UK band Holiday Ghosts have a busy March. They’re releasing their fifth album, Coat of Arms, at the end of the month and will be in the US starting this week for NYC’s New Colossus Festival and SXSW in Austin.
Holiday Ghosts’ jangly sound rides adjacent to classic power pop, and with that in mind they made us a list of their favorite power pop songs, featuring The dB’s, Squeeze, The Nerves, Big Star, and more. All four members — drummer/singer Katja Rackin, guitarist/singer Sam Stacpoole, bassist Morgan Lloyd Matthews, and guitarist Ben Nightingale — contributed, and you can check out their list and commentary below.
Their New Colossus schedule includes the BrooklynVegan showcase on Thursday (3/7) at Knitting Factory @ Baker Falls where they start the night (7 PM) and share the bill with Prewn, Meagre Martin, La Sécurité, MX Lonely, NOBRO, Robber Robber and Silent Mass. You can get in with a New Colossus badge or buy a ticket.
They’ve got two other New Colossus shows: Wednesday (3/6) at Berlin Under A (10:45 PM) and Pianos on Saturday afternoon (5:45 PM).
Holiday Ghosts’ Favourite Power Pop Songs
Kat’s picks:
The Nerves – “When You Find Out”
First of all, The Nerves are inarguably the greatest Power Pop band of all time. This has also been a long standing favourite and takes me right back to when I first met Sam. He had a home-made Nerves CD that never left the van, and would just start playing as soon as the key turned. It’s very nostalgic of carefree vibes cruising round Cornwall, finding beautiful empty beaches, and I think may even have been the year I first learnt to play drums.
Flamin’ Groovies – “Shake Some Action”
A totally underrated band, this song is a timeless classic – one that has soundtracked a third of all the meals I’ve ever made, and plenty of seafront walks on Brighton prom. I’m not too great at guitar talk, but I know a good riff when I hear it, and this song has plenty.
Sam’s Picks:
Big Star – “When My Baby’s Beside Me”
I was never a fan for some stupid reason, I think I thought it was corny. One time I was on a road trip alone through Germany and my mate messaged me and said “Bro you telling me you don’t love to chug!!?” With a link to this song. Turns out I do love to chug. I genuinely fell deeply in love with Number One Album on that trip and have been since. The guitars are so well recorded its insane. This isn’t the best song on the record but it was the gateway for me.
Squeeze – “Up The Junction”
I still remember all of the words to this song from the time me and my friend played it acoustic at a school function called Falmouth School Funk Out. We were 14 years old. The rhyming structure of this song is pretty unparalleled. And I think it paints pretty acceptable image of a romantic and dismal English life.
The dB’s – “(I thought you) wanted to know”
This is a pretty quintessential power pop number. Lyrics about some kind of love quarrel, sang in a sweet way over emotive chords. Love the way that the Db’s sound generally. Major bonus to this particular song is that it’s written by Richard Lloyd and he plays the guitar on it. Richard Lloyd is my favourite Fender Strat guitarist. Big up Richard.
Morgan’s Picks:
Gizmos – “See About You”
I love the Gizmos in all their incarnations, but particularly the songs written and sung by Dale Lawrence which lean towards the more melodic and sensitive sides of punk/powerpop. The Gizmos in New York is awesome. If it wasn’t this song it would’ve been “Heartbeat” from the same album
Incredible Kidda Band – “Fighting My Way Back”
Classic lyrical theme of heartache over tastefully simplistic chords and an irritatingly catchy chorus to boot. The chord progression got deep rooted in my soul for a long time. I think it’s over now.
Ben’s Picks:
The Replacements – “Hold My Life”
I could have picked any number of amazing songs from Tim, the whole album is pure gold. Unhinged and the wheels are almost falling off the bus but that’s what makes it such a trip…
Language School – “Tours”
This riff lives rent free in my head, so simple but a real earworm. Should have been a hit!
Here’s a playlist with every song on the list except The Incredible Kidda Band which isn’t on streaming: