Powerpopholic

The Shaker Pegs and White Lies

March 24, 2009January 5, 2025 powerpopaholic

The Shaker Pegs “Blue Moon”
The Shaker Pegs are a three-piece rock-and-roll band looking to take the world by storm by playing their infectious music to everyone and anyone. Originally formed by longtime friends Mark Piro and Chris Memoli, The Shaker Pegs have always insisted on creating a sound filled with a strong sense of melody and rhythm. By fusing ‘60s-esque rock-and-roll with their own individual style, the band has an excitement that encourages listeners to tap their toes and snap their fingers. The vocal harmonies sometimes strain to keep up with the wonderful songwriting, but these guys have the right idea — Sounding a bit like a Brooklyn version of the Barenaked Ladies or Moxy Fruvous. Highlights include”Hey Natalie” and “Sloppy Joanna”
Listen to The Shaker Pegs | Itunes

White Lies “To Lose My Life”
Frontman Harry McVeigh sounds an awful lot like Ian McCulloch on “To Lose My Life”, the debut single from the band White Lies. This isn’t power pop, but if you like a thick fog of goth guitar buzz, the album’s high-gloss production and sanitized gloom will click immediately with fans of Joy Division, Tears For Fears and Echo & The Bunnymen. “A Place To Hide” and “Fifty On Our Foreheads” are also standouts on this modern Brit-mope indie album full of lyrical doubt and melancholy. The emotions on much of the additional tracks are commercially hollow, but McVeigh’s lyrical treatment works on “Unfinished Business”, booming the words “you’ve got blood on your hands and I know it’s mine” works well, it’s a perfect anthem for the Twilight crowd and the best track on the album. The string arrangements on “The Price of Love” are also a nice detail at the albums end. Recommended for vampires and vampire lovers who like pop music. FYI: The band’s site is pretty darn cool too.
MySpace | White Lies Site | Itunes

Spinnerette FREE Poster Giveaway

March 23, 2009April 4, 2018 powerpopaholic

I was contacted by the PR agency for Spinnerette and Powerpopaholic has the exclusive opportunity to give away a FREE Spinnerette poster (shown on the left). This is a screen-printed poster, signed by Brody Dalle, the lead singer. The catch is — only the first 50 e-mails will be eligible for the drawing. No submissions will be taken after 3/27/09. Offer is eligible to U.S. Residents only. In fact after we get 50 registrations, the sign up page will be gone. Winner will be announced online 3/28/09. Please note earlier technical issues have been fixed – so register today!

Purchase the Spinnerette EP at:
Spinnerette Music | Itunes | Shockhound

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Sugerdrag "Industry Giants"

March 23, 2009April 4, 2018 powerpopaholic 3 Comments

Superdrag – John Davis, Brandon Fisher, Tom Pappas and Don Coffey, Knoxville’s perennial underdogs of power pop, have reformed after a 5 year breakup, and after what many thought was a troubled history with both the labels and thier own personal demons. And they sound pissed. In fact the opening raw punk rant “Slow to speak, slow to anger” is anything but. Like the band’s full-length debut Regretfully Yours, the bands energy level is high. Davis screams much of the hyperactive lyrics here, but on a few songs like “Live and Breathe”and “Try” we actually get a melody with the tube-amp distortion from the band’s dual guitar attack. “I Only Want A Place To Stay” is a welcome return to form as well, with rich textured guitar balancing out Davis. Unfortunately, the distortion on “Everything’ll Be Made Right” overtakes the vocals and “Cheap Poltergeists” puts bassist Tom Pappas out front for an Alice Cooper impersonation. “Ready To Go” recovers things, with a Replacements-like structure and great vocals with the lines “we’ve been waiting for so long.” And they sound like they mean it — it’s the best song on the album. The harder sound will sit well with fans of Sevendust and Taking Back Sunday, and turn off some fans of their earlier work like, Head Trip In Every Key. In some sense the band has left it’s melodic comfort zone for a “younger” demographic here and that’s okay, but for me it’s not as memorable or catchy. Still for Superdrag fans, there is enough talent on display here to listen to and appreciate this reunion.

My Space | Amazon | Itunes

Shake Some Action "Touch the Sky" video

March 23, 2009April 4, 2018 powerpopaholic 2 Comments

The band Shake Some Action started recording their third album and this time you can follow the bands progress on their blog. It’s a facinating process behind the music, and after it’s done the band will post a free download. Take a look at the band’s blog.

The Perms "Keep You Up When You’re Down"

March 19, 2009July 6, 2024 powerpopaholic

If you want a great rockin’ head boppin’ pop album, Winnipeg’s The Perms latest “Keep You Up When You’re Down” will fit the bill. In fact this album pushes The Perms as a major player in the power pop genre. The opening single “Give Me All Your Lovin” is a catchy high energy song that sounds a bit like KISS meets Sloan. This is followed by the gem “As You Were” with a driving chorus and roaring guitars along the lines of the Posies or Velvet Crush. Both “Running Away” and “World To Me” continues to kick things up with harmonious guitars and vocals. The band flirts with a bigger arena sound on “You Don’t Know” but stop short of Bon Jovi/Def Leppard territory. Another slew of gems follow with the great melodies in “Nightshift” and the gentle vocal harmonies on “Who are you Fooling” recalling Weezer. The album is pretty consistent, with a bunch of good mid-tempo rockers like “Big Mistake” and “It Won’t Hurt Us At All.” I do hear a 70s rock element here with Thin Lizzy styled guitar licks, and Chad Smith’s deep vocals do seem to be channeling Paul Stanley. Every track is good here, and it ends just as strong as it begins with the excellent “Salvation.” If the Perms were not on your radar before — now is the time to pay attention.

My Space | CD Baby | Itunes

This is a studio update on The Perms sound.