German power pop musician Kai Danzberg delivered a very Jellyfish-friendly album to the masses earlier this year. And now he’s crowdfunding a vinyl release — I’m sure many of you would like to hear this on a turntable. Please support this artist, especially since he’s made this album a FREE download. Visit the Pledge Campaign!
The Power Popaholic Interview: Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Jellyfish)
Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (2018)
After ten years, I get to speak again to acclaimed musician Roger Joseph Manning Jr. ahead of his new solo EP, Glamping, out May 18 via PledgeMusic. His debut in the music business began as co-founder/co-writer for one of the most popular power pop bands ever – Jellyfish, as well as other projects; Imperial Drag, Moog Cookbook, and TV Eyes. In 1997, he began his almost 20-year and still-active relationship as Beck’s sideman, which has included touring the world and recording upward of five critically acclaimed albums. You can order Glamping on Pledge Music today!On Thursday, May 17 he will be performing the EP and more live at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles. Tickets are on sale now!
Roger is also currently working with the talented artist Alex Bloom.
We also talk about the new EP and some exciting breaking news about Imperial Drag!
Jellyfish is currently honored in The Power Pop Hall of Fame
Oberon Rose and Anton Barbeau
Oberon Rose “Tell Me About It”
I was extremely proud to have Oberon Rose play Power Popaholic Fest a few years ago, and now Tommy Oberon takes his band and ups the ante on a brilliant sophomore LP. Older rock influences (Beatles, Pink Floyd) are happily played alongside newer ones (The White Stripes, The Flaming Lips.) The opening title track is an infectious rocker that shimmers to life with its flowery production and psychedelic flourishes. This is followed by “No Stranger” as it continues to impress with its driving rhythm and sing along chorus.
Tommy’s guitar solo is truly amazing on the epic ballad “Life In A Box,” one of the best tracks here. The flashes of experimental alt. rock concepts like the ambitious march of “Battle Hymn (Of The Magi)” work so well, you can sense the band is firing on all cylinders here. And it isn’t afraid to change tone on “A Place In The Sun,” and get pastoral on “The Way To Avondale” with its gentle harmonies. The band closes out with the very Sloan-like “Drawn and Quartered” and the slow-burning finale “Twice Bermuda.” Strong work from Tommy Oberon, with Chris Listorti (bass)and Mike Keyes (drums.) Not only highly recommended, but it makes my top ten list for 2018.
Anton Barbeau “Natural Causes”
While Barbeau is a prolific and tireless musician, picking through his catalog for the good stuff can be challenging. But on Natural Causes, it’s easy — as “Magazine Street” is a jangling pop treasure, with a strong bass line and hook in the chorus. “It’s The Coffee That Makes The Man Go Mad” has Anton’s quirky lyrics and instrumentation with some nice harmonies. Some of these tunes are from his past catalog of work, but there is a good amount of polish in the production that makes this his most accessible album in years.
“Disambiguation” and “Magic Sandwiches” both are good distillations of the Barbeau artistic aesthetic, and I like to compare it to Adrian Belew in some other universe. Not everything here sticks, but enough does. More standouts include “Just Passing By” and “Down Around the Radio.” This is the Anton Barbeau that I’ve been waiting for.
Jeff Whalen (Tsar) Pledge Campaign
The L.A. power pop group Tsar signed a deal with Hollywood Records and delivered their self-titled debut album in mid-2000. While the album earned critical praise and the band toured with Duran Duran, it was criminally overlooked by the public. Citing their primary influences as Guns ‘N Roses and the Monkees, Tsar’s music is a hybrid of post-grunge alternative, power pop, and glam rock. The group never got the label promotion it needed and split up in 2005.
But all is not lost, as Jeff Whalen (frontman and primary songwriter of Tsar) is back with his first solo album ever. “10 More Rock Super Hits” has everything you liked about Tsar and more. And its all brilliantly produced by power pop maestro Linus Of Hollywood (Nerf Herder, Bowling For Soup). Check out the Pledge Campaign!
Videos and Freebies: Coach Hop, Andy Ketch, Gerry O’Keefe, Skeleton Staff
This is a sweet single by a new band called Coach Hop, the brainchild of London musician Charlie Laurence. It’s very much in the Weezer-style and while on the surface its a love song to the titular pop star by a fan, upon closer inspection is an observation on the state of the modern music industry. Get it on Amazon
Chicago-area artist Gerry O’Keefe was part of powerpop act The Hideouts. His melodic style blends classic popcraft with roots- and folk-based elements. “Tenth Round Punches” and “Never Was A Dancer” are standouts on this unusual solo release. FREE download.
Boy, do I miss Skeleton Staff. It sounds like the funk that the band has been in since the Cabaret-like musical KURFÜRSTENDAMMNED remains, as “It’s Murder” is a low key paean to gun culture apathy. But it does have a neat break at the 2:50 mark and it is a FREE download.