Wed 7/23 @ 8:30PM
Rock critics love “power pop” — music with jangly guitar chords holding up boyish, irony-free vocals that express heartbreak and yearning in ridiculously infectious tunes.
Audiences not so much. Although this style mainlines the Beatles and other British invasion groups, they’ve never duplicated their popularity, despite a hit here or there (or several for a few groups like Cleveland’s Raspberries in the early-mid ’70s).
Georgia’s Matthew Sweet released a couple of flop albums in the late ’80s before his 1991 release Girlfriend made him one of the few power pop bands to have a chart hit (the song of the same name). He had a short run of hit albums through the mid ’90s as well.
He’s slogged on, releasing an album here and there, including a pair of covers albums with former Bangles lead singer Susanna Hoffs. (The second included the Raspberries’ biggest hit “Go All the Way.”) He’s gained some weight and a scruffy beard, losing the baby-faced good looks that might have made him popular with little girls, if they liked this music like they were supposed to, but maybe enhancing his appeal to the college radio DJs who really do like it.
He’ll be at the Beachland Ballroom, where he’ll share the bill with an even more obscure and critically acclaimed power pop veteran Tommy Keene.
Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 day of show.