Los Angeles Times – Buzz Bands: The Red Button Pops Off

The Red Button presses all the right buttons for fans of pure pop. Its album, “She’s About to Cross My Mind,” sounds as if it should be crackling out of an AM radio, the tunes of some youngsters angling to be the next Fab Four. Yes, it’s hopelessly retro, right down to its very mod sleeve, but the record’s easy psychedelia and friendly Merseybeat go down easily. Even the Little Steven’s Underground Garage radio show tabbed “Cruel Girl” as its No. 1 song last week.

It’s no surprise that the duo pushing all the buttons here are veteran songwriters Seth Swirsky and Mike Ruekberg. Swirsky, a longtime songwriter-for-hire who made his first solo album a couple years ago, is also an artist and well-known collector of sports memorabilia. Ruekberg was the driving force behind the Minneapolis pop band Rex Daisy. Together they explore their love of all things jangly, harmonic and Beatles.

The Red Button perform as an acoustic duo tonight at Spaceland as part of the 10th annual International Pop Overthrow festival. Astra Heights and the Prix are among the other bands on the bill.