Kai Danzberg and Honeywagen

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Kai Danzberg

Kai Danzberg “Rockshow”

Germany’s wunderkind Kai Danzberg has proven to be a musician with a flair for the dramatic as he starts his fresh album “Rockshow,” with a fantasy concert motif. The title track is catchy, well written, and recalls his earlier material. But this isn’t a concept album. It’s more a collection of dynamic singles. The bouncy love song “You & Me” and “Living Room” are great examples of Kai as the impulsive romantic, bursting with optimism to the beat. Adding more horns and layered vocals and we get the dense melody of “Waiting For You,” and it’s a big highlight here. The ELO and Jellyfish influences are also still there, as “Making It Right” jumps out of the speakers with those sparkling harmonies assisted by Dana Countryman.

“Oh, Girl” is a jazz-themed torch song with assistance from Drake Bell that features solid musicianship, but it feels a little out of place. Kai has always added great ballads to his albums and “Undone” certainly is another highlight. For variety, there are funky disco beats on the dance track “Magic Night.” Overall this is a wonderful album that deserves multiple listens so check it out. Highly Recommended.

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Honeywagen

Honeywagen “Halfdog”

Its been a few years since Honeywagen’s Jamboree, but these veteran musicians from Kansas City are back showing off their Midwestern vintage rock style. Starting with “For Love” it features catchy guitar riffs, harmonies, and compelling jangling rhythm. The Rickenbacker jangle continues with the roots-influenced “Anywhere The Wind Blows.” Guitarists Mike Penner and Scott Christensen play so well off each other, it makes “All That Matters” a solid love song, and the end solo complements the melody perfectly. The tempo slows for “Running Out Of Time,” with more of country-rock feel, and and “Maybe Maybe Not” brings to mind mid-70s classic rock, like Traffic.

“On The Beach” is a simpler Beatlesque sort of tune with a descriptive lyric, but a big highlight is “All The Little Things” with a stronger melody and bigger hook – it’s my favorite track. When they don’t overthink the lyrical story (“The Waitress”) and let the band cut loose, its a much better listening experience. That said, fans of The Beatles, The Byrds, and The Grip Weeds will enjoy this band. Highly Recommended.

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Emitt Rhodes was somebody special. RIP

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Singer-songwriter Emitt Rhodes, a pioneer of power pop has passed away at age 70. At an early age, Emitt was a rising star in the pop scene during the mid-’60s, as he played in multiple bands, including The Palace Guard and The Merry Go Round. He then signed onto A&M Records and released a series of critically acclaimed solo albums in the 1970s, each one had great songwriting and musicianship. His reputation as a “One-Man Beatles” was earned as his melodic style was often compared to Paul McCartney.  Rhodes also wrote all of the songs on his albums. On Emitt Rhodes, Mirror, and Farewell to Paradise, he played all of the instruments and sang all of the vocals while recording himself in his home recording studio on a 4 track recorder.

After a label contract dispute, Rhodes’ left the music business for a time. He still tried to come back, but efforts in the next few decades were frustrated. It wasn’t until power pop musician Chris Price showed up to his house unannounced and coaxed Emitt to record a follow up to his last solo LP, Farewell to Paradise. In 2016 the new album Rainbow Ends, a collaboration with Price was released and it was a wonderful return to the spotlight for Emitt. He was an inspiration to many artists and will continue to be remembered for years to come. Rest in peace, Mr. Rhodes — you were someone special to all of us. Visit his page on The Power Pop Hall of Fame written by Chris Price.

The Successful Failures and Fernando Perdomo

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Successful failures

Successful Failures “Pack Up Your Shadows”

As one of New Jersey’s most accomplished bands, The Successful Failures are not afraid to color outside the lines. Mick Chorba (guitar, vocals), Ron Bechamps (bass, mandolin, vocals), Rob Martin (drums), and Pete Smith (guitar) start off with a series of Bluegrass-Country influenced songs that I’d expect more from Wilco or The Jayhawks. However, “Honeycomb” and “On Down The Line” are great catchy tunes, and Bechamps mandolin is front-and-center here.

“Murder ‘Neath the Silver Moon” is a great transitional story song, it reminded me of The Black Crowes, and that twang is joined by a strong lead guitar. “This Girl” continues the streak, with layers of rhythm guitars and a great chorus, it’s definitely a rocking “hit.” The band cuts loose on “More of The Same” with its Chuck Berry-like riffs, then slowing to a bluesy crawl mid-way through before it comes back roaring to life. Mick then comes back to the country-based bar songs, “Whiskey” and “Something Good.” No weak tunes are to be found here. The band seems to be excellent no matter what genre they play. Grab a shot of your favorite libation and listen up. It’s highly recommended.

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Fernando Perdomo

Fernando Perdomo “The Leo August Album”

Fernando has been very busy lately, doing some great collaborations this year with Justin Paul Sanders and Dave Kerzner (to name a few.) This is a concept album about a musician named Leo August who is on his death bed at the end of his battle with a deadly disease. The somber story is told through Fernando’s acoustic fingerpicking and first-person lyric.

There is a deep feeling of regret and sadness throughout, like classic Lee Hazlewood or Leonard Cohen. The melodies are very bittersweet. An early standout is “Release” is a song about Leo pleading to his fellow musicians to get their music out before it’s too late. The double meaning is all too clear, as Leo seeks a release from regrets. The psychedelic “Float Away” creates a dreamy soundscape, and “Fade Out” has the best message here; “I wanna live, till I die. I wanna get to say goodbye.” While this album has an effective narrative and mood, it seems stretched out to cover the 10 songs here. Still, it’s an effective downbeat album, and if you are feeling depressed, it will feel like Fernando is playing directly to you. Check it out.

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The Power Popaholic Interview: Brian Ray

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Guitarist Brian Ray is someone I love to talk to. Besides being Paul McCartney’s long-time lead guitarist, he has done some amazing solo work. His first album Mondo Magneto was my first review, and I’ve followed his career over the last 12 years. My first interview with him was in 2009, and we touched base again in 2017. Today Brian is working with “Little” Steven Van Zandt and making music for Wicked Cool Records. We get to catch up on his new R&B singles, including working with Smokey Robinson.


Keith Slettedahl and Ed Ryan

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Keith Slettedahl

Keith Slettedahl “You Know You Know”

Guitarist-songwriter Keith Slettedahl was the driving force of The 88, one of the great power pop bands that slowly faded from view several years ago. They’ve been in my past top ten list, but they are likely best known to the public for the theme to the TV show Community. Now Slettedahl has created a solo LP with producer (and Posies drummer) Frankie Siragusa.

Keith’s knack for hooks and rock melody is in full bloom, as its lineage can be traced to The Beatles, T-Rex, and Spacehog. Opening with “No One Understands Me Like You Do,” it slowly builds as those deep guitar riffs cut across the verses, to the hushed vocals that recall Marc Boland at his peak. “Lady Is Love” is another big winner with an irresistible bass line, and then “It’s Never Been Easier” constructs a thick wall of sound that rivals Oasis or The Dandy Warhols. Each song seems designed to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, with “My Baby,” and the catchy gem “Cuz I’m A Lover.” Keith smolders with the ballad “Give It Time You’ll Be Fine,” where heartbreak is emphasized by Spanish horns and harmonies and “One and All” laments with exhausted feeling about living online instead of the real world. I couldn’t find a bad song here. Definitely belongs in my top ten albums for 2020.

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Ed Ryan

Ed Ryan “Even Time”

Multi-instrumentalist Ed Ryan returns with his third album, as he goes through his history by revisiting songs he made with The Rudies and Jupiter Jets, and throws in some new material to match. The title track is a solid pop single with a steady rhythm and compelling hook, it’s a different sound for Ed, but the next several songs have a strong late 70s – early 80s guitar vibe. The electric guitar buzz “Never Lied To You” delivers a terrific hook in the chorus and “Say What You Will” is a very compelling jangle-pop melody.

“I Want To Go” literally changes the tone again, with an acoustic guitar and galloping rhythm. But it’s a momentary change, as the guitar buzz returns on “Let It Out,” another great tune. “Next Time Around” and “Breakway” have an even harder edge, as they burst from the speakers. Other tracks feel a little out of place (“Everywhere”), but there is enough here to please fans of The Beat, Rick Springfield, and The Knack. This is truly music that deserves to be heard. Check it out.

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