Windy Pop Weekender

1. Sacramento, CA-based indie-pop favorite Rocketship was the brainchild of singer/guitarist Dustin Reske, who formed the group in 1993 with bassist Verna Brock, keyboardist Heidi Barney and drummer Jim Rivas. After releasing the classic single "Hey Hey Girl" on the influential Bus Stop label, the group recorded 1996's acclaimed A Certain Smile, A Certain Sadness for Slumberland; the original line-up then dissolved, with Reske continuing Rocketship essentially as a solo project. The "Honey, I Need You" single followed in 1997; two years later, Reske resurfaced with the ambient-influenced twelve-inch Rocketship's Garden of Delights. "Here Comes...Rocketship" was released in 2006. 2. There's a Japanese band called Rocketship with a song on the 1998 ラジカルパンチ！ compilation on Groove Line Records.

Dressy Bessy is an indie rock band from Denver, Colorado, associated with the Elephant Six Collective. Guitarist John Hill also plays with the Apples in Stereo. Lead vocalist/guitarist Tammy Ealom formed the band with drummer Darren Albert and guitarist turned bassist Rob Greene in 1996. The name was taken from a popular Playskool doll of the 1970s. Hill joined around the time they started recording. They released two singles and an EP in 1997-98 and licensed songs to some compilation albums. Dressy Bessy's first full-length release, Pink Hearts, Yellow Moons (1999) was a mixture of beat group drums, infectious songs, and the odd burst of harmonium. Further releases include California EP (2000), Sound Go Round (2002), and 2003's Dressy Bessy, which incorporated a harder guitar sound. 2003 also brought the compilation, Little Music: Singles 1997-2002. These albums were initially released on Kindercore Records of Athens, Georgia. Their songs, If You Should Try to Kiss Her and Just Like Henry were featured in the 1999 film But I'm A Cheerleader. In late 2004, drummer Darren Albert left the band and was replaced in 2005 by Craig Gilbert. Later that year, the band signed to Transdreamer Records and recorded their fourth album, Electrified, which was released in June 2005. The band released their fifth album, HOLLERandSTOMP, on September 16, 2008. Rob Greene died in January 2018.

Good Flying Birds is a jangling, noisy guitar-pop group from the Midwest, USA, influenced by Guided By Voices and others, and signed with Carpark Records. It began in December 2023 with a collection of 4-track cassette recordings and stop-motion videos uploaded to YouTube under the name “Talulah God". As of 2025, their lineup consisted of Kellen Baker (guitar/vocals), Susie Slaughter (vocals/tambourine), Ari Bales (drums), Luke Cornette (guitar), and Richard Edge (bass).

A pageant queen fronts a rock 'n' roll band: Haunting harmonies soar over electric guitar in Cinema Hearts' tribute to the Wall of Sound. In early 2015, Cinema Hearts transformed from a lonely bedroom recording project into a vibrant band. A year passed and an album, Feels Like Forever, emerged -- an aural tale of waiting forever for good moments to come and wishing that those lovely moments could last forever. Cinema Hearts' lyrics describe life in their hometown of Fairfax, Virginia, the suburban shadow of Washington, DC, while their music is reminiscent of the doo wop singers and surf guitarists from long ago. The sound of Cinema Hearts is wistful, yet feisty, with a pulsing passion for days gone by. Cinema Hearts' second album, Burned and Burnished, released May 8, 2017, renounces the consuming worry of "forever" and embraces reckless impermanence. Diving into the frustrating heartbreak of infidelity, loss, and rejection, Cinema Hearts takes on new strength with pounding drums, roaring guitar solos, moody bass lines, and a voice that beckons like a siren's call. Expanding upon the retro flair of Feels Like Forever, Burned and Burnished is witty, dramatic, dark, and powerful; acute lyrical observations present a mature and womanly perspective on the possibility that, no matter how hard one hopes and prays, a dream may not materialize as reality. In Burned and Burnished, sorrow becomes a magic mirror that lets one investigate life's true vulnerability.

The Specific Heats began in 2004 as the solo project of Mat Patalano and was then fully actualized into a full band. Inspired by Mat’s love for 1960s surf, pop, garage & psych pop as well as 90s/2000s indie pop, their sound developed from a blend of energetic yet melancholy indie pop into the “missing link” between timid and meticulous indie pop & and wild, untamed garage rock that no one had ever asked for. They released the self-produced “The Specific Heats Aboard A Spaceship of the Imagination” back in 2006 on Total Gaylord Records (Shumai, The Lil’ Hospital, The Snow Fairies, & makers of the highly acclaimed “Cwistmas Twee” Compilation) and re-located to Brooklyn. After some lineup changes, they recorded their latest 7” EP, “Back Through Thyme”, released only last spring (2009) due to software issues, computer & external hard drive theft, and a series of other unfortunate mis-haps. The band, donning their dashing paisley capes, however, strives onward – embodying the spirit of positivity and perseverance in the face of adversity that appears as a theme in much of their work. Last summer they practically burned the place down (anyone who was there will undoubtedly know what we mean) when they performed at the Indie Tracks festival and will be returning this year with, at long last, their soon-to-be released second album “Cursed!”. What some people have said about The Specific Heats: “Picture if you will a dancing virtuoso loon of a guitarist leading proceedings with a lovely Mosrite cranked up via a Fuzzrite stompbox, a Fender reverb unit …furious backing on echoed, descending bass-lines, clattering garage-punk drums and swirling, baroque/prog-infused organ respectively, birthing a veritable riot of explosive, expansive psychedelic surf punk pop bliss.” – Stereo Sanctity Blog “groovy ‘60s-focused sound that leans heavily on Zombies-esque baroque pop, some Stereolab/Monade style retro-futurist grooves, a bit of a surf twang, with a touch of Electric Prunes-ish studio-bound garage-psyche mayhem creeping around the edges.” – Stereo Sanctity Blog “The Specific Heats may be yet another gem unearthed from Brooklyn's prolific underground scene … Mixing surf guitars, garage punk, lo-fi pop sensibilities and occasional noise-infused melodies, their three-girl, one-boy DIY fare is a breathtaking joy to behold.” - Dom Gourlay, Drowned In Sound.com "I haven't heard psych pop mixed with indiepop this good since the Tables! " - Chris McFarlane, Indie Pages "...energetic surf-tinged, feedback laced pop... Emerging from the same backyard as kindred spirits Crystal Stilts, Cause Co-Motion and Vivian Girls, The Specific Heats might just be the most exciting combo of the lot" - Dom Gourlay, Drowned in Sound -

Time Thief refers to multiple artists Time Thief is a jangly indie pop duo consisting of James Walsh and Zoë Wyner who both played in Dump Him Time Thief is a three member studio band that draws from influences of the 70's and 80's including bands like Kansas, Styx, and Level 42. The three members of the band originally played together in a band during and after their high school years in the 80's. They all hail from a small town in the New York Finger Lakes region called Hammondsport. The trio used to pass time during free time at school writing lyrics for various song ideas. Now more than 2 decades later, the three members have reunited with more life experience and honed musical skills to produce what they hope will be the first of many collaborative projects musically. Their sound is a unique blend of soaring harmonies, heavy edged rock and carefully crafted lyrics meant to inspire and tell a story. The edges are smoothed by an orchestral accompaniment that brings an intensity and excitement to the musical pieces. At the core of each member is a passionate appreciation for music of all genres from classical to progressive rock. Their music has an atmospherically immersing quality that takes the listener on a musical journey through time. The members have come back together with very different backgrounds- Adam Oplinger - Bass Guitars, Electric Guitars: a Registered Nurse and trained Paramedic, Adam has dedicated himself to the emergency medical field but has never given up playing his unique and creative bass lines. Adam has always prefered to create bass lines that are essential to the overall groove of the music and credits Level 42, Paul McCartney and Geddy Lee of Rush as influences. Josh Smith - Drums, Percussion, Keyboards, Vocals: Josh is a computer programmer and IT professional and loves the creativity of designing applications to solve problems. Josh loves playing the piano and singing and credits Kerry Livgren and Steve Walsh, Freddie Mercury, and Dennis DeYoung as his greatest influences. Terry Smith - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Vocals: Terry is a graphic designer and is energized by all things creative. He enjoys writing both rhythm guitar parts and lead guitars that draw on influences from Neil Schon, Brian May, Rich Williams and Kerry Livgren. http://www.timethiefband.com