By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Dec 06, 2006 at 12:53 PM
Well, OK, it will only be Dec. 8 when Detroit power pop trio The Singles play at Points East Pub, but the band's "Baby It's Christmas" will certainly get everyone in the mood for egg nog and yule log.

With jangling guitars, vocal harmonies, a catchy melody and slamming drums, the song is the best rock and roll holiday tune in a long time.

The band -- which shares the stage with Milwaukee's The Pugilists and Little Man -- has won praises near and far and while it's great to have Little Steven van Zandt say this about your band: "My favorite new band is The Singles, who have a very cool Anglo-pop thing happening"; it must also be a little weird to note that van Zandt appears to think power pop ("a very cool Anglo-pop thing") hasn't been "happening" for at least the last 30 years (I'm only going back as far as The Flamin' Groovies' Sire discs here).

Don your black suit and skinny tie and pop on a Santa cap for this weekend's power pop Christmas at Points East.
Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.