Soundtrack Of My Summer by Mike Viola
The incredible Mike Viola is planning a summer release, and I for one cannot wait. Mike is assisted by Victor Indrizzo on drums and Sean Hurley on bass. Visit his new band page on Facebook! Lots of new releases are set up for April, get ready to dive right in!
Power Pop Radio shows page updated!
So I updated the radio shows page I introduced last year plus I added a few more suggestions readers sent me. Visit the page to find the best radio shows and podcasts for power popaholics!
Badfinger website launched
Having spent part of this weekend at Beatlfest in New Jersey, I got to meet and greet with Joey Molland of Badfinger. As the last surviving member of the power pop pioneer band, it was truly a memorable occasion. It was nice to watch Joey soak up the love from Badfinger fans, and he’s so open and personable.
He has launched a new Badfinger website and it’s not quite finished yet, but it’s a great start. For those unfamiliar with the band, Badfinger is often credited with being a) The very first power pop band and b) a textbook example of how the music “business” can destroy a great band. The word “tragic” is an adjective often associated with the band. The best intro to neophytes I can point to this documentary.
Barnacle Bill "s/t"
The NYC trio of Stuart Klinger, Steve Wickins and Yianni Naslas create hook heavy gems in this sophomore release. Vocals recall Rhett Miller in spots, and really work magic on tracks like “For The Best” and “The Things I’ve Done,” the latter track has a great riff that sound like Fountains of Wayne and Old 97’s combined. “Running Away” rocks a bit more, with a nice bridge to the chorus and it makes up for the occasional misfire (“World”).
The band has some creative song composition and smart lyrics, but at times the vocals don’t always click. But there is plenty here to recommend. Fans of Sloan will enjoy the heavier sounds “Timeline” and “Uhm” near the album’s end and fans of jangle pop will be thrilled with “Oh No.”I would definitely say this is a solid effort that fans of indie rock will really enjoy.
CD Baby | Amazon
Will Kontiki return?
In 1997 one of the best power pop albums ever was released. Cotton Mather’s “Kontiki” was it. Now Robert Harrison (Future Clouds and Radar) is pushing for a 2 disc re-release on Kickstarter. The hilarious “man-on-the-street” interviews are typical of the general public’s perception of great power pop. This is a worthy project that I hope you’ll all support.