We have enjoyed the hospitality of the International Pop Overthrow Festival many times. Started by pop activist/supporter David Bash, and run by Mr. Bash and his fantastic girlfriend/ rockin’ partner Rina Bardfield, the “I.P.O.” hosts festivals in numerous cities every year. We’ve participated in their San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Liverpool shows (as well as contributed several tracks to their annual CD compilations). These two shows at the Cavern were part of the 13th Annual Liverpool I.P.O..
For anyone who saw our 2011 shows in Liverpool, you know what a struggle they were. I began that tour with a cold that had turned into a crippling laryngitis. No voice. We’d traveled some 6,000 miles, and I could not sing. We muddled through, and after a couple of shows, (only one would I classify as ‘terrible’ [laughs]) we got back on track.
Cousins Terri and Wendy grabbing a 'selfie' as we tuned up for our first show of the tour on the Cavern's classic "Front Stage"
All this to say, these shows were a triumph and a payback for the metaphorical blood we’d spilled on the Cavern stage in ’11. It was also a great way to kick off the tour; both Ron “Doc” Morse and Barbara Anderson-Jones, relative new-comers to the band, really stepped up and gave the rest of us a run for our money. It felt so good to connect with these great crowds. We were elated and thankful.
Our second show of the day. This time on the Cavern Club's "Back Stage"
Two shows that day at the Cavern: the first one in that classic looks-like-a-wine-cellar “Front Stage”, and the second in the larger, more-equipped “Back Stage”. In between, we enjoyed a magnificent performance from The Fast Camels a band out of Glasgow, Scotland (psychedelic, progressive, garage-rock-heavy).
The Fast Camels from Scotland
members of the Fast Camels cheer us on
Later that night I even came back to the Cavern to see the Lannie Flowers Band out of Texas. They’ve been good friends of ours for a couple of years now—shared stages with them in L.A., S.F., and Fresno. Great folks. Great and rockin’ band.
Lannie Flowers Band
This review from Liverpool Sight and Sound, and the two private blogs I’ve re-posted below were a great encouragement to us on the road.
It made it feel that it was worthwhile to have dragged my friends, who spent their time and money [and often had to do some heavy convincing of the folks at their 'day jobs'], 5,000 miles to go on this big, crazy tour.
Thank you to Liverpool Sight and Sound, Minty and the Beeb, and Sister Bluebird for the kind words!
from Liverpool Sight and Sound :
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
The title of Lords of the back stage at The Cavern of this year’s International Pop Overthrow might be fought over with the same ferocity as men would have squabbled, bickered and fought over the throne of England in the days when such things mattered, arguably though one of the main contenders would surely be the inventive and insanely talented Blake Jones & The Trike Shop.
Certainly the best name of a band to feature at the 13th annual I.P.O. in Liverpool, the music is strangely addictive also, a smorgasbord of delight that lingers in the ether and in the mind long after the day has folded into history; the day may never be captured again but the freshness of the music on offer by this terrific group will somehow remain floating in the memory ether.
The spectre and ghostly shape of a Theremin cast its long shadow over the stage and to some may have looked like a dusty relic more attuned to the sound of the Progressive than the sounds of California power pop but the audience were soon to be enamoured by this musical nectar, an instrument that always seems to be in the hands of Heath Robinson when not played with concentration and skill.
With songs titles such as Even Van Helsing (Needs a Piece of Cake Every Now & Then), Ross Used to Play Us His Frank Zappa Records/Cold Pepsi and Crutouns and Every Train Stop and lively, almost as surreal as could be expected, version of The Beatles song I am the Walrus, the set was one of tremendous, energetic and animated pleasure. It offered everything in search of a smile and the added bonus of Maxi Dunn joining the band for a while on stage did much to make the smile broad and the cheering from fellow I.P.O. stable mates The Fast Camels only ensured that this really was a gig to remember.
Some sets are memorable for the songs, some for the display and others for what you learn about your hopefully increasing range of music compatibility, rarely do you get an afternoon in which all three are combined and delivered with such overwhelming heart. A terrific set by one of the quirkiest, supremely enjoyable acts of this year’s I.P.O.
Blake Jones & The Trike Shop will be performing at Zanzibar on Friday 22nd May.
Ian D. Hall
on the larger "Back Stage" of the Cavern Club
Day number 6……and of the four bands we saw today, there was just one band we had not already seen this year –
Blake Jones and the Trike Shop. From California, Blake is a shadow of his former self since we last saw him at the 2011 IPO, and he was looking trim and healthy and sounding great. David Bash primed the audience and told us we would be entertained, and we were.
This is another band who don’t turn the amps all the way up, and we could hear every instrument and vocal. With a flute and a Theremin alongside the traditional “pop” instruments we loved this band.
The songs are very well crafted, and this is another US band who do great power pop. The Theremin was used for a great instrumental version of “Goldfinger” and they wound up their set with a very Zappa influenced song (the clue was in the title) “Ross Used To Play Us His Frank Zappa Records”! It was brilliant.
thank you Sister Bluebird for this pic of the band on the 'front stage'
Sunday at International Pop Overthrow Liverpool 2015
Sunday has probably been my favourite day so far. What can I say, it involved a theremin!
Blake Jones and the Trike Shop returned to IPO Liverpool resplendent with said instrument. Their line up also involved a flautist.
A set full of fab tunes was rounded off with a Theremin version of Goldfinger and the song Ross Used To Play Us His Frank Zappa Records which is kind of epic.
I edged forward down one side of the Cavern to grab footage of the theremin on my phone.