Joy Buzzer
Joy Buzzer, KG Noble and Kevin Lydon
Strange Neighbors
Bubble
The Midnight Callers, Chris Paine and Martin Stubbs
Wifey
Wifey
Sorry Darling
David Minchin from The Innocents
Bastards of Fine ArtsThe International Pop Overthrow (IPO) Festival’s return to NYC was the start of a beautiful night at The Parkside Lounge. As expected, the roster included both well-known performers and up-and-coming artists, each of whom added a unique twist to the pop-focused event. I attended the first 2 days of the festival this year.
Opening with Bastards of Fine Arts, the duo set the mood perfectly, a jangling sound full of harmonies, then came Tasmanian David Minchin who brought a Beatlesque sense of history to his time in the early ‘80s as part of The Innocents. Next, Sorry Darling delivered an unusual set of pop compositions, followed by brothers-and-sisters-in-arms Wifey, who I was happy to introduce to the stage. These guys know how to rock! Cupid’s Nemesis all dressed like The Raspberries (circa 1974)and the raw energy was palpable and captivated fans looking for something a bit heavier. I missed The Road to Ruin, but was told they were also really good. See a sampling of all performances for Day One of IPO.
Day Two started with power pop veterans The Midnight Callers and Bubble. Both did great, and they managed to draw in newcomers with their unique mix of indie pop and classic power pop hooks. Strange Neighbors were the new kids last year, but this time the band was tighter and sounded much better. Next I was able to introduce Joybuzzer, and they have a great new album coming out — look for the review this week! Their set was polished and packed with catchy choruses that had the audience singing along. I missed the the last 2 bands, Mighty Dan Gerous and The Record Players NYC.
The first two days of IPO NYC perfectly exemplified what the festival is all about: a diverse celebration of power pop’s past, present, and future. Each band left a unique imprint on the stage, and the audience response was good. As the festival continues, it’s clear that IPO remains a vital gathering for musicians and fans alike, united by a shared love for melody-driven rock.