A whirlwind week for me with PGH getting going.  There’s a lot of new information posting here today(Thursday) and Friday coming up – so make sure you keep checking on the various departments w/ new postings!

Now, some quick info to share and I’m going to start off with something about someone I’m a fan who has absolutely NOTHING to do with ‘power pop’.  I know, though, there’s a lot of 70s hard rock fans in the PGH community so this is for you.

One of my favorite writers that focuses on hard-rock is Martin Popoff.  He’s written over 30 books and I own 20 of them.  Yes, 20.  He’s a pure geek and we come from the same era. He’s 48, I’m 49.  Popoff is Canadian so he has a unique view on the scene there.

Most of his books are now hard to find because they are limited print runs and earlier this  year there was a warehouse fire and most of his stock was lost in it.  Brutally sad.

My favorite books of his are his YE OLDE METAL series.  He breaks down his favorite albums from year periods from the late 60s into the 90s with a special series year-by-year series that started with 1973-1978.

If seeing names like Rex, Starz, Ram Jam, Moxy, Angel, Hydra, Point Blank, Max Webster, Budgie and…well, you get the idea.  That kind of list makes me cream and a new Popoff book is always an event.

Popoff’s gift is his passion and his ability to dig deeper into the stories of the GOOD STUFF that the serious fans want to know more about.

Check out his site – HERE

If you want to hear him interviewed and geeking out talking music – HERE

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Back to POWER POP.

Sony is doing some interesting, budget reissue campaigns in 2011.  Not too many folks are aware of them, either. Sony is packaging up catalogs of some their artists and putting them into budget boxes with nice art work and getting them out there at a very reasonable price – sometimes adding extra ‘stuff’ – but not always.   Bonus trax are usually included in most of these special editions.

The latest is ELO with a Cheap Trick package coming later this Fall.  11 albums, $80 – check the info, HERE

They did a great one with THE BYRDS – check this special package – HERE

They have a VINYL Store – HERE

Check out the main home page where they display special deals continually – HERE

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A few months back, there was a major update to the BADFINGER main web site.  It’s a lot of interactive, updated regularly and Joey Molland plugs himself in answering questions submitted.

It’s all really well done and any news connected to the band you want to find out – this is the place.  Check it out – HERE

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WANDERLUST/SCOT SAX/ROB BONFIGLIO FANS:

I need to find out what happened exactly, but not many folks know this but the original Wanderlust got back together to do some recording back in April and did a reunion show in May.  Not sure where those recordings will be going but Scot Sax continues to write and be very active.

He has a new band called QUEEN ELECTRIC.  They have a 7 song digital download album that you can pick up at their BandCamp site – HERE

Track WANDERLUST information – HERE

ROB BONFIGLIO’s MySpace – HERE

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FRANK BANGO:

Hopefully, many of you recognize this name.  Not Lame released his first album back in 1999 and he’s released a few other (outstanding) albums since then but has been quiet the last four years or so because he has been battling some serious(and, for awhile, life-threatening) health issues.

Fortunately, things appear to be going much better for him and Bango is ready rock up a new album. He’s doing a Kickstarter campaign to get it going and it DID fund so it will be moving ahead.

You can get some of the details – HERE

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Speaking of Kickstarter.

COTTON MATHER:

One of the best Kickstarter promotional videos EVER in the history of the 3 year old company was by Cotton Mather end of last year.  It is a piece of art in and of itself.  Genius, like “Con Tiki”, which is being reissued here soon enough because of this campaign.

Robert Harrison proves to be a very naturally talented actor and quite refreshingly self-aware.

Go watch it – HERE

If you are time pressed, start the video at the 2 minute mark but let it fly. It’s awesome!

This project funded back in May so it’s moving forward and is due out in January – I’ll keep you posted.

Information on this project and Harrison’s other work – HERE

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Many of you are already familiar with SMASH PALACE, a highly recommended power pop-oriented band fronted by Steve and Brian Butler.  If you have not heard the band, now is a time to check them out.

I’ll include some links below but I mention them now because they brothers had a band back in the new wave, skinny-tie era called Quincy.  They released one album on Columbia that power pop geeks from the time probably have heard or own on vinyl.

If you got the bands site, buried in at their store link is an option there lost for many.  For $5, you can purchase a copy of the CD, burned from the master recording, with no artwork or liner notes.

Check it out – HERE

Check information on Smash Palace – HERE

I’m a pretty big fan of almost all their releases – if you begin somewhere, begin with their two most recent, “7” and “Everybody Comes And Goes”

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I came across an old favorite blog of mine and one that I’ve properly added to the RESOURCE area, a few years ago.  I must mention it:  Wilfully Obscure.

It’s updated 3/4 times a week all kind of wicked obscure rarities and hard to find, out of print material from not just power pop bands, but punk, indie rock and shoegaze. It’s all over the place, arguably(a good thing, in my book) but the passion and quality of the find here are second-to-none.

Check out Wifully Obscure – HERE