“Shooting star feels like a chance you let fall But it’s just a rock, not a star at all”
Musicians moving *to* the Bay Area? Not a story we hear often but we’ll take it. Born and raised in the home of hardcore punk Washington, D.C., Peter Hartmann is now based in Oakland but he’s not afraid to take his nostalgic past with him. Black Cat Back Stage, the latest work from his band Poppy Patica, is named after a now-defunct D.C. venue where the band played just before its closing a few years ago. The album is pure pop punk, catchy and even sometimes saccharine, but it wobbles equally over to the edgier side of the spectrum, especially on the noisy, slowly building experimental waltz “Burnt to Bits.” Another highlight is the instantly satisfying romper “Band Aid,” the only track written by Chloe M, another member of the quartet. A very welcome addition to the Bay’s underground indie and punk rock scene.
