Kurt Baker Combo - Muy Mola Live!

Portland singer-guitarist Kurt Baker is a household name on the power pop scene, from his days with The Leftovers, as a solo artist, and with his side project The New Trocaderos. The recently released Muy Mola Live! (available from Kool Kat Musik) was recorded on a Monday night at Salty Peet’s Rock Shack in Kenosha, Wisconsin and offers an energetic mix of originals and well-chosen cover versions. Although other reviewers have beat me to the punch on this, there’s just no way to avoid describing Muy Mola Live! a party.

Actually, “Partied Out” is one of a dozen high-speed songs served up by The Kurt Baker Combo on this release. With its revved-up guitars and infectious melody, it qualifies as textbook power pop, as does the celebratory concert opener “Weekend Girls.” The frenetic “Aorta Baby” borders on punk, while “Everybody Knows” and “Don’t Look Back” have more of a 1960s Top 40 vibe. The Kurt Baker Combo dips back into that decade for faithful, if a little more guitar-driven, covers of The Searchers’ “Love Potion #9” and The Beatles’ “Cry For A Carajillo.” Baker engages the crowd throughout the performance with comments like, “You know, we’re having a blast!” and “Everybody knows how to have fun!” Judging from Muy Mola Live!, the crowd in Kenosha was definitely having fun that night.

So, Where Was I?

In a post here on April 16th, I announced April Anticipation—11 action-packed days in which CIMMfest, International Pop Overthrow, Lake FX Chicago, Record Store Day, and C2E2 would arrive in Chicago. I had hoped to offer previews of all those events, but was only able to cover International Pop Overthrow and Record Store Day. Oh well, I guess there’s always next year.

Graham Nash will be coming to town in a little over a week for a pair of gigs with David Crosby and Stephen Stills at the Chicago Theatre. Not too long after that, Nash will embark on a solo tour that will bring him to the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles on July 28th. Other dates include Cleveland, Seattle, Spokane, Kansas City, and Wichita.

Congratulations to David Bash and Red Line Tap on another successful run of International Pop Overthrow - Chicago. Justin Fielding, the Boston-based filmmaker who’s currently working on a documentary titled The Power Pop Movie, dropped by Red Line Tap for some of the showcases. While he was in town, Fielding also notched interviews with some of our best musicians, including Cliff Johnson, Mimi Betinis, Brad Elvis, Chloe F. Orwell, Chip Z’nuff, Bun E. Carlos, Ted Ansani, and Shoes. Here’s a suggestion I’m throwing out there: When Fielding has finished The Power Pop Movie, he should put together some screening/concert events in various cities with some of the acts that are featured in his documentary.

1-2-3, there goes Mr. Lee. Loyal WXRT listeners have long regarded the Chicago station’s air personalities as close friends. Especially the DJs who have been on the air since the days when vinyl records and turntables were the chief means of pumping out all that progressive rock. So it came as a shock when Chicago Tribune media columnist and blogger Robert Feder reported that afternoon DJ Frank E. Lee would be retiring on May 8th.

Like most of the XRT air staff, Lee eschewed the stereotypical DJ patter and came across as a real person. His easy-going approach and sense of humor enabled Lee to become the station’s go-to guy to fill in for other air personalities when they needed some time off. Hopefully, WXRT will hold some sort of public event in honor of Frank E. Lee’s years of service.

The Society Of Midland Authors will mark its 100th Anniversary with a full schedule of speakers this coming Saturday at the University Center at 525 S. State Street. Journalists Rick Kogan and June Sawyers; children’s authors  Blue Balliett and Ilene Cooper; and Uptown Poetry Slam founder Marc Kelly Smith are among those who will be appearing.   

Burnside And Hooker performed a short acoustic set and mingled with members of the media at a private CD Release Party at Uncommon Ground/Greenstar Brewery this past Saturday night. The six-piece band’s All The Way To The Devil album comes out May 19th, and there will be a Release Party at The Double Door on May 22nd. “The Graveyard,” the first single from the new album, is a prime example of how Burnside And Hooker are taking a harder-edged, more experimental approach than they did on their more Country and Western oriented 2013 debut. Led by vocalist Rachel Bonacquisti, their set at Uncommon Ground incorporated elements of the blues, classical, and jazz, while remaining unpredictable at every turn. 

Fans of 1960s and ‘70s rock will get a kick out of the Vintage Music Poster Show at Curly Tale Fine Art Gallery  at 16 W. Erie. The exhibit includes a framed illustrated ticket from a Cream concert, a Janis Joplin poster for her appearance at the Auditorium Theatre, and a Beatles poster from Japan. Admission is free, the exhibit runs through May 30th.

IPO - Chicago Saturday Night Preview

Photo from the Lannie Flowers website.

International Pop Overthrow wraps up another 10-day visit to Chicago this Saturday evening, but don’t worry because the grand finale is in good hands. Five of the six bands on the final showcase are IPO - Chicago veterans, and the other act—Sam Vicari—is an impressive newcomer. As always, it’s best to check the official IPO website for a thumbnail description of each of the acts involved. All bands are from the Chicago area unless otherwise noted.

8:00 PM Collectors Vocalist-rhythm guitarist Michael Mazza heads a quartet that mixes indie rock and power pop, as it returns to IPO - Chicago for its seventh year. The band’s main influences include Badfinger, R.E.M., Cheap Trick, and The Buzzcocks. They’ll be showcasing songs from their latest album Travelogue.

8:45 PM Your Gracious Host  Grand Blanc, Michigan-based singer-guitarist-drummer Tom Curless has released five albums under the Your Gracious Host moniker after first hitting the Chicago music scene with the band Autoliner. He’ll be joined by fellow musician/friend Tom Leach for this IPO performance. The Writers Of Our Destiny, a new song cycle from Curless that’s based on a short story, is set to be released in the near future. 

9:30 PM The Velvet Cadillacs This power pop quintet mixed elements of The Ramones, Cheap Trick, and Johnny Cash on its Pretty Little Boxes EP. They’re veterans of IPO - Chicago.

10:15 PM Sam Vicari  The indie rock/power pop singer-guitarist’s live performances around town have been netting positive reviews. His third album Giving Up, with catchy songs like “Little Stone” and “All And Everyday,” is now available from Sip City Records.

11:00 PM Lannie Flowers Band There was a wealth of talent once again at this year’s IPO - Chicago, but this gentleman from Texas and his band have to be viewed as the festival’s big gun. They make a number of stops on the IPO circuit, bringing joy to power pop purists along the way. Vocalist-guitarist Lannie Flowers creates catchy songs that are reminiscent of The dB’s and Elvis Costello, as well as the mid-1960s Top 40. His Live In NYC album gives a clear indication of the energy Lannie Flowers brings to every performance.

11:45 PM The Romeros After performing a solo gig this past Tuesday, singer-guitarist Mike Vanderbilt returns to the Red Line Tap with his band The Romeros as the final act of IPO - Chicago for the second year in a row. These guys describe the original music on their CDs as “Garage/Power Pop/Pop Punk/ Rock and Roll,” and justify that description with songs like “Bottle Rocket.” 

IPO - Chicago Saturday Afternoon Preview

As is its custom, International Pop Overthrow  presents two separate showcases on the Saturdays and Sunday of its visit here. Tomorrow afternoon will be your penultimate opportunity to take in this eclectic celebration of independent music. The six bands will be a mix of IPO veterans and newcomers. As always, it’s best to check the official IPO website, which has a link and a thumbnail description for each of the acts involved. All of the bands in this showcase are from the Chicago area.

2:00 PM Todd from Hop On Pop Todd Leiter-Weintraub hails from Hop On Pop, a quirky band that released As Drawn By Ethan, Age 2 on Spade Kitty Records in 2004. Leiter-Weintraub released Chicken On A Bicycle in 2010, and his unbridled approach to music allows him to dabble in everything from techno pop to Country And Western.

2:45 PM Freetoed This indie rock quartet, led by vocalist-guitarist Adam Muran, has logged several IPO - Chicago appearances. Influences include Wilco, Ryan Adams, and The Avett Brothers.

3:30 PM The Pralines Vocalist Pamela Richardson has performed at IPO-Los Angeles and has been at just about every IPO-Chicago as a solo artist and/or with The Pralines. The band’s latest CD, A Beautiful View, displays Richardson’s knack for heartfelt lyrics and strong melodies. The Pralines’ engaging folk rock can range from the French language ballad “Il Commence À Pleuvoir” to more energetic fare like “Better Now.”

4:15 PM The Unswept Charlie and Ryan O’Brien, a pair of cousins who moved here from England a few years ago, always exude wit and charm along with a knack for catchy, 1960s-influenced pop. In the past, they’ve performed as a duo as well as backed by a full band. Both variations are splendid, but whatever form they take, they’ll have a bunch of fun songs to perform from their new album titled The Unswept Today.

5:00 PM Suspicious Fires The indie rock rock band has been logging a lot of time on Chicago’s club scene lately and will be playing songs from its upcoming Songs In A Tin House album this Saturday afternoon.

5:45 Cartridge B-Sides These indie rock guys are eager to perform again after taking a bit of time off. Cartridge B-Sides will likely be working in some of its newest songs during its IPO - Chicago set.

IPO - Chicago Friday Preview

Photo from the Yoko And The Oh No's Facebook page.

International Pop Overthrow is winding down its annual visit to our area, with only three showcases left at The Red Line Tap after tonight. I posted an IPO Thursday preview yeaterday, so here’s a look at FRIDAY’S schedule. There will be six bands and since it’s the start of the weekend, the music runs an hour later than on the weekdays. As always, it’s best to check the official IPO website for a thumbnail description of each of the acts involved. All bands are from the Chicago area unless otherwise noted.

8:00 PM The Vinyl Skyway Michael Hayes and Andy Santospago first joined forces in Massachusetts back in 2003, and continue to craft easy-going pop songs with tight harmonies even though they now live in different states. Their 2011 album Return Of The Dead Surfer was recently re-released in a deluxe edition.

8:45 PM Sean Michael IPO - Chicago regulars should remember Sean Michael from his work with the Brit pop infused band The Queue. He’s been experimenting with harder edges and synth beats since embarking on his solo career. His debut Heart On Fire will be out soon.  

9:30 PM Too Much Saturn A five-piece band that specializes in tight harmonies and a distinctively Midwestern power pop. Their latest release is titled Moving Forward Sideways.

10:15 PM Waiflike Long-time IPO-Chicago participants mix melodic, hard-edged rock and roll with dark humor, as evidenced on their debut CD Fifty Pence Piece Of Mind.

11:00 PM Van Go The quintet has released four CDs filled with lead vocalist-guitarist Dave Sippel’s hard-hitting power pop songs. He’s particularly adept at combining biting lyrics and sarcasm with strong melodies on “Invisible Girls” and “Your Three Minutes Are Up.” Van Go also does a rousing cover of Elvis Costello’s “Girls Talk.”

11:45 PM Yoko and the Oh No’s Can’t say much for the name, but this coed trio’s music definitely has appeal. “Your Discretion” and “Nobody Wants To Know” have a revved up, guitar-driven sound with a touch of rockabilly. This should be a fun way to cap off the second to last night of IPO - Chicago 2015.   

IPO - Chicago Thursday Night Preview

This post concerns THURSDAY night’s International Pop Overthrow lineup at The Red Line Tap. Tonight’s lineup was posted earlier on this blog. 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 schedule. All acts are from Chicago unless otherwise noted.

8:00 PM Mike Mentz A singer-songwriter whose easy-going songs often draw inspiration from his travels. His Nashville Nights EP is available on his website.

8:45 PM Larry O. Dean In addition to being a veteran of pop bands like Post Office and The Injured Parties, Dean is an accomplished folk artist whose tunes reflect his wry sense of humor.  

9:30 PM The Shifties You can expect music that’s a bit off the beaten path from a band that describes its approach as rock garage boutique pop. Their latest quirky release is the six-song EP Patty.

10:15 PM Honeywagen These Kansas City power pop veterans swapped out a few musicians behind founding members Mike Penner and Scott Christiansen, but continue to serve up catchy power pop with an emphasis on guitars and harmonies. They’ll have their latest album Jamboree and three previous efforts to draw from at the show tomorrow night. 

11:00 PM Their Ocean Keith Kreuser and Jason Hunt create dream pop infused with a longing for summer, and bill themselves as a “cross between Hall and Oates and Arcade Fire.” Their recent Sunstroke EP follow the 2014 album Skies Light Up.

Jessica Pratt - On Your Own Love Again

On her first release since her self-titled debut in 2011, Jessica Pratt works primarily with her acoustic guitar while spinning tales of complicated relationships. There’s a joke on her label Drag City’s website about “Seeing the world through a Pratt’s eyes,” but the L.A.-based singer-guitarist definitely has a unique point of view. She weaves mystery and melancholy throughout On Your Own Love Again, but draws listeners in with gorgeous melodies and pleasantly off-kilter vocals.

At times, Pratt’s lyrics defy grammar, like when she sings, “He’s the kind of guy, you don’t know why he does” on the cryptic “Greycedes.” Elsewhere, she’s both imaginative and to the point. On “Back, Baby,” a song about refusing to rekindle a romance with someone who betrayed her, Pratt notes, “Saw a header in the paper that your love is just a myth I devised.” “Moon Dude” is more flirtatious, while on the poetic “Jacquelyn In The Background,” it’s unclear if the friend being celebrated is real or a work of art.

It would be easy to appreciate On Your Own Love Again simply for the consistently engaging arrangements, but those who delve into the beguiling imagery of its lyrics will be further rewarded. Jessica Pratt is coming to Chicago for a gig at The Hideout on May 6th, and she’ll perform at Pitchfork on July 17th.