Not that this is a Saturday morning serial or anything, but when we last left pop proponent David Bash, his brainchild, International Pop Overthrow, was set to debut. That was August, 1998. Nearly one year later, the aptly named music festival has grown even larger, bringing together a mind-numbing number of bands (more than 150) from all over the world for 18 different shows from July 23-August 3. And its sophomore incarnation has brought Bash one step closer to realizing his vision of a Los Angeles version of Austin's white-hot South By Southwest Festival.

"I think in the future, pop is going to find its rightful place in the hearts and minds of the mainstream, which is one of the goals for IPO. I think music is a very cyclical thing," waxes Bash as we relax at a local AstroBurger, "and I think we're going to find a time again pretty soon where the public wants to hear happy songs, wants to hear songs that are filled with harmonies, that have a real emphasis on hooks and catchy choruses" instead of simply gloom and doom.

Being a film town, and finding ourselves in the midst of yet another box office record-breaking summer, I ask Bash what he thinks about the evolving relationship between music and movies. "[Film's] played a much more major role than it has in years, especially for the younger market... Now it's becoming almost vital for bands to get a song on a soundtrack album," Bash admits, citing Elliot Smith's Good Will Hunting breakthrough as an example of how a successful film can suddenly impact a career.

While a complete festival roster and schedule can be found on this page, at least one of IPO's hot young acts seems to share Bash's tack - Bachelor #1 can currently be found wooing listeners on the high-profile American Pie soundtrack. Other bands of note include Kara's Flowers, Geffen's Phantom Planet (featuring Rushmore's Jason Schwartzman), The Rubinoos, Australia's Jack And The Beanstalk, Japan's Samantha's Favourite and Brazil's Sgt. Pepper's Band.

If last year is any indication, these and all the other artists - in addition to the crowds - will have a great time. "Almost all of [the bands] came up to me last year, said, "Hey, we had a great time," or, "[We] can't wait to do this again next year," says Bash. "And it's a testimony to their sincerity that at least two-thirds of the bands that played last year are back... To me that's gratifying. It says they care about not only their success, but also the success of pop music."

I ask Bash exactly how difficult it is to track down foreign acts and wrangle so many long distance relationships, but to hear him tell it, it's simply a matter of a few mouse clicks here and there. "The Internet has been a godsend, in so many ways. IPO could not happen without the Internet. Besides the fact that it greatly reduces expense in contacting bands from all over the world, it opens up a fountain, a waterfall, just tons and tons of information with access to Web sites and articles," says Bash. (Indeed, the festival Web site - www.sandplum.com/ipo - tells you everything you need to know.) "Also, L.A. has the appeal to bring the bands from all over the world. I mean, who doesn't want to come to L.A. during the summer to vacation? It's exactly the place to be."

True, but vacation isn't the only item on the agenda. A social conscious is on display as well. Linus Of Hollywood and The Orange Peels will lead a benefit gig Sunday, Aug. 1, at LunaPark for the Sweet Relief Foundation, founded by Victoria Williams to aid musicians in need. The event will be emceed by erstwhile Kid In The Hall and NewsRadio alum Dave Foley, himself a big pop music fan.

Bash is especially pleased with this development, and hopes to continue to branch out and offer up eclectic choices to the mainstream. "Within the pop music framework, we're [always] trying to have things be diverse. We've got a band named Blue Cartoon, made up of four guys in their late 30s, early 40s - chimey kind of pop music. And then we're gonna have a band from New York called It's My Party - [and they're] 14-year-old girls! So we've got it all," says Bash, understating the obvious.

It's a testament to Bash's positivity that he can even find the silver lining in the current slew of prefabricated teeny-bopper bubblegum bands, enough to put a sour connotation on the word "pop" for many music fans. "I actually think it's kind of cool. I'm not a fan of [the music of Backstreet Boys, N Sync and 98°], but the way they use harmonies and lots of voices is going to maybe help [other bands focus on melody]. That's ultimately going to be a good thing for pop."

© Brent Simon / Entertainment Today