Push Puppets are a new band for me, but I'm glad I found out about them. They are modern power pop, always the best kind, and the music on their new album, Allegory Grey, flows in a unique way.

Lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist Erich Specht was kind enough to answer a few questions for me.

Andrea Weiss: How did the band form?

Erich Specht: Push Puppets began as my solo project. On the first two albums I played all the instruments except drums, which were played by Chris Morrow, who has since moved to Urbana to play jazz. In putting together a band, I first reached out to John William Lauler after seeing some videos of him playing. He suggested Greg Essig, our drummer who is fantastic. Kyle Magnusson on keyboards was recommended by a friend. Now for live shows we also have Tommi Zender playing guitar and singing. This band began playing at the album release show for the album titled A Boat of Lies and a House of Cards and have grown a lot while recording Allegory Grey.

AW: Who are your influences?

ES: There is an interesting mix of tastes within the band. Most of us appreciate things like King Crimson and Wilco. I'd say there's common appreciation for jazz, blues, and prog rock. Kyle plays a lot of jam band stuff. I grew up digging The Clash, The Replacements, XTC, Elvis Costello, and The Tragically Hip.

AW: What comes first for you, melodies or rhythms?

ES: Melodies. Ideally a melody suggested by a lyric.

AW: Your lyrics are very positive. Do you find happy songs easier to writer than sad ones?

ES: It’s funny you say that. I think they sound positive, but there's often a melancholy undertone. When I was writing "Sometimes the Buds Never Flower," I called my mom to ask some questions about flowering trees. I said I have this new happy song and when I got to the part "Nurtured the same as her neighbor, but she never opened her eyes," she said, "I thought this is supposed to be happy."

For whatever reason, I find a juxtaposition of pretty melodies with darker lyrics to be interesting. That said, there are plenty of older Push Puppets songs that are very positive like "Will It To Happen" or "Part of the Plan."

And there are plenty of songs that describe an imagined situation matter-of-factly, like "October Surprise," about the spreading of disinformation, "Your Secret's Safe," about someone freaking out after receiving an email saying a computer has been compromised, or "Center of the Storm," about convincing a co-conspirator to take the fall. I've been enjoying writing songs with characters like that recently.

AW:When there are non-cheerful situations described, it's mostly "keep your chin up," which I like. Do these songs come easily?

ES:I definitely wouldn't say they come easily, but they are coming more frequently lately. I think that might be because I've been reading more.

When I'm writing a song, I'm going to go where the song takes me. Sometimes that can lead to awkward situations. Like with "The Bane of My Existence," the bridge says, "You'll rue the day that your life skidded into my lane / Sounds like something my mother might say / When someone's been stringing her along." Before putting the album out, I ran that by my mom, who I am very close to, to make sure she was cool with it. It's certainly not about her, but it reinforced the old timiness that is throughout that song.

AW: "Perfect Picture" is almost folk/rock. Would you say your music has that element to it?

ES: I appreciate folk rock - Simon & Garfunkel or Gillian Welch. I tried to dial back my Americana tendencies on this album, but a couple made it through. I've never really cared much for genres. I appreciate bands like Gomez or Wilco that can blend genres into something interesting.

AW: Do you have any plans to tour?

ES: I’d love to tour if we can afford it. We're focusing mostly on Chicago and the Midwest at the moment, but I expect that to change.

AW: What advice would you give someone starting out in music?

ES: Learn how to tend bar.

 Push Puppets

Allegory Gray

self-released

With a band this good, it’s no wonder that they’re getting a wide audience for their music. It’s very catchy, kinetic, and has an uncommonly good flow.

The lyrics are mostly bittersweet about love, but also tend to be upbeat and smart, sincere and earnest, and there’s never a sense that they're faking it.

What’s not to like? This is a modern power pop band that sets itself apart from the rest in very enjoyable ways. This kind of music never goes out of style, so get in style with their new album ASAP.

Andrea Weiss

 I first encountered The Airport 77s on their delightful single from last year, with its fun, sweet video, “Losers Win.” The B-Side, “The Illustrated Book of Cupid,” is good too. Now they’re back with a great album that includes the single.

Andy Sullivan, guitarist for the band was kind enough to answer a few questions for me.

Andrea Weiss: How did the band form?

Andy Sullivan: Chuck and John needed a new guitarist, and they had seen me play with another band. They did some due diligence, and were told that I was fussy at practice: playing the chorus over and over until we GOT IT RIGHT, etc. Apparently that was what they were looking for. At our first jam session it was immediately clear that we were a good fit. 

AW: Who are your influences?

AS: ”My Sharona" and songs that sound like "My Sharona." We can probably play every song off The Paul Collins Beat's first record. The Hold Steady forced us to sharpen our lyrics. Ex Hex got us thinking that maybe this Betamax-era power pop sound could work in a modern context. 

AW: How does it feel to have your first album out?

AS: This is the culmination of a year-long sprint. When we signed with JEM we thought they would re-issue our self-released EP "Rotation" with a few extra songs to round it out. When we found they wouldn't be able to put it out before spring, 2022 at the earliest, we wrote, arranged, and recorded a whole batch of new songs between November and April. It was a lot of work and a ton of fun. It turned out way better than we expected, thanks in large part to Kurt Reil's deft mixing. We are excited for people to hear it.

AW: Your songs are about grown up relationships, which is great. Do you think you would have that kind of perspective if you were younger?

AS: That’s a great observation. As grown ups, we are more certain of who we are and less insecure about our prospects for romantic success, and that informs the stories we tell. You won't find songs complaining about "chicks just don't understand us, man," for example. And a song like "Losers Win" couldn't be written by a 19-year-old -- it's about two people who are trying to rekindle a romance, despite all the experiences they've had over the past few decades, and it's told with compassion.  

AW: Is “Drinking Alone” meant to be a Cars tribute, since it quotes “Just What I Needed”?

AS: The Cars' first two albums are our Book of Genesis. But "Drinking Alone" is more of a country song -- take away the jittery guitars and any Nashville hunk with a sense of humor could pull it off. It was written during the depths of lockdown and, like many country songs, it uses cornball humor to cover up the existential dread.

AW: I like how your characters have fun, especially on “Birthday Girl.” Did you want to lighten the at times serious mood of the album?

AS: This song was inspired by a posse of women at one of our gigs. We started off as a cover band, and it's in our musical DNA to make sure the audience is having a good time. But, like "Losers Win," this song has some shadows -- the couple has been through some rough times and now they are spending way too much money to exorcise those demons.

AW: Do you have any plans to tour?

AS: We are playing the International Pop Overthrow on Nov. 12, and there might be an East Coast tour in the offing next year, but we are not at that stage in our lives where we can just hop in the van and set off for parts unknown.

AW: What would you say to someone just starting out in music?

AS: When you're on stage, make sure to look every single member of the audience in the eye.

The Airport 77s

We Realize You Have A Choice

Jem Records

This debut from the Silver Spring, Maryland band is a lot of fun. Mostly it’s about being in and out of love, with a few exceptions.

One is “Since The Circus Left Town,” which is either about desperate lovers meeting on the sly or the end of the world. It’s a little darker than the rest of the album, but it’s also a bit more serious, which is good too.

There are two sex songs. “All Torn Up Over Tina” is self explanatory. “Bad Together” mentions staying in bed all day. Both are about falling in love.

So if you want a great album that rocks very well and is fun in every way, this is for you. Use as the soundtrack for whatever you’re doing and it will improve it.

Andrea Weiss

 Lannie Flowers

Flavor of the Month Remixes

Big Stir Records

This bonus CD comes with the vinyl version of the album, and this review is for the remixes only as they aren't available commercially, just with the LP. My review of the original version still stands. If anything, these songs are even more emotional now, and “Summer Blue” is just wonderful.

I have an untrained ear for remixes; I'm not an audiophile. While I hear many more instruments, like guitars, higher in the mix than before, what comes through the most is how loud it sounds now, mixed for the radio and other media services.

And it all sounds fine. It's a good reason to revisit this album, and no matter what version you have, I’d pick this up. You can't ever go wrong with great pop, no matter how it’s mixed or remixed.

Andrea Weiss

 Nick Frater

Stuck In My Ways/God Save Miss America

Big Stir Records

The A-Side, from his current album Aerodrome Motel, is about adult male mental health, with a melody that makes the song zip right along, and rather bittersweet lyrics. The music is rollicking and it’s easy to empathize with the protagonist here, and even get some insight into your own mental health.

The B-Side, however, isn’t just a preview of his upcoming album, it’s a gem about an outsider. Nick is from the UK, looking at the US and wondering WTF is going on politically. You’ll find yourself nodding and thinking ”you and me both, Nick, and I’m American,” while the music rolls along very purposefully.

With two great songs--the B-Side a must-hear if you are progressive politically--it's another single that hits the target.

Andrea Weiss

 Michael Simmons

Happy Traum EP

Big Stir

Happy Traum is a 60s folk singer who, along with his brother Artie, came out of the same Greenwich Village folk scene as Bob Dylan, but this EP isn’t a tribute to him. This is an EP by a 90s Dutch power pop band named Daryll-Ann. Simmons has covered the entire EP.

While the Daryll-Ann originals are very good, reminiscent of Aimee Mann’s 90s collaborations with Jon Brion, I prefer Michael’s covers; they're a little tougher, more contemporary, and I like his singing a bit better too. I would start with this EP, then go to the originals, which are on various streaming services and on CD. They deserve to be heard, as well as the cover EP, to hear Simmons having fun and paying tribute to a band he loves.

Andrea Weiss