Power Pop

Power Pop #1: The Nerves – When You Find Out

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That small introduction to Swedish power pop I wrote the other day got me thinking that maybe I could use this blog to introduce some of my power pop favourites in general. Even though I probably listen to more country/folk than power pop nowadays, power pop is easily the most important genre to me. There are several really good blogs like Absolute Powerpop and Powerpopaholic and I’m really looking forward to see what is Bruce Brodeen’s Pop Geek Heaven all about (should open soon), but power pop still doesn’t rule the hype machine. Far from it. I can’t change that, but more blog posts about the greatest music genre can’t be a bad thing.

These won’t be in any order even though I start with the best song in the world. I think I just mix it up. Some big classics from the 70’s, some obscure tunes from the 90’s, some new favourites. Just great power pop songs. And actually, I’m sure some genre police might well argue that all of them are not power pop. So don’t take these posts too seriously. Even though I love power pop, I’m million miles away from being a real expert. These posts will just contain songs that I really love.

The Nerves were a short-lived LA-based power pop group that released one stunning EP in 1976. The members Jack Lee, Paul Collins and Peter Case were/are all great songwriters and their next groups The Plimsouls, The Beat, The Breakaways will definitely get an entry of their own sooner or later. Somehow The Nerves have still been the dearest to me personally. Maybe it’s just me being a music snob and preferring to love the unknown bands. But I’d like to think that it’s just because the EP is so damn brilliant. There’s actually one really popular song on it though. Jack Lee’s wonderful Hanging On The Telephone later became a hit when Blondie covered the song. However, Peter Case’s When You Find Out is my biggest favourite. It may be simple, but it’s catchy as hell and I love it to bits. Certainly one of the greatest songs in the world in my books.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIsjXPc7VGg]

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Featured, International music

Small introduction to Swedish Powerpop

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The Genuine Fakes from Sweden will play at Flavour Of The Month club here in Turku on 3.9.2011 (unfortunately the Helsinki show did not work out) like you may have noticed. Therefore I’ve been also listening to some older swedish powerpop favourites of mine. There are plenty of them, because 90’s Swedish power pop is extremely important to me. Popsicle has always been my biggest Swedish love affair, but all of these are huge favourites of mine. I’m sure you will hear some of these at the next Flavour Of The Month also, because I’m one of the DJs.

Popsicle: Sunkissed

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgShQKsrDsc]

The Wannadies: Might Be Stars

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFpFUOLRNPI]

The Merrymakers: I’m In… Love!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4qvCgGphEo]

Blissful: Factory Girl

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffEeXKoIEJk]

Tommy 16: Baby’s Got

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU8f-gmunDw]

and some newer stuff:

Mellowmen: Sunshine Shell

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-1Rh_LksMQ]

The Swedish Polarbears: Norman Blake (<- These guys really capture the TFC sound perfectly) [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LML8_RT4ed8] and obviously the wonderful The Genuine Fakes who will play at Flavour Of The Month (Pikku-Torre, Turku on 3rd of september) The Genuine Fakes: I Don’t Want It

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnLhR8STW3Y]

The Genuine Fakes: When Reality Hits You

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr0EnPimx-Y]

And obviously this was just a start. There’s so much more. Like Atomic Swing, This Perfect Day, Eggstone, The Drowners, Bear Quartet, Happydeadmen, Beagle, Hardy Nilsson…

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Headline, News

FOTM presents: One Chord to Another 10th Anniversary – The Genuine Fakes (Sweden), The Sugarrush, The Wonderminer

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Flavour Of The Month and One Chord to Another joined forces and are celebrating their anniversaries at Pikku-Torre, Turku on saturday 3rd of september. The host of the evening, Flavour Of The Month club turns 13 years old and this little blog is celebrating 10th anniversary. And we have something very special to offer. Two fabulous Finnish pop bands/artists The Sugarrush and The Wonderminers sharing the stage with our Swedish friends, the wonderful Stockholm-based power pop group, The Genuine Fakes.

FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH presents:

One Chord to Another 10th anniversary / Flavour of the Month 13th anniversary
The Genuine Fakes (Sweden)
The Sugarrush
The Wonderminers
la 3.9.2011 klo 21-03
Pikku-Torre, Yliopistonkatu 30, Turku
liput 4€

The Genuine Fakes (Sweden)

The Genuine Fakes from Stockholm, Sweden will headline the evening. They are one of the best nordic power pop bands at the moment and actually their debut album entitled The Striped Album is even one of the best power pop albums I’ve heard during the recent years. I’m extremely excited that they are coming to Finland (update: The Helsinki concert didn’t work out, So they will only play in Turku on 3.9.2011). They are marvelous and remind me of Popsicle, The Posies, The Merrymakers.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnLhR8STW3Y]

The Genuine Fakes Website

The Sugarrush

A huge favourite of mine and it was totally obvious that if there will be some kind of onechord.net party, The Sugarrush had to play there if they were willing and able to. Thankfully they were and it will be so great to see this hardest rockin’ pop band in the world play a live concert.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMAWnGGmIfY]

The Wonderminers

And last we have The Wonderminers going solo. Their drummer Olli Moilanen is currently investigating the indie pop scene in Bangladesh, but Petri Nakari from The Wonderminers is able to create a lot of pop magic also on his own and will start the evening with some high quality guitar pop songs.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/15055848″]

The Wonderminers Website

And the FOTM DJ Team will also be there playing (for example) a whole lot of nordic power pop, finnish pop music. See you there.

And the Finnish press release:

FLAVOUR OF THE MONTHISSA JUHLITAAN KYMMENVUOTIASTA ONECHORD-BLOGIA

Turkulaisen Flavour Of The Monthin syyskausi käynnistyy lauantaina 3.9. juhlatunnelmissa, kun klubi itse täyttää 13 vuotta ja klubin DJ-ryhmään kuuluvan Vesa Lautamäen One Chord to Another-blogi juhlistaa kymmentä toimintavuottaan kolmen live-esiintyjän voimin. Lautamäen kuratoimassa tapahtumassa esiintyvät tukholmalainen The Genuine Fakes, vaasalais-helsinkiläinen The Sugarrush sekä vielä varmistamattomalla kokoonpanolla esiintyvä pääkaupunkilainen The Wonderminers.

One Chord to Another aloitti suomalaista kitarapoppia käsittelevänä nettisivustona ja muuntui blogiksi muutama vuosi sitten. Erityisesti blogivuosina sivustolla on käsitelty enenevässä määrin myös ulkomaista musiikkia, kuten vaikkapa ruotsalaista Genuine Fakesiä, jota voitaisiin kuvailla sekä Flavour Of The Monthin että One Chordin prototyyppisuosikiksi. Kvartetti työstää häpeilemättömän klassista, yltiömelodista powerpoppia, jonka ilmeisiä vaikutteita (Popsicle, Merrymakers, Wannadies, The Posies jne.) bändi ei pahemmin peittele.

The Sugarrush puolestaan on vuosien varrella esiintynyt FOTMissa useasti ja Lautamäen kaikkien aikojen lempibändinä itsestään selvä valinta illan esiintyjäkaartiin. The Wonderminersin jäsenet ovat niin ikään esiintyneet eri kokoonpanoissa (mm. Red Carpet ja Sister Flo) FOTM:ssa useasti ja edustavat osaltaan One Chordin ja FOTM:n käsitystä laadukkaasta popmusiikista.

tapahtumatiedot:
FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH esittää
ONE CHORD TO ANOTHER 10 V!
THE GENUINE FAKES (SWE)
THE SUGARRUSH
THE WONDERMINERS
+ Flavour Of The Month DJ team
Pikku-Torre, Yliopistonkatu 30, Turku
La 3.9. klo 21-03
Liput: 4€

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