IPO - Wednesday Night Preview

Photo from the Rocketboat Facebook page.

Firmly back in preview mode now, with a post about TOMORROW night’s International Pop Overthrow lineup at The Red Line Tap. As always, it’s best to check the official IPO website for a thumbnail description of each of the acts involved. Here’s the Wednesday night schedule.

8:00 PM Drew Neeley and The Heroes IPO veteran singer-guitarist Drew Neeley performs his original pop/folk/punk tunes, backed by a new band that includes three guys who also sing. It’s a safe bet Neeley will be joining them for some harmony vocals on songs from his upcoming This Could Be You album.

8:45 PM Telstar The Anthony Calderisi-led band returns to IPO-Chicago to perform muscular, guitar-driven power pop songs like “Waiting” and “Tonight.”

9:30 PM Certain Stars Milwaukee natives Certain Stars have been playing their Big Star-influenced power pop music since 2004. In addition to performing at IPO on a regular basis, they’ve logged time at the annual Alex Chilton Birthday Bash here in Chicago. Their latest full-length album, The Great Destroyer, is available on the Cuba Libre label.

10:15 PM Rocketboat Based in Hammond, Indiana, Rocketboat consistently creates clever video clips for the catchy and fun songs on its self-titled debut. It seems likely that spirit will carry over into a live performance.

11:00 PM The Viaducts This band’s debut CD was titled Mission To Destroy, but don’t expect to hear heavy metal during its show. Lead vocalist-guitarist Jimmy Rane draws from Buddy Holly on catchy songs like “Your Smiling Face (Walkin’ By In Blue Jeans),” while “Drive-Thru Girl” feels a bit more like The Ramones. His guitar playing is especially impressive live, and his lyrics often carry an emotional punch.

IPO - Chicago Tuesday Night Preview

Photo from The Fox And The Hounds website.

There will be quite a variety of rock, and definitely splashes of humor at The Red Line Tap tonight as International Pop Overthrow continues its 2015 run. As always, it’s best to check the official IPO website for a thumbnail description of each of the acts involved. Here’s tonight’s all-Chicago, eclectic lineup.

8:00 PM Mike Vanderbilt And The Suburban Garage Sound In addition to performing at International Pop Overthrow several times over the years with The Romeros, this singer-guitarist does a solo gig billed as Mike Vanderbilt And The Suburban Garage Sound. He’ll be making all those sounds himself, drawing inspiration from The Replacements, The Old 97s, and Cheap Trick; and possibly covering “Hooked On A Feeling” again. The charismatic Mr. Vanderbilt will be fronting The Romeros on Saturday evening as the last act of this years IPO - Chicago.

8:45 PM No Love For Linus And you thought Charlie Brown had it bad. Actually, this five-piece indie band draws influences from the classic rock of The Beatles and Led Zeppelin, as well as alt bands like Third Eye Blind and Counting Crows. Its Someday EP will likely be for sale tonight.  

9:30 PM Top Shelf Lickers This unruly quartet mixes hard rock and punk elements, with an added dose of dark humor. Their Head First album received a thumbs up from me in the Illinois Entertainer, and they have a brand new release on white vinyl.

10:15 PM Homer Marrs and The Excellent Adventure This quirky rock trio has been getting notice for lampooning our self-obsessed culture, especially with its catchy tune and professionally produced video for  “It’s Amazing.”

11:00 PM The Fox and The Hounds Led by vocalist Kendel Lester, this coed quintet bills itself as Chicago’s only “Burlesque Rock N’ Roll Band” and often invites guest vocalists to join the party onstage. There’s a definite theatrical flair to its approach that’s particularly evident on its long-form video for the torch song “Desert Spring Rose.”

Monday Night IPO - Chicago Showcase

Okay, so these International Pop Overthrow posts are becoming more like a roll call than actual previews. By the time anyone is able to read this, tonight’s showcase will pretty much be over. But I’m determined to give each of the participating acts a shout out, even if it is belated. IPO CEO/Founder David Bash and his girlfiend/fellow talent scout Rina Bardfiled do an amazing job scouting new music, and IPO has its own extensive list of all the performers who will be part of the 2015 circuit. Check it out and you’re bound to discover some new favorites. Here’s the lineup that's taking place at The Red Line Tap tonight. Acts are from the Chicago area unless otherwise noted.

8:00 PM Joe Caravella (of The Reign) Vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Joe Caravella from the New York-based band The Reign will likely be playing some of the melodic and guitar-driven rock songs from its latest release The Long Wait.

8:45 PM The Red Wigglers This six-piece rock combo describes itself as “Indie rock with horns!” and is lead by vocalist Megan Tormey.

9:30 PM The Artist Formally Known As Vince The shelf life may have expired for a name like The Artist Formally Known As Vince, (and it is Formally on the website and Facebook not Formerly) but any band that claims “Glitter, pretty things, and late nights” as its interests is guaranteed to be fun. Plus, they draw upon Cheap Trick and T Rex, and their high-energy live shows are filled with dynamic male-female vocal interplay.

10:15 PM Andy Bopp This veteran singer-guitarist created classic power pop music with the Baltimore-based band Love Nut, and in addition to his current solo career, he also performs as part of the duo The Modern Ruins. 

11:00 PM Chronic Edge  A hard rock quartet that adroitly mixes synths beats and strings into melodic songs like “Kalifornia” and “Krazzy.” Chronic Edge will likely have copies of it Krazzy EP for sale at Redline Tap.

A Double Dose For IPO Sunday

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago has two full band schedules at the Red Line Tap today, including a showcase later tonight that brings together two of the city’s most mind-bending psychedelic acts, The Red Plastic Buddha and The Luck Of Eden Hall, along with The Pickpockets, Broadfield Marchers, and The Evening Attraction. I probably won’t get to post a preview of tonight’s show before it starts, so you might want to explore the the complete list of this year’s IPO - Chicago performers, on the official website.

This afternoon’s showcase is also well worth checking out, with its ambitious mix of genres among five local acts and a revered New Yorker/world traveler. 

2:00 Mike McKenna A singer-songwriter who performs Americana music.

2:25 Kerosene Stars Indie rock band formed by vocalist-bassist Scott Schaafsma that plays tuneful songs that tap into Country and Western. Their second album, a self-titled eight-song effort, was released last year.

3:30 Logan Squares Band This quartet returns to IPO - Chicago with a repertoire guitar-driven songs its 14-song CD and That is That.

4:15 The Right Tidys Vocalist Erica Loftus lead these IPO - Chicago veterans through catchy originals like “Set The Hook” and “Rippin’ Me Off.” Dhyana Brummel’s keyboards playing enables The Right Tidys to tap into new wave, power pop, or garage rock. Bassist player Lou Galassini will return next Friday when he performs with his other band Van Go.

5:00 Ultrahazard One of this year’s more adventurous booking for IPO - Chicago, the coed quintet offers a mix of punk and ska music on high energy songs. like “Olive Eyes.” Their digital EP is available on their Bandcamp page. 

5:45 Dave Rave This singer-guitarist definitely holds the record for logging the most IPO appearances; having traveled to every city on the festival’s circuit. He’s originally from New York, is a renowned session musician, and was a member of Teenage Head.

IPO: Ginger Records Showcase

I’m currently caught somewhere between writing about entertainment events and actually going out to see them. So this post, delayed because of my earlier Record Store Day carousing, can hardly be called a preview. But if you’re in the area of Red Line Tap on Chicago’s north side tonight, you might still have a chance of catching this lineup of acts from the Ginger Records label. And even if you don’t make it out to International Pop Overthrow tonight, keep these acts in mind for future reference.

Justin Fielding, the Boston-based filmmaker who’s currently working on a documentary called The Power Pop Movie, was at International Pop Overthrow - Chicago for the afternoon showcase today, and had a chat with guitar virtuoso Jeremy. I can’t say how much filming he did today or if he’s still hanging out with IPO Founder/CEO David Bash, but if he is, be sure to give him a hearty Chicago welcome.

By the way, the official IPO site has an exhaustive list of all the artists who are performing at this year’s event. Here’s tonight’s schedule.

8:00 PM Doug Bobenhouse  A founding member of the eccentric and critically acclaimed pop band The Sun Sawed In 1/2, Bobenhouse is currently pursuing a solo career as well as performing with the band Dad’s Magazine, which is also on tonight’s bill. 

8:45 Rob Schultz Band A singer-songwriter who tends towards a liberal point of view but never lets his politically charged lyrics overwhelm the catchy arrangements of his music. On his CD Tragedy And Comedy, his approach ranged from  humorous to hard-hitting. His band is influenced by The Kinks, Elvis Costello, Marshall Crenshaw, and The Who.

9:30 Weekend Vinyl  This power pop group is led by vocalist-guitarist Mike Mclaughlin, who fronted the amazingly catchy IPO veterans Swinger. Weekend Vinyl’s debut release Easy Chair, which is filled with appealing arrangements and ringing guitars, is now available on iTunes.

10:15 Gooey This five-piece band describes its power pop music as “meow meow rock!” Gooey performs a blend of originals like the catchy “Watch Out” along with cover versions, and has released a 16-track CD titled Hold On Tight.

11:00 The Webstirs These guys are masters of the quirky pop song, and are also well-known for harmony vocals. A remastered edition of their earlier CD Smirk (with clever new packaging that mirrors The Beach Boys’ Smile LP) offered power pop gems like “Old Enough” and “It’s Over Now.” 

11:45 Dad’s Magazine This is sort of a local indie all-star group, with members who come from The Sun Sawed In 1/2, The Webstirs, and Swinger. Over the past few years, Dad’s Magazine has become an IPO - Chicago mainstay.

IPO Saturday Afternoon Preview

You can almost hear those harmonies from The Abbeys coming through the photo.

There will be a wide range of ages represented on the stage at Red Line Tap tomorrow afternoon as International Pop Overthrow Founder/CEO David Bash continues his tradition of inviting fledgling bands to perform as part of his weekend afternoon showcases. In addition to the teen bands scheduled, there are four longtime IPO favorites on board.

1:15 PM Homeschool Dropouts These six young women from Downers Grove delve into classic rock by The Beatles, AC/DC, and Fleetwood Mac.  

2:00 Euphoria A coed teen band with six members whose taste in music ranges from Led Zeppelin to Weezer. 

2:45 Jeremy Band This single-named, Portage, Michigan-based singer-guitarist comes close to rivaling Dave Rave’s amazing IPO attendance record, having played the festival in several cities over the years. Jeremy draws inspiration from the 1960s and has released several CDs on his own Jam label. He can always be counted on for some powerful and extensive jamming during his live performances.

3:30 Clear Confusion This young quartet first came together at the Rock Academy of Dupage and is active on the local Battle of the Bands scene. Its set list tends toward current alt rock, with covers of The Foo Fighters’ “These Days” and The Black Keys’ “Gold On The Ceiling.”

4:15 The Cubes This quartet puts an emphasis on guitar-driven arrangements while taking the occasional journey into psychedelic or spaghetti western music. They like to think of their approach as a little twisted.

5:00 The Abbeys The lineup has changed over the years, but this power pop band’s nucleus of singers-guitarists Mike Cohen and Jeff Janulis has performed at every single International Pop Overthrow since the festival has been coming to Chicago. Cohen and Janulis have spent years creating Everly Brothers type harmonies within infectious arrangements, so it’s no surprise they also have a band called The Everly Hillbillies.

5:45 The Hurtin’ Kind This is a roots rock/power pop quartet led by Matt Rhodes on vocals and guitar. Guitarist John Leonard amd bassist Bill Kavanagh provide backup vocals, and Jerry King plays drums. Songs like “Settle” and “Soft Landing” combine high energy and strong melodies.

How ‘Bout Some Live Music To Go With That Rare Vinyl?

Unless you’re one of the first people standing outside your favorite record store at the break of dawn tomorrow, it’s not likely you’ll be able to get everything on your Record Store Day wish list. Even if all those vinyl rarities were still in stock, most of us would still have to make some tough choices due to budget constraints. Luckily, Record Store Day has some built-in consolation prizes in the form of free promo items, snacks, and even better—in-store performances. Here’s a sampling of some of the live music events going on in the Chicago area as part of Record Store Day tomorrow. All are in the city unless otherwise noted. Note: There is a much more extensive list in the Agenda section of today’s Chicago Sun-Times.

Emporium Arcade Bar 1366 N. Milwaukee Avenue (Across the street from the Reckless Records Milwaukee Avenue location.)

12:30 throughout the day. Revolution Brewing is sponsoring a Record Store Day themed event featuring live music from Ribbon Head, Roach Wave, and Meatwave

9:00 PM CIMMfest’s Official Record Store Day Wrap Party 

Laurie’s Planet Of Sound 4639 N. Lincoln Avenue  (Opens at 9:00 AM)

12:30 Polkaholics

1:00 PM DJ Tim Miller

2:00 PM Phil Angotti, Casey McDonough, and Tommi Zender perform Simon and Garfunkel’s  Parsley, Sage Rosemary and Thyme album. 

3:00 PM WXRT air personality Terri Hemmert

3:30 PM The Handcuffs

4:00 PM DJ Miss Alex White

5:00 PM The Baby Magic

5:00 - 8:00 PM DJ Peroxide

6:00 PM Staring Problem

7:00 PM Synth City

Purple Dog Records 329 Center Street - Naperville (Opens at noon)

The vintage record store will be sponsoring an all-day event with free live music at the nearby Orazio Pub.

Reckless Records 3126 N. Broadway (Opens 10:00 AM)

2:00 PM Lasers and Fast and Shit

3:00 PM Local H

4:00 PM NE-HI

Reckless Records 1379 Milwaukee Avenue. Note the new location. (Opens 10:00 AM)

3:00 PM Sea and Cake

3:30 - 5:00 PM Robert Trujillo (Metallica) signing. He’s promoting the documentary Jaco, which is about bassist Jaco Pastorius. The film will be shown at CIMMfest later that night at the Logan Theatre.

5:30 DJ Clent

Reckless Records  26 E. Madison (Opens 10:00 AM)

2:00 PM Tim Kinsella

Reggie’s Rock Club 2109 S. State Street in Chicago 

12:00 PM - 2:30 PM WXRT hosts a celebration of its Live From The Archive Vol. 16 compilation on vinyl. Live performance by the band Great Moments In Vinyl.

Val’s Halla 239 Harrison Oak Park (Opens at 9:00 AM, serving coffee and doughnuts)

Raffles and live music throughout the day by Lloyd Brodnax from Funkadesi and Paul Von Mertens from Poi Dog Pondering.

Vintage Vinyl  925 Davis Street in Evanston (Opens at 11:00 AM)

11:00 AM Ellis Clark and The Big Parade with special guest vocalist Ary Paloma Jeebie from The Amazing Heeby Jeebies.

12:00 PM The Luck Of Eden Hall, who will also be raffling off some colored vinyl and a new turntable. They’ll also be performing later that night at 9:00 PM at Moe’s Tavern as part of a CIMMfest showcase.