I am a long time fan of The Bye-Bye Blackbirds, and their new single takes them to new heights. So do the videos that illustrate them. If you like power with your pop, I would check them out.

Bradley Skaught, the leader of the band, was kind enough to answer a few questions for me.

Andrea Weiss: "The Girls Walk” is a heavy rocker, which I like. Am I right about the lyrics being feminist?

Bradley Skaught: Yes! I'm so glad you picked up on that and pointed it out. It's largely about toxic masculinity -- it's kind of a snarky song, I think, and hopefully the humor and withering sarcasm comes across properly. Definitely seems like a feminist song to me.

AW: “Fold Up Your Maps” is a good contrast, more jangle rock/pop. I know it’s the B-side, but could this be considered a double A-side single?

BS: It could for sure. It's more just a fun artifice to label them as A-sides and B-sides since it's not even a physical object. I think we may have gone with the darker, more difficult song as the A-side because that's how we generally like to shoot ourselves in the foot. But you're right, both songs are strong and could easily be hit singles!

AW: I love the images in the “Maps” video, as the heart looks almost like it’s dancing. Who did the animation and where did the idea come from? The same goes for “The Girls Walk” video, with the background swirling behind a silhouette of a stiletto heel shoe, the space between the heel and toe changing images. Where did the idea come from for that?

BS: Both of the videos were made by Marry Waterson, who we've worked with before (and is an exceptionally great musician and artist all on her own, as well.) I really try to stay out of the way and let her respond to the songs. She asks for lyrics, sometimes she'll ask a few questions about the lyrics or potential themes, but really it's her vision that comes across in the videos. It's always surprising and always feels really right on. I'm not sure exactly where the specific imagery comes from, but they feel connected to the lyrics to me for sure. 

AW:Will these songs be on an upcoming album?

BS: I haven't thought quite that far ahead, really. We just put an album out earlier this year, and a little live EP, too, so we've kind of done a lot for one year! The idea of a whole new album seems far off, but we have a substantial backlog of new songs -- will they make up an album or be little singles? Not sure yet. For the time being it's just fun to get some more new stuff out.

 The Bye Bye Blackbirds

The Girls Walk/Fold Up Your Maps (Official Videos)

Self Released

These two animated videos are a lot of fun. “The Girls Walk” shows a woman’s stiletto heel in silhouette, with the space between the heel and sole turning into various shapes, lines and colors flashing through it. The song is a heavy rocker with feminist lyrics, and is just great all around.

“Fold Up Your Maps” shows a line drawing of a heart with other lines and drawings, mostly of mazes, whirling all around and inside it in different colors, with a woman's constantly changing face and hair above. It is really sweet. The song is happy, jangle rock. Another winner from this band, both musically and with these can’t miss videos.

Andrea Weiss

 R. Ring

Def Sup (Video)

Don Giovanni Records

To watch this fun video is to want to dance, and the images provide several ways to do so. For instance, a lot of this video takes place in the subway. So dance on the platform, on the train, and down to the street. Dance on the street and into the bus, then dance on that. All to wonderful guitar playing from Mike Montgomery and Kelley Deal, who are R. Ring, with drummer Laura King providing a slinky beat, and Kelley’s deadpan vocals touching on things like the heat of the street and the voice of a man in her head. So watch the video and dance whatever dance you want. You will have fun, believe me.

Andrea Weiss

 Popular Creeps have just put out their debut All Of This Will End In Tears, and it really is something else. It recalls the Replacements and Hüsker Dü at their best, so if you like those two band, you’ll like the Creeps. I do, a lot, so I was glad to find this.

The band was kind enough to answer a few questions for me.

Andrea Weiss: How did the band form?

Lenny Grassa: I answered an ad on craigslist from three guys looking for a singer/guitarist. They were into the same kind of bands that I was, so, I gave it a shot. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but over a month or so of getting together I thought there was something that could come of it. And even if it didn’t, it was cool to hang out with like-minded musicians.

Andrew Colvin: Neighborhood friends placed an ad in craigslist looking for a contract killer. Ended up with a guitarist.

Andrea: Who are your influences?

Lenny: There are many but probably at top of the list are The Kinks, Cheap Trick, The Clash, The Dream Syndicate, The Replacements, GBV, Hüsker Dü.

Andrew: Every classic rock band/British Invasion band except Zeppelin, mid-80s college rock.

Andrea: I hear the Stooges and MC5 in your music. Do either of those bands stand out for you? 

Lenny: I love both bands. I’ve probably listened to The Stooges more and have seen Iggy play probably 25 times. I even got to go on a brief tour with him in the 90’s.

Andrew: I like and appreciate both but it’s more Regional pride than Actual musical influence.

Andrea: I also hear the Replacements. How do they factor in?

Lenny: They are big for me. They put the punk attitude together with great pop songwriting, along with other bands of that time -- Hüsker Dü, etc.

Andrew: Heavily. The good, bad, and ugly.

Andrea: Your lyrics are positive punk, which I like. Did you want to make them as rough as possible?

Lenny: For me, that’s just the way they come out. I can’t say I have a plan to be any way in particular. It usually starts with the music and that leads to a feeling and lyrics.

Andrew: I like writing lyrics but not talking about them. I rarely start a song with any intentional topic or theme.

Andrea: And did you want them to be positive, or just punk?

Lenny: They go where they need to go… I hope.

Andrea: Does your name come from the Chris Mars song "Popular Creeps?"

Lenny: It does indeed.

Andrew: Chris who?

Andrea: Do you plan to tour? 

Lenny: Maybe… just in a regional Midwest way.

Andrew: Tour? No, but maybe occasional shows outside of Detroit.

 Popular Creeps

All Of This Will End In Tears

Big Stir Records

If you like the Replacements as much I do, you will like Popular Creeps. They are something of a power pop take on them, with a lot of other college rock and postpunk mixed in, like Hüsker Dü. Popular Creeps are as wild and unruly as both bands were at their best.

The singles are great examples. “Split Decision” is a salute to Louie, guitarist/vocalist Lenny Grassa’s cat who died. “Window” is about codependency. "Gone By 45” is a tribute to Tom Payne, Lenny's departed friend. These songs are hard, gritty college rock for the ages, with heart, soul, and humanity. They are positive and happy, but sensible and punky.

The Mats (their fans called them that, as in placemats) and the Dü were two of postpunk/college rock's best bands, so it stands to reason that Popular Creeps would have a great sound. So what are you waiting for?

Andrea Weiss

 Jim Basnight and The Moberlys

Early Years

Power Popaholic Productions

Basnight has been making music since the 70s, one of the original NYC punk rockers. These songs are nicely punk/power pop -- rough, unkempt, obnoxious, and perfect for those who like this kind of music, which I do.

Also very likable is that these lyrics are positive, even happy, which was rare for punk rock at the time. Songs like “Give Me Peace” and “Don’t Fall Into Darkness” show that, and those are two of the best songs on the album.

The four singles, including “Last Night” and “We’ll Always Be In Love,” sum things up perfectly. They are everything the album is, and you won’t go wrong with any of them.

So if you want to refresh your memory of the 70s, never heard punk or power pop beyond the hits, or just want some good music of a type that isn’t made much anymore, this album is for you.

Andrea Weiss