POP ETC – “I Won’t Back Down” (Tom Petty Cover)
True to their name, POP ETC have never had a problem taking on the most ubiquitous hit songs. In January, they gave us an aching, sparse cover of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game,” and before that, the band warped Gin Blossoms’ immortal ’90s alt-pop gem “Follow You Down” into springy Strokes-esque rock. The trio can strip a radio-worn song down to its vitals, reminding you why you dug it in the first place, and that’s just what they’ve done with Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.” Keeping the low strut of the original, POP ETC wrings all the juice from the 1989 song with just a guitar and a surge of harmonies on the chorus. Chris said it’s a missed opportunity for a “Stay With Me” mashup, and he’s right, but it’s certainly worth a spin anyway. Listen below.
POP ETC’s new album, featuring glitzy first single “Running In Circles,” is due out sometime later this year.