International Pop Overthrow Hits Beatles' Hometown
By Spencer Leigh-Goldmine Magazine - January 23 2004

Liverpool, England-The title of the concert series International Pop Overthrow is not so much misleading as it is totally obscure. The outsider has no way of knowing what the festival covers. It is intended as a showcase for the best powerpop bands, that is, bands who continue with the melodic, harmony-packed, guitar-based music of The Beatles, The Who, Badfinger and others of that style of music.

There are regular week-long festivals in Los Angeles (the home city), Chicago, and on the East Coast of the U.S. In October 2003, the first festival outside of the U.S. was held at the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool, England. What venue could be more appropriate?

The hands-on founder, David Bash, bans tribute acts, and during each evening, one could hear around 70 original songs from 12 bands, six of each on the two Cavern stages. It sounds extraordinary that some bands would make the journey from the U.S. to Liverpool for a half-hour spot at The Cavern, but it is not so much a trek as a pilgrimage. Every band member I spoke with was overjoyed to be playing at the home of The Beatles.

Sometimes a stage was devoted to a record label, such as Warmfuzz, Pink Hedgehog or Rainbow Quartz. Warmfuzz's acts were enhanced by an excellent guitarist, Matt Backer, who supplemented the Austin singer/songwriter Eric Blakely, got heavy with Kelly's Heels and was sensitive with the girl trio Virginia. Backer had a fine set of his own, and I found myself singing his line "Damned if I do and damned if I don't" the following day.

The Pink Hedgehog label from Dorset, England, included the psychedelic Lucky Bishops and Cheese, who have an album called Let It Brie.

The youthful-looking Singles from Detroit were part of the Rainbow Quartz continuum, and their highly energetic performance captured the excitement of being in The Cavern 40 years earlier.

During the Swedish band evening, I was entertained by a surf band from Stockholm, Safari Season. Surf music demands that one look happy throughout, but this trio, despite some lively music, could have stepped out of an Ingmar Bergman movie (To be fair, their seriousness might have come from having to concentrate on their English and also the fact that their drummer couldn't get into the country with an out-of-date passport.) Still, their albums are very good. I love their slowed-down take on The Beach Boys' "Help Me Rhonda" as well as their original (well, 70 percent Brian Wilson) "Shoot The Curl."

I especially enjoyed Wendy Ip, an IPO regular, whose songs combine influences ranging from The Beatles to Tori Amos. Bailey, a group featuring two brothers from Sussex, England, had good songs but too much rock-star posturing. Same with Stealth Munchkin from Manchester-fine songs but I wished their lead singer would have stopped pogo-ing like Julian Cope.

Coming from Liverpool, I was delighted to see my home bands doing well. I missed the highly rated Reece, but The Suns have enormous potential. Their mesmerizing six-minute "Soul Desert" is a plaintive song with shades of Tim Buckley. Steve Roberts performed a fine set of his own songs-he was the best received act that night, but he did have many, if not all, of his relatives filling the audience. Water, fronted by Chris O'Neill-who played George Harrison in Backbeat-are heavily influenced by The Beatles' White Album. I loved "Take Me To The Doctor" and the title song of their CD, Rainmaker.

The General Store was led by Tam Johnstone, the son of Elton John's guitarist, Davey Johnstone. It was good to see a steel player in the lineup. Their music was very close to The Eagles. U.K. session singer Tony Rivers harmonized with his son, Anthony, and also did a set with his re-formed '60s band, Harmony Grass. The songs were very good, but their harmonies were superlative. The Beach Boys sound tired these days, but Tony Rivers, who had been going just as long, is still fresh and inventive.

With my apologies to anyone I didn't see, my favorite band was The Piper Downs from Los Angeles. Strongly influenced by Poison, they presented their heavy metal songs such as "Hardcore" with Spinal Tap wit. "Addicted" has the title line "I am a dick, I am a dick, I am addicted to you." Their CD, Varying Degrees of Failure And Tunelessness, is excellent. Nearly every band had a CD at the merchandise table, but Bristol-based Modesty Blaise went one better. Everyone in attendance at The Cavern received one of their singles.

International Pop Overthrow might sound like a festival of opening acts, but several have the potential to go further. There is such a thin line between success and failure, and many of them deserve that break. Finally, a word of praise for Bash. With his beret and "awesome" patter, he enthusiastically introduced every one of the 90 acts.

"Do you really feel that way about every act?" I asked. "You must be faking it a bit".

"Not at all," he responded. "I have heard all the CDs. Nobody gets on the bill unless I like them."

As he also thought Liverpool was awesome, I expect, and hope, that the festival will be back next year.