The Bomb Pops

Vocalist polishes Bomb Pops' sound
June 9, 2002
Like the new girlfriend who prompts the sloppy bachelor to clean up his apartment, Natalie Wegner seems to have provoked the Bomb Pops to polish up the sonic attack. Wegner joined the band last year and didn't take long to start gracing the music with traces of lipstick. "Things They Say" -- her official album debut with the band -- neatly reveals the Bomb Pops' evolution from scrappy punk ensemble to spunky pop outfit.
SOUND CLIPS
The Bomb Pops


"Outta Here"


You need the RealAudio player to hear this clip.



The best songs here -- "Day Dreamer," "You Got to Know," "Outta Here" -- are built on Tim Hervey's crisp but spacious riffs and topped with Wegner's bright vocals. Ably produced by Suicide Machines bassist Royce Nunley, "Things They Say" is packed with hooks, but the bottom end from bassist Steve Hervey and drummer Phil Bansen is tough enough to lend rock 'n' roll credibility to the album's brisk pop concoctions.


Energetic and upbeat, fun and sexy, "Things They Say" is the sound of a veteran band now beaming with new life.


By Brian McCollum, Free Press pop music critic

- Brian McCollum

Vocalist polishes Bomb Pops' sound
June 9, 2002
Like the new girlfriend who prompts the sloppy bachelor to clean up his apartment, Natalie Wegner seems to have provoked the Bomb Pops to polish up the sonic attack. Wegner joined the band last year and didn't take long to start gracing the music with traces of lipstick. "Things They Say" -- her official album debut with the band -- neatly reveals the Bomb Pops' evolution from scrappy punk ensemble to spunky pop outfit.
SOUND CLIPS
The Bomb Pops


"Outta Here"


You need the RealAudio player to hear this clip.



The best songs here -- "Day Dreamer," "You Got to Know," "Outta Here" -- are built on Tim Hervey's crisp but spacious riffs and topped with Wegner's bright vocals. Ably produced by Suicide Machines bassist Royce Nunley, "Things They Say" is packed with hooks, but the bottom end from bassist Steve Hervey and drummer Phil Bansen is tough enough to lend rock 'n' roll credibility to the album's brisk pop concoctions.


Energetic and upbeat, fun and sexy, "Things They Say" is the sound of a veteran band now beaming with new life.


By Brian McCollum, Free Press pop music critic

- Brian McCollum

Melody Baetens / The Detroit News


FERNDALE -- For a rock band, replacing your lead singer can be a risky move. But it has proved to be a catalyst for the Bomb Pops.
Brothers Tim and Shawn Hervey have been the foundation of the Bomb Pops for several years. In January of last year, the brothers, along with drummer Phil Bansen, found themselves desperately seeking a new vocalist -- someone who would complement the group's smartly upbeat, pop-punk sound. Enter Natalie Wegner, a 21-year-old hair stylist who had the look, sound and attitude the Bomb Pops were looking for.
With just six practices with the band behind her, Wegner made her live debut as the Bomb Pops' vocalist.
"When we thought about getting a new singer we didn't initially plan on getting a girl, but then somebody suggested Natalie," Tim Hervey says. "We took our songwriting to the next level with her. It's weird because we come from a total guy background, but now most of the songs are from a female point of view."
The band took its new songs and new image to Redford Township's Ringside Studios shortly after, to work with producer Royce Nunley. The product is a strong, six-song EP titled "Things They Say."
"Once the CD comes out, I think it will open up a lot of other people's eyes as to what we're about now," Hervey says.
Name: The Bomb Pops
Line up: Tim Hervey, guitar; Shawn Hervey, bass; Phil Bansen, drums; Natalie Wegner, vocals.
Sound: On "Things They Say," the band's first recording with Wegner, her clear and powerful voice makes you want to sing along to her poppy, life-inspired lyrics. The tones of Tim Hervey's Gibson Les Paul are sure to please Cheap Trick lovers, guitar aficionados and rock 'n' roll fans alike.
Releases: "Things They Say," CD, EP (2002, independent release).
Next: Tonight, the Bomb Pops celebrate the release of "Things They Say" at the Holbrook Cafe, located at 3201 Holbrook St. in Hamtramck. For this special performance, the band has invited a stellar line-up of fellow punk rock groups including the Jollys, the Unfriendlys and the always entertaining Ruiners. Doors open at 8 p.m. and 18 and older are welcome. Admission costs $6. Visit http://www.bombpops.com/ for more information about the band.
- Melody Baetens

Melody Baetens / The Detroit News


FERNDALE -- For a rock band, replacing your lead singer can be a risky move. But it has proved to be a catalyst for the Bomb Pops.
Brothers Tim and Shawn Hervey have been the foundation of the Bomb Pops for several years. In January of last year, the brothers, along with drummer Phil Bansen, found themselves desperately seeking a new vocalist -- someone who would complement the group's smartly upbeat, pop-punk sound. Enter Natalie Wegner, a 21-year-old hair stylist who had the look, sound and attitude the Bomb Pops were looking for.
With just six practices with the band behind her, Wegner made her live debut as the Bomb Pops' vocalist.
"When we thought about getting a new singer we didn't initially plan on getting a girl, but then somebody suggested Natalie," Tim Hervey says. "We took our songwriting to the next level with her. It's weird because we come from a total guy background, but now most of the songs are from a female point of view."
The band took its new songs and new image to Redford Township's Ringside Studios shortly after, to work with producer Royce Nunley. The product is a strong, six-song EP titled "Things They Say."
"Once the CD comes out, I think it will open up a lot of other people's eyes as to what we're about now," Hervey says.
Name: The Bomb Pops
Line up: Tim Hervey, guitar; Shawn Hervey, bass; Phil Bansen, drums; Natalie Wegner, vocals.
Sound: On "Things They Say," the band's first recording with Wegner, her clear and powerful voice makes you want to sing along to her poppy, life-inspired lyrics. The tones of Tim Hervey's Gibson Les Paul are sure to please Cheap Trick lovers, guitar aficionados and rock 'n' roll fans alike.
Releases: "Things They Say," CD, EP (2002, independent release).
Next: Tonight, the Bomb Pops celebrate the release of "Things They Say" at the Holbrook Cafe, located at 3201 Holbrook St. in Hamtramck. For this special performance, the band has invited a stellar line-up of fellow punk rock groups including the Jollys, the Unfriendlys and the always entertaining Ruiners. Doors open at 8 p.m. and 18 and older are welcome. Admission costs $6. Visit http://www.bombpops.com/ for more information about the band.
- Melody Baetens

Local band spotlight: The Bomb Pops

September 27, 2002






The Lowdown: The Bomb Pops are a four-piece Detroit area-based punk pop band that's been together for eight years. The group was essentially reborn in early 2001 with the addition of Natalie Wegner on lead vocals, replacing original vocalist Bobby Dean. Wegner gives the group a completely different dynamic (from a more low-fi Ramones-style punk to polished, sassy power punk) evidenced by the spirited "Things They Say" EP -- Wegner's recording debut. The group is performing at the first night of a four-evening event at Lili's 21, which is closing its doors Oct. 1.

Lineup: Wegner, lead vocals; Tim Hervey, lead guitar; Shawn Hervey, bass; Phil Bansen, drums.

Home: The group calls Detroit home, though Wegner is from St. Clair Shores, Hervey lives in Ferndale, younger brother Shawn lives in Wixom and Bansen lives in Troy.

Releases: "Things They Say" EP, June 2002; "The Bomb Pops," 1998; "Demons of the Get Down" (cassette), 1996. The group's albums are available on its Web site www.bombpops.com and local record stores such as Record Time and Hot Hits.

New style: Once upon a time, straight up Detroit-style power punk. Today, catchy punk with a defiant female glint. Longtime fans should note: The Bomb Pops ain't playing the old stuff anymore. This is a new band.

"We've still got big hooks and loud guitars, but with Natalie singing and writing all the lyrics, it's much more from a female point of view," says Tim Hervey. "It's changed a lot. It's a lot more commercial and a lot more accessible to a wider range of people. A lot of people thought we were going to totally sell out and sound like Alanis Morissette or something. We didn't. We just refined our sound, structured the songs a little bit better and came up with some better hooks."

In the beginning: Bobby Dean and the Hervey brothers formed the band in 1994. The Bomb Pops have seen several lineup changes over the years, and Tim Hervey is the only original member still playing the same instrument (Steve Hervey started out on drums).

Next phase: The Bomb Pops are headed back into the studio in October to start recording a new full-length album with Wegner and renewed vigor. "While all the material on 'Things They Say' is pretty much straightforward rock songs, this one's got more of a '60s sound to it," Hervey says. "It's going to be the next step up for us. We're experimenting with several genres. There's a rootsy, country type song that's going to be on it. There's stuff that's going to rock. We're coming up with things we never tried before because we have a singer that brings out different aspects of music. To be honest, once we changed singers, there was a renewed interest in us. And that really made us buckle down and work on the songs until we were completely happy with them."

Sing, sing a song: Wegner is a classically trained vocalist and was first chair in her high school choir.

9/11: "Things They Say," produced by former Suicide Machines bassist Royce Nunley, was finished on a very unhappy day. "We actually mixed down on Sept. 11 of last year," Hervey says. "It was weird because we knew what had happened but it really didn't hit us yet. So, we mixed it down and we were happy but then we went home and started watching TV and that's when it hit. I almost felt guilty for doing something other than not watching TV because we were having a good ol' time in the studio."

Performing: with The Trash Brats and Nick Pivot's Cocktail Shake, tonight at Lili's 21, 2930 Jacob in Hamtramck. $5 for patrons 21 or older. Doors open at 8 p.m. 313-875-6555.

- T. Pratt

Local band spotlight: The Bomb Pops

September 27, 2002






The Lowdown: The Bomb Pops are a four-piece Detroit area-based punk pop band that's been together for eight years. The group was essentially reborn in early 2001 with the addition of Natalie Wegner on lead vocals, replacing original vocalist Bobby Dean. Wegner gives the group a completely different dynamic (from a more low-fi Ramones-style punk to polished, sassy power punk) evidenced by the spirited "Things They Say" EP -- Wegner's recording debut. The group is performing at the first night of a four-evening event at Lili's 21, which is closing its doors Oct. 1.

Lineup: Wegner, lead vocals; Tim Hervey, lead guitar; Shawn Hervey, bass; Phil Bansen, drums.

Home: The group calls Detroit home, though Wegner is from St. Clair Shores, Hervey lives in Ferndale, younger brother Shawn lives in Wixom and Bansen lives in Troy.

Releases: "Things They Say" EP, June 2002; "The Bomb Pops," 1998; "Demons of the Get Down" (cassette), 1996. The group's albums are available on its Web site www.bombpops.com and local record stores such as Record Time and Hot Hits.

New style: Once upon a time, straight up Detroit-style power punk. Today, catchy punk with a defiant female glint. Longtime fans should note: The Bomb Pops ain't playing the old stuff anymore. This is a new band.

"We've still got big hooks and loud guitars, but with Natalie singing and writing all the lyrics, it's much more from a female point of view," says Tim Hervey. "It's changed a lot. It's a lot more commercial and a lot more accessible to a wider range of people. A lot of people thought we were going to totally sell out and sound like Alanis Morissette or something. We didn't. We just refined our sound, structured the songs a little bit better and came up with some better hooks."

In the beginning: Bobby Dean and the Hervey brothers formed the band in 1994. The Bomb Pops have seen several lineup changes over the years, and Tim Hervey is the only original member still playing the same instrument (Steve Hervey started out on drums).

Next phase: The Bomb Pops are headed back into the studio in October to start recording a new full-length album with Wegner and renewed vigor. "While all the material on 'Things They Say' is pretty much straightforward rock songs, this one's got more of a '60s sound to it," Hervey says. "It's going to be the next step up for us. We're experimenting with several genres. There's a rootsy, country type song that's going to be on it. There's stuff that's going to rock. We're coming up with things we never tried before because we have a singer that brings out different aspects of music. To be honest, once we changed singers, there was a renewed interest in us. And that really made us buckle down and work on the songs until we were completely happy with them."

Sing, sing a song: Wegner is a classically trained vocalist and was first chair in her high school choir.

9/11: "Things They Say," produced by former Suicide Machines bassist Royce Nunley, was finished on a very unhappy day. "We actually mixed down on Sept. 11 of last year," Hervey says. "It was weird because we knew what had happened but it really didn't hit us yet. So, we mixed it down and we were happy but then we went home and started watching TV and that's when it hit. I almost felt guilty for doing something other than not watching TV because we were having a good ol' time in the studio."

Performing: with The Trash Brats and Nick Pivot's Cocktail Shake, tonight at Lili's 21, 2930 Jacob in Hamtramck. $5 for patrons 21 or older. Doors open at 8 p.m. 313-875-6555.

- T. Pratt