Yup. Another Power Pop festival is scheduled for August 29th – 30th in Austin, TX. I guess the SXSW fest isn’t enough for that city! This is a definite retro skinny tie power pop affair. Among the headliners of this 30-band weekend will be first wave UK punk artists The Boys (“First Time,” “I Don’t Care”), appearing for their first U.S. show in over 25 years, and Paul Collins’ Beat (“Rock N Roll Girl,” “Walking Out On Love”), Vancouver’s Pointed Sticks, and 20/20 (“Yellow Pills,” “Cheri”) are back together to bring the quintessential power pop sound to the masses, alongside fellow Bomp Records alumni Nikki Corvette (“You’re The One,” “He’s A Mover”). Get more info on My Space
I almost missed this one. This trio from New Zealand have a clean indie pop hook with the catchy single “Neil of Diamonds.” This is a bona fide radio hit with the easy going lyric “When I go out tonight, I’m gonna get myself some drinks, I’m gonna listen to the Stones, get some rock and roll, forget about my conscience, I’m only twenty-three, you know I am…” The follow up “Beautiful Punk” is filled with tight guitar riffs and Steven Tait’s distorted vocals. Spa takes a page from Weezer’s book in the tune “Growing Up” and the next big song “Yale” struts a bit like Lou Reed meeting Radiohead. “Rollerskater Girl” is relaxing simple tune, but like the remaining songs, it doesn’t reach the lofty highs on the first half of the album. But nothing here is really bad and as an e-music selection, it’s a worthy download. Keep your eye on them for a follow up.
The Waking Hours “How Does It Feel” Tom Richards (Guitar/Vocals) and his band The Waking Hours have always been a top notch band that we haven’t heard from in a few years. On this new EP, “How Does It Feel” – they kick up the power to “11” and rock a lot harder than you may be used to. “New Revolution” is fine power pop with a punk edge, a la The Jam. The next song “How Does It Feel” is a majestic mid-tempo number lead by Tom’s vocals and Sean Sutphin’s crashing drums that bring to mind Coldplay a bit. “Close To Me” is a Brit pop number with the echo and power chords , the kind Oasis used to chug out, but The Waking Hours make it look easy and it’s got some cool chord changes in the melody. Every song here is a winner, if only it had a few more tracks… Oh well, I’ll take what I can get here. Fans of Tsar, Rooney and Superdrag will love this. My Space | CD Baby | Not Lame
gogoPilot “Armageddon Lullabies” Straight from Charoltte, NC – the home of this summer’s PopFest, gogoPilot is the band of singer/songwriter Jeffrey Williams. He takes no prisoners in his latest, “Armageddon Lullabies.” The album is full of lush pop arrangements that have varied instrumentation like violin, cello, accordion and lap steel guitar. “Requiem For A Shut-In” starts with a catchy acordian and guitar that unfolds an introspective tale of depression. Likewise, “Electric Chair” has a full jangle sound that remind me of classic Wilco. This continues with “Quiet Town” and “Alcohol,” both haunting tales of the human condition that have great musical hooks. The kind of alt. country pop that Gary Louris and the Jayhawks used to do so well. Every song has a high quality of musicianship and Williams trademark biting commentary about life, divorce and alcoholism. Don’t miss this one. My Space | CD Baby
I hope you are downloading the FREE popcasts hosted by James Deem and Rob Reber (Ed James has taken some time off). The show has been introducing me to great local bands that will appear in the PopFest in July. The latest one (#11) features “Analog Daze” and actually thanks this site at about the 7 minute mark. Thanks for the props, guys! You can download them on their Charlotte Pop Fest My Space page or through Itunes. I will be reviewing a few of the bands featured in the coming week ahead.
The Swedes are Chris Edwards (keyboards), Phil Crain(bass), Phil Harbut (drums), Tony Dilella (guitar), and Jon Gray (guitar & vocals). The style is best described as eclectic rock. The first track “Julie Walker” has the 70s glam vibe that brings to mind Imperial Drag, and this is a great stunner of a track with Brian May-like guitars and matching keyboard riffs. “Making Up Words” is a bit quirkier with toy piano and heavy bass line leading the way to a Queen-like melodic composition. Sometimes the vocals of Jon Gray are closer to Mika than T-Rex, with a warbling falsetto and it works on best “Patriot” a song that does a perfect Robert Pollard meets Bowie glamfest. It’s my favorite here, and a really catchy one at that. Up next, “Lava Lamp” has so many mini-melodies and different time signatures, it resembles Bryan Scary and The Shedding Tears a little bit. “Stretched Too Tight” is another marvelous melange of Queen, T-Rex and The Move. “Burning Fever” continues this formula with an added pysch-pop chorus that’s closer to Roy Wood’s Move than Jeff Lynne’s version. Things get a bit tamer later on the album, with the guitar anthem “Brixton” but no less impressive. If you liked any of the above mentioned groups, you will enjoy this music. Like Bryan Scary, a quick listen does not do it justice — it takes a few listens to appreciated the craftwork here. It’s also obvious that The Swedes are having fun with this. And I think most of you will too.
