shirt, and I’m ready to roll with this week’s Slumgullion.

First of all, I heard from Russell Carter, who heads Russell Carter Artist Management regarding The Bangles’ Sweetheart Of The Sun EP. He says it will be available through the band’s website in the near future. Regarding the upcoming Bangles CD, Carter added, “Matthew [Sweet] tracked a substantial part of the basic tracks at Lolina but more basic tracks and overdubs were recorded at Sue's [Hoffs] home studio. Jim Scott mixed it at his studio.” Vocalist-guitarist Vicki Peterson thanked me for the review via a Tweet, and added that The Bangles have more vinyl releases on the way.

Former Doctor Who star David Tennant has been spending time on a variety of projects since leaving the show. He’ll be providing the voice of a young Charles Darwin in an upcoming 3D animated feature film by Aardman (the people who gave us Wallace & Gromit), called The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists. The film is scheduled to be released on March 30th, 2012. Hugh Grant and Salma Hayek are also lending their voices to the project.

Congratulations to Aimee Mann, a singer-songwriter known for her introspective lyrics, on being one of the performers who were invited to the White House to participate in Poetry Night. Mann, who recently tweeted, “Back in LA and still amazed that I got to play at the White House and meet the POTUS and FLOTUS,” is currently working on her next CD.

The Power Pop Overdose blog brought news earlier this week of the upcoming Sky Full Of Holes CD from Fountains Of Wayne. The disc will be released on Yep Roc Records August 2nd, and Fountains Of Wayne will start touring in August and September to support it.

We’ll all be ready to wear our love like heaven this summer. The Second Disc newsletter has news on an expanded two-CD edition of Donovan’s 1966 flower power masterpiece, Sunshine Superman that’s due out on June 6th.

Promoter David Bash returns to Liverpool next Tuesday to kick off another round of International Pop Overthrow. All of the performances (and there are well over 100) will take place at either The Cavern Pub or the Cavern Club, with the latter having a Front Stage as well as a Back Stage. Little Steven favs The Len Price 3 have a 3:00 PM gig at The Cavern Pub on May 21, and Sparkle*jets UK will be at The Back Stage of The Cavern Club on the 21st for what looks like a 2:00 AM show. As usual, there will be some Yanks among the UK many acts, including IPO veteran Jeremy, L.A.-based power pop band Maple Mars, and Chicago’s own The Queue. Canadian Dave Rave, who’s intent on performing at every city on the schedule, closes out IPO - Liverpool 2011 with on midnight show on the 24th.

While he’s in Liverpool, David Bash might want to check out the Beatles-adorned wall surrounding the Hard Days Night Hotel. Back in 2007, renowned Beatles artist Shannon was commissioned to paint the walls, which had been set up to keep people from stealing bricks, hardware, piping, and other assorted materials as souvenirs. As far as I can tell from a recent Facebook post from a Shannon, the wall is still in place. The Hard Days Night Hotel is now open, and (sigh) one of my many pop-oriented dreams is to stay there some night.

Rising Gael, a young quartet of Celtic rockers, will hold a CD release party for their latest effort, IV, at The High Noon Saloon in Madison Wisconsin on June 10th. Cover charge is $5. Rising Gael played a few times at Celtic Fest in Chicago, and was very entertaining.

A Double Shot Of IPO - Chicago: Part 2

Graphic from the cover of the International Pop Overthrow Midwest ‘11 Official Program And Guide. Graphic Design and Layout: Jim Horan; Art Director: Steve Stanley.

The sights, the sounds, and the people of International Pop Overthrow - Chicago 2011.

Shortly after arriving at The Abbey Pub around 7:30 Saturday night, I went over to say hello to Founder and CEO David Bash and Executive Vice President Rina Bardfield of International Pop Overthrow and congratulate them on another great Chicago festival. Over the past 10 days, they had brought an amazing range of talent to the stages of The Red Line Tap and The Abbey Pub, and now it had come down to the 2011 finale. Bash confirmed that the April 23rd showcase was the first in IPO - Chicago history to be sold out.

With the line-up down to five bands (I have no idea of what happened to Johnny Monaco) the starting time for Saturday night’s opener, Waiflike was pushed back to about 8:15. The trio, comprised of founding member guitarist-vocalist Richard Neil Miller, drummer Lucas Frantom, and guest musician bassist Lennie Dietsch from Verbow, were dressed in black and played a hard-hitting type of catchy pop. Miller and Dietsch both seemed to be playing lead, which made for some powerful music.

There was a large crowd at The Abbey by this time, and the mood was genuinely festive. Several of the night’s musicians were already in the house, including members of The Valley Downs and Van Go. Brad Elvis and Chloe F. Orwell of The Handcuffs were hanging out, as well as members of Penthouse Sweets. An old friend of mine, Boris, came up to say hello. I hadn’t seen him since the days when we used to hang out at Harlows/Pips/Haywires (the club went by various names but basically kept the same format) on the southwest side back in the mid-1970s to early 1980s.

“They don’t sound like their name,” Boris noted, referring to Waiflike. I also ran into Althea Legaspi, my former editor at the Illinois Entertainer, who now writes for the Chicago Tribune, among other publications. She wrote the liner notes for Material Issue’s International Pop Overthrow 20th Anniversary Edition, and did an interview with bassist Ted Ansani and drummer Mike Zelenko for radio station WBEZ.

Material re-Issue blasted through the unforgettable opening trio of girl songs from the International Pop Overthrow album (“Valerie Loves Me,” “Diane,” and “Renee Remains The Same”) before directly addressing the crowd. Phil Angotti wisely didn’t try to imitate the late Jim Ellison’s personality or dress like him; he was basically the same guy who had performed songs from his own CD on the previous night. He let the nattily dressed bassist Ted Ansani do most of the talking, and humbly waved off the occasional compliment Ansani paid him.

“We’ve got the whole album to do for you this evening,” Ansani said after the trio had played the romantic “This Letter.” The trio excelled on all 14 original tracks, as the audience sang along, clapped, and cheered. Angotti was impressive on guitar, and varied his vocal approach from the yelp of “Trouble” to the more subtle “Very First Lie.” The songs, like The Ramones-inspired title track, the joyous “Crazy,” and the abrasive “Chance Of A Lifetime,” have held up well over two decades.

Material re-Issue left the stage after playing “Li’l Christine,” the final track from International Pop Overthrow, but quickly returned for an encore, joined by guitarist Jay O’Rourke from another one of Chicago’s premier bands, The Insiders. They performed “Next Big Thing” from the Destination Universe album, plus “Goin’ Through Your Purse” and “Kim The Waitress” from Freak City Soundtrack. The band returned for yet another encore, with the song “Sixteen Tambourines,” and probably could have played all night as far as the audience was concerned.

“I’d hate to be the poor band following these guys,” Mike Galassini of The Valley Downs joked as he passed by me while everyone was still in the midst of Materialmania. As the next act up, he knew his band would be facing a major challenge. Then again, if The Valley Downs were shrinking violets, they wouldn’t haven’t gone to Liverpool to play an IPO gig at The Cavern Club. Moments later, Galassini received a Karate Kid type message of encouragement from his brother Lou, who would be playing bass for the evening’s final act, Van Go. Unfortunately, a good deal of the crowd had left immediately after the Material re-Issue set.

I saw guitarist Brent Seatter, a veteran of Thrift Store Halo and Kevin Lee’s band, in the crowd, along with his wife Pam. He told me that Thrift Store Halo was back in business and ready to release another CD, which is good news since their last effort, World Gone Mad, included a number of power pop gems.

The Valley Downs, led by vocalist Marianne Shimkus-Galassini and bassist-vocalist Mike Galassini, played songs from their Behemoth EP, along with some energetic new material like “Break My Heart” and “Last Days Of Summer.” Shimkus-Galassini, an engaging performer with a strong voice, frequently harmonized with her husband, while guitarist Todd Rusin cut loose with some inventive strumming. The band took a risk with a slowed-down, Country & Western flavored take on The Clash’s “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?” but made it work.

Velvet Cadillacs provided more evidence that sticking around after the Material re-Issue set was a great idea. This is a young band with boundless energy and a brash lead vocalist in the comically-named CD Riviera. Guitar-driven songs like “Wish I Was Cool” and “Somebody’s Crying” had a punk intensity while remaining melodic. “Inside Out,” the title track from a forthcoming release, bodes well for the band’s future.

Unfortunately, I had to leave at around 12:20 to make sure I could catch the last Metra train back home. Van Go was just taking the stage as I was going out the door, so I’ll have to go with what I wrote about them at last year’s IPO - Chicago gig. Back then, I mentioned that the band had four CDs to draw on, and its experience was evident on several melodic but hard-hitting songs. I did get a copy of Van Go’s The Long Lost Last Call, which I’ll be reviewing here in the new future.

And so, the book closes on another successful International Pop Overthrow - Chicago. David Bash will set up shop with a different line-up of bands in Detroit from April 28th-30th, and then wrap up his swing through the Midwest in Milwaukee from May 5th -7th.

A Double Shot Of IPO - Chicago: Part One

Poster from Ellis Clark's Facebool page.

The Material re-Issue performance at The Abbey Pub on the final evening of International Pop Overthrow - Chicago 2011 definitely lived up to all the publicity that preceded it. The SRO crowd at The Abbey Pub roared with approval at the end of the opening number, “Valerie Loves Me,” blowing away any doubts that singer-guitarist Phil Angotti would be embraced for bringing the songs of Jim Ellison back to the stage again. Introducing the trio of Angotti and original members Ted Ansani and Mike Zelenko, International Pop Overthrow honcho David Bash had exuberantly proclaimed, “Jim Ellison, this one’s for you!”

About 24 hours earlier, Angotti had been part of an IPO - Chicago showcase at The Abbey that drew a much smaller crowd, but still underscored the sense of community this annual festival tends to foster. Friday night’s opening set was by guitarists Tom Curless and Brian Krumm of Your Gracious Host, who played tuneful indie rock songs like “Surrender Me” and “The Sunrise Nearly Killed Me.” Your Gracious Host’s newest CD, Sleepers Awaken, was available at the merchandise table.

Angotti came on next, performing the bulk of his latest solo effort, People And Places. Well-crafted songs like “Broken Baby Doll House,” “Same Ol’ We,” and “Whatever Happened To. . .” came off well in the live setting, and “My Old Records” featured a guest appearance by Brad Elvis on drums. Tommi Zender, who played drums throughout most of the set, also took a few turns on guitar, and provided harmony vocals. Kevin Junior, who was due up next, joined Angotti on harmony vocals while covering a vintage Kinks song. Keyboards player-vocalist Carolyn Engelmann was also impressive, and would become a familiar face throughout the night by performing on Kevin Junior and Ellis Clark’s sets as well. Angotti dedicated the touching “Parting For Awhile” to the late Carlos Hernandez Gomez, an acclaimed reporter as well as a Beatles fanatic.

Kevin Junior, best known for his symphonic pop music with the acclaimed Chicago band The Chamber Strings, performed a set of melodic songs from his Ruins CD, backed by Lou Hallwas of Penthouse Sweets on keyboards, Angotti on guitar, and Engelmann on keyboards and backup vocals. Junior and Angotti harmonized beautifully on several songs, and toward the end of the set, guest musicians Brad Elvis and Ellis Clark came on board. Junior announced that The Chamber Strings will be playing their first live gig in two years at The Hideout on May 19th.

Ellis Clark and Epicycle came on next, with Engelmann on keyboards, Charlie (sorry, I didn’t catch his last name) from Phil Angotti’s band on bass, and Brad Elvis on drums. As David Bash pointed out during his introduction, singer-guitarist-keyboards player Clark has explored numerous types of music throughout his career, always with wit and imagination. Friday night’s show included catchy songs like “Strange Days,” “Big Day,” and the satiric “I’m So Cool.” The set included new songs like “The Lucky Ones” and (I’m guessing on the title) “Hand Of Love.”

Brothers Jonathan and Robert Scott of Doleful Lions unleashed sheets of shimmering sound via their guitars and pre-recorded synth beats. Their songs, like the title track of their latest CD, Let’s Break Bobby Beausoleil Out Of Prison, recalled the UK shoegazer music of the 1990s.

Penthouse Sweets were minus bassist Eric Chial for their IPO - Chicago gig, and aside from the occasional odd comment like vocalist-guitarist Andy Hansen telling guitarist-vocalist Lou Hallwas, “You looked like Adolph Hitler for a minute there,” the musicians didn’t joke around as much as in past shows. Still, it’s always fun to take in the band’s freewheeling brand of melodic pop. New songs like “Dark Eyes” and a cover of The Who’s “Pictures Of Lily” were particularly strong, and Penthouse Sweets wrapped up the evening with a rollicking version of The Replacements’ “I.O.U.”

Members of Penthouse Sweets showed up at The Abbey Pub long before they were due to go on, and Curless and Krumm from Your Gracious Host hung out long after their opening set was over. It’s inspiring how much the bands involved with International Pop Overthrow support each other. Mike Galassini from 92 Degrees and The Valley Downs was also hanging out, as was Chloe F. Orwell, Brad Elvis’s partner in crime from The Handcuffs. Phil Angotti pretty much spent the entire evening at Friday’s showcase, and I had a chance to ask if he was nervous about the Material re-Issue gig coming on the following night. He said he felt a little nervous, but strongly believed he, Ansani, and Zelenko were ready.

Coming Up: A sold-out crowd finds Material re-Issue is ready.

IPO - Chicago 2011: On With The Show, This Is It

Mike Zelenko and Ted Ansani on their way to meet Phil Angotti at The Abbey.

Almost from the moment the 2011 International Pop Overthrow - Chicago schedule was announced, the bands slated for April 23rd were warning their friends on Facebook to buy tickets in advance. The reason for their concern was a Material re-Issue gig, set right in the heart of the six-band showcase. Veteran singer-guitarist Phil Angotti, joined by original members bassist Ted Ansani and drummer Mike Zelenko, would be playing Material Issue’s legendary debut, International Pop Overthrow from start to finish.

It’s a safe bet promoter David Bash, who staged his first International Pop Overthrow in Los Angeles back in 1988, is thrilled to have International Pop Overthrow the album playing such an integral role in his traveling festival’s 10th anniversary visit to Chicago.

As expected, the April 23rd evening lineup at The Abbey Pub has sold out. But here’s some advice for anyone who does have tickets: Arrive early enough to see the bands performing before Material re-Issue, and check out the bands coming on afterward. One of the true joys of International Pop Overthrow the festival is the variety of talent Bash brings together for his showcases.

Singer/multi-instrumentalist Richard Neil Miller is by no means fragile in his Waiflike project, which finds him performing energetic, British Invasion inspired songs like “Sober Now” and “Dime Store Daisy.” In addition to catchy power pop, Waiflike also dabbles in more acoustic material like “Running In Place.”

Former Enuff Z’nuff singer-axeman Johhny Monaco carried on the tradition of that industrial-strength power pop band with the songs on his 2007 solo debut, Overrated. “Still Haven’t Called” and “LetsSetOurHeartsSelfDestruct” combine layered vocals and strong melodies within energetic arrangements, while “I Like You More” has a White Stripes whimsical feel.

It’s common to find a lot of musicians hanging out at International Pop Overthrow, supporting each other’s gigs and catching up with old friends. The WXRT-sponsored Material re-Issue show has been getting loads of media attention, which should mean even more musicians at the Abbey Pub. In my recent review of the International Pop Overthrow 20th Anniversary Edition for the Illinois Entertainer, I described the album as proving “the staying power of lead vocalist-guitarist Jim Ellison’s songwriting ability, and the memorable songs he created with bassist Ted Ansani and drummer Mike Zelenko.” I also noted that, “Ellison pretty much concentrated on affairs of the heart, but approached the topic from various directions and filled his songs with believable characters whose emotions were readily recognizable.” Angotti will face a mammoth challenge in playing Ellison’s role onstage, but he’s a longtime friend of the band, as well as a gifted artist in his own right. It’s not likely anyone will come away from this show disappointed.

The Valley Downs, led by the husband wife team of singer Marianne Shimkus Galassini and bassist-vocalist Mike Galassini, have released two EPs of well-crafted indie rock. In my Broken Hearted Toy review of the band’s untitled second EP, I said, “the band continues to craft melodic songs that sound like tracks from a Bangles CD, or perhaps The Continental Drifters. There’s also a definite Beatles influence running through these four tracks.” The band has played several IPO gigs in Chicago and other cities.

The Velvet Cadillacs add a Warren Zevon type of dark humor to revved up songs like “Things I Plan To Do” and “Holiday Inn.” The guitars of CD Riviera and Karl Caprice Classic are always prominent, and Riviera’s raw vocals suit the frequently criminally-inclined lyrics.

While listening to the Van Go CD, The Long Lost Last Call in preparation for an upcoming BHT review, “Your Three Minutes Are Up” sounded strikingly familiar. Sure enough, that song had jumped out at me during a 2010 IPO Van Go performance. Led by vocalist-guitarist Dave Sippel, the band charged through a cover of Elvis Costello’s “Girl Talk,” as well as hard-hitting originals like “London Underground.”

IPO - Chicago: Various Sounds For A Weekend Afternoon

April in Chicago can be unseasonably chilly. Photo taken from The PondHawks MySpace page.

Saturday night’s rousing climax to International Pop Overthrow - Chicago 2011 is officially Sold Out. Fans can still check out an impressive lineup at tonight’s IPO at The Abbey Pub, and there’s an afternoon showcase at The Abbey tomorrow.

Don’t be surprised if the kids from Northbrook Garage go on an Easter egg hunt after their 1:00 PM performance on Saturday. Okay, they’re not that young, but these musicians are currently in 7th and 8th grade. Not that anyone would know that from listening to Elenna “LNA” Sindl’s husky vocals or her band mates’ professional playing. Northbrook Garage’s funky “Under The Hood” should have patrons at The Abbey smiling in amazement.

The four guys from The April Year look pretty young as well. Their highly polished songs, like “Meet Me Here” and “So Much For The Art Museum,” could land the band some heavy radio airplay.

The band Emerson takes an introspective approach to its original material, crafting romantic ballads like “Alright, Okay” and “Tonight.”

The bouncy, piano driven songs by the Minnesota-based The Golden Bubbles have a music hall feel that’s augmented by fun vocal interplay and shifting tempos.

Michigan native Jeremy has an IPO pedigree that goes well beyond Chicago. He taps into classic pop sensibilities on songs like “Pop Rules” and “Come Clean,” but don’t be surprised if he cuts loose with some impressive guitar jamming during his performance.

The PondHawks can cut loose with guitar-driven tunes with a modern edge like “Fire Eyes” and “Midnight Howl,” but also place a strong emphasis on harmony vocals. “Your Mind Is Hard To Find” features them working in a slower, more Beatlesque vein.

Media Blitz Eve - Friday At IPO - Chicago

Saturday, April 23rd is easily the biggest night of International Pop Overthrow - Chicago 2011. WXRT is sponsoring the event, and the Material re-Issue gig, featuring singer-guitarist Phil Angotti, along with original members, bassist Ted Ansani and drummer Mike Zelenko, has been generating a lot of publicity. All the attention should result in a packed house, and hopefully some new people who’ll become regular visitors to this annual celebration of power pop and indie rock music.

So, tomorrow is sort of a Media Blitz Eve at The Abbey Pub. There’s a lot of Chicago musical history within this six-act lineup, and as always, promoter David Bash has assembled some impressive talent.

True to its name, Your Gracious Host, a Michigan-based band led by former Autoliner member Tom Curless, exudes an easy-going vibe on tunes like the intricate “Admit To Myself” and more energetic “I Feel Alright.” The band’s indie rock approach is crafted from acoustic and electric guitars, along with layers of vocals. Your Gracious Host has released two CDs, the more recent one being Easy Red.

The spotlight currently being shone on singer-guitarist Phil Angotti is due to his role in Saturday night’s Material re-Issue show, but his new People And Places CD merits attention as well. Angotti’s power pop resume reaches back to the days when he fronted The Idea, so this Friday night’s solo show qualifies as one of IPO - Chicago’s highlights as well.

Singer-guitarist Kevin Junior was one of the chief artists behind the renaissance power pop of The Chamber Strings, a multi-faceted ensemble that has released two critically-acclaimed CDs. Look for his new solo work to carry on in that tradition.

Singer-guitarist-keyboards player Ellis Clark’s contributions extend well beyond Epicycle, which in itself would cover several years of being at the cutting edge of the Chicago music scene. He was also behind the melodic rock of Social Act, and is currently a member of The Handcuffs, the indie rock band fronted by vocalist-guitarist Chloe F. Orwell and drummer Brad Elvis. Brad Elvis will be at the drum kit for Clark’s Friday’s show.

Doleful Lions have a droll sense of humor that’s manifested in the title of their latest CD on Parasol Records, Let’s Break Bobby Beausoleil Out Of Prison. They also recently posted a minimalist music video by frontman Jonathan Scott on their Facebook page. Some of the off-kilter pop tunes they might be playing Friday night include “Underground Werewolf Scribe Agape” and “The Brooks Brothers Riots.”

Penthouse Sweets are no strangers to The Abbey Pub, having been part of IPO - Chicago showcases there in the past. The band, led by vocalist-guitarist Andy Hansen and guitarist-vocalist Lou Hallwas, combines funny antics and solid musicianship on songs like “Dark Eyes.” “Smart Black Dress,” from the latest EP, See You In Bed, is a rollicking number that evokes The Rolling Stones

IPO - Chicago Thursday: Another Fun Lineup at Red Line Tap

All three of these guys are schizophrenic. No, they’re not. Graphic from official New Duncan Imperials website.

Remember that scene in the 1989 Batman flick, when The Joker asks in amazement, “Where does he get all those wonderful toys?” I’ve been thinking about that as I research the acts David Bash has assembled for this year’s International Pop Overthrow - Chicago. Where does he get all these wonderful performers? Here’s the lineup for tomorrow night at Red Line Tap.

Houston, Texas native Chase Hamblin is an eccentric performer who wryly describes his music as Melodramatic Popular Song on his MySpace page. He covers a lot of ground, from the samba beat of “Think Of The Good Times” to the pulsing garage rock of “Never Let You Go,” which could have been a hit for The Yardbirds.

Fronted by vocalist-guitarist Pamela Richardson, The Pralines offer a mix of melodic rock songs like “What To Do About You” and the more folk-rock oriented “Raphael.” The Pralines also tap into some appealing rock-a-billy with “Redeye to Loveland.” Their debut CD is titled Song Of The Day Cafe.

Tenniscourts features members of The Wes Hollywood Show, whose 2003 release Moonraker still stands as one of the best releases by a Chicago power pop band. Catchy songs with gorgeous harmonies like “Swimming Pool” by Tenniscourts carry on that tradition, and the band has just released a new CD titled Dig The New Sounds Of.

Wise guy trio New Duncan Imperials has a long history of performing high-speed, humorous songs like “I’m Schizophrenic (No I’m Not)” on the Chicago club scene. Also known for their outlandish outfits, New Duncan Imperials will have a wealth of CDs to draw from at their IPO - Chicago gig. Their latest release on the Pravda label is sort of a greatest hits package, titled The Singles Collection.

Considering they named their most recent CD Just Ad Nauseam, it’s not surprising to find Wiplot, the final act on tomorrow’s showcase, takes a fun attitude toward making music. A bit of a funk surfaces amidst the harmonies of “Sunshine Factory,” and the band experiments with a psychedelic arrangement on “Minus Mind.” The goofy “Lower Heights” adds another element to Wiplot’s approach.