Power pop. Pop rock. Whatever you call it, you know you love it. Even if it’s not your main musical pleasure, it’s a great go-to B-team, the music you can call on when whatever it is you mainline burns you out for a spell.
Houston is blessed enough to have two outstanding homegrown examples of the craft: dUNETX and Ashbury Keys. dUNETX draws from the likes of Smashing Pumpkins, Fountains of Wayne, the Beach Boys, and even Monster Magnet in brewing its pop-sicles, while Ashbury Keys slots comfortably between Nick Lowe and modern Brit-rock, with a dash of pop punk and classic American radio rock thrown in for good measure.
Ashbury, recently returned from two dates at the Cavern Club in Liverpool as part of International Pop Overthrow, held a record release party for its ‘Wake Up’ EP at Fitzgerald’s in late June. Alan Doss leant a hand on guitar. Please enjoy the footage below.
Also appearing that night was a new Austin band comprised of experienced Austin hands, three33. Foremost among them was Pushmonkey vocalist Tony Park, with other members hailing from Nooner/She Craves/Waiting for August, squint, and Freebleeder The band’s overall experience served it well, allowing compelling delivery of original mainstream rock songs, many of which were memorable even on a first listen.
Between Park and Ashbury Keys’ drummer Darwin Keys the gig was as close to a Pushmonkey reunion as Houston has ever come.