BLOG - THE NATURALS NYC /// POWER POP ROCK & ROLL

Teenage Kicks -- So Hard To Beat The Undertones' Classic

11/18/2013

"Teenage Kicks" by Northern Ireland's The Undertones is one of our favorite singles of all time! Two snare hits and it's off into power pop/punk/new wave heaven.

We've been playing it at recent shows, joining a long line of bands covering the song, from Buzzcocks to Green Day to Franz Ferdinand. (We also heard a rumor that those One Direction boys roll this one out now and then, but we can't confirm.)

And don't miss this story about a "Teenage Kicks" (and John Peel) -inspired mural in Belfast. Very cool that it could be restored.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-23777999

Flamin' Groovies Action!

7/6/2013

flamin groovies shake some action

Power pop legends, the Flamin' Groovies have reunited and are in NYC this weekend for two shows (Bowery Ballroom and Maxwell's in Hoboken). Sweet!

And bonus at the Saturday night Bowery gig -- our buddies The Paul Collins Beat open the show. Double sweet! Bring on the power pop!

"Shake Some Action" will always be one of our favorites jams of all time... check the video below (which seems to be the original '70s track sync'd up to an 80s video of the band... but no matter, it still rocks).

Big BIG STAR Week in NYC

7/3/2013

A great week in NYC for Big Star fans like us.

Sunday night saw a tribute show to Big Star's "Third" in Central Park featuring a killer line-up: Ken Stringfellow, Mike Mills, Marshall Crenshaw, Mitch Easter, Chris Stamey, Pete Yorn, Kurt Vile, Sharon Van Etten and many more... plus Big Star's drummer himself, the awesome Jody Stephens.

Then tonight at the IFC Center, we've got the theatrical premiere of the Big Star documentary, "Nothing Can Hurt Me". We can't wait! Check out the trailer below... looks amazing.

Here's a couple more clips... the "Thank You Friends" finale from Central Park, as well as Wilco covering "In The Street" at their Solid Sound Festival, which we drove up to catch last week in Massachusetts.

Kevin Bowe - "Never Don't Stay"

4/5/2013

We caught Kevin Bowe and his band the Okemah Prophets blasting though a great set of a rockin' midwestern Americana at the Rockwood in NYC last week. Bowe's got a resume a mile long, including collabs with his Minneapolis buddy Paul Westerberg. (He even plays on the Replacements' new "Songs For Slim" benefit EP.) We can't stop playing this 'Mats-y track from Bowe's latest LP!

The Beatles - "Please Please Me" LP Turns 50

3/22/2013

Amazing, history-changing stuff... all nearly recorded in a single day. Happy 50th to the Beatles' first LP!

Not a bad track list for your first record, eh?

1.I Saw Her Standing There
2.Misery
3.Anna (Go To Him)
4.Chains
5.Boys
6.Ask Me Why
7.Please Please Me
8.Love Me Do
9.P.S. I Love You
10.Baby It's You
11.Do You Want To Know A Secret
12.A Taste Of Honey
13.There's A Place
14.Twist And Shout

Check out this Rolling Stone article with the background on the record:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-beatles-please-please-me-50th-anniversary-20130322

The Paul Collins Beat - Rock And Roll Girl

3/12/2013

One of the greatest singles in power pop history! Paul Collins continues to carry the power pop torch in 2013 through his Beat Army (and his great band). Catch him on the road, playing everywhere.

The Jam - In The City / Art School

2/15/2013

Two Rickenbackers and a drum kit... results in one of the greatest debut LPs of all time. Two tracks off The Jam's first album, "In The City".

The Records - Starry Eyes

2/15/2013

Late '70s power pop perfection from the UK. We cover this one at nearly every show.