Christopher James Bousquet - guitar/vocals
John Lindberg - electric guitar/vocals
Johnny Java - drums/percussion
Ian Alsgaard - piano/organ/keyboards/vocals
James Velvet - bass guitar/vocals
Influences
Stephen Foster, Walt Whitman, Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family, Wallace Stevens, Harry Smith, Anton Chekhov, Hank Williams, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, The Byrds, The Velvet Underground, The Zombies, The Hollies, The Left Banke, The Band, Gram Parsons, Bobby Orr, Tim Hardin, Fred Neil, Nick Drake, Big Star, John Denver, The Clash, The Jam, Raymond Carver, Camper Van Beethoven, REM, The DBs, American Music Club, The Church, Miracle Legion, Mark Mulcahy, The Replacements, The Connells, Willie Nelson, The Waterboys, Red House Painters, Alligator Farmhouse, Sparklehorse, The Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers, The Blue Star Apartments, Vic Chesnutt, Peter Falk, The Knoxville Drift, The Flaming Lips
Sounds Like
"In the great tradition of US guitar bands Chris Buskey And The Lonesome Plains offer memorable melodies and intoxicating hooks all driven by layer upon layer of harmonic driven guitar pop that is instantly appealing . . . well worth tracking down." - Del Day, Americana-UK /
"Buskey writes songs that grab at the throat, heart, and soul. A classic!"- **** -Rootstime Belgium/
"Although Buskey's vocals often resemble the detached flatness of They Might Be Giants' John Linnell, these are gentle songs of wistful longing and uncomfortable self- reflection ("I'll Be Your Judas"), city lights as a metaphor for fading dreams ("Willow Street Green," "Porchlight") and nature as symbolic of freedom or at least a change from modern despairs"
-Christopher Arnott New Haven Advocate/
"The record is stellar, with a dusty alt-country sound that feels more like twangy folk than roots rock."
-Pat Ferrucci New Haven Register/
"The High Lonesome Plains brand of country rock works precisely because its so distinctive but still manages to sound innately memorable on first listen. Definitely one of the best EPs of the year so far."
-Americana UK/
"The personification of what Alt-Country surely should be. Capturing the essence of American Folk . . . and cranking it out in a manner reserved for rock idols." -Gary Vollano, Independisc.com/
"Neil Young and Crazy Horse meets Big Star with catchy, clever lyrics."
-Rob DeRosa, WESU
In an age of focus group driven corporate rock super conglomerates and one-dimensional American Idols, the High Lonesome Plains' 2002 EP Songs for Young Lovers was a proverbial "little train that could." Released on the upstart independent HMG record label, with an initial printing of fewer than 1000 copies, Songs for Young Lovers managed to breach the airwaves and reap critical praise on four continents. Renowned Australian music journalist and Laughing Outlaw record label founder Stuart Coupe proclaimed it "the most exciting thang to arrive in the mail for ages," while Americana-UK called it nothing less than "one of the best EPs of the year." The EP's lead track "Brass Ring (Nothing Lasts)" appeared on Magnet Magazine's New Music Sampler (35,000 copies) which garnered the band even more airplay across the US and abroad, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Sweden, and Brazil - not bad for a four song EP recorded mostly live, on a shoestring budget.
The River and the Sea is the long-awaited full-length album from a band that's been compared to such giants as Big Star, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, the Jayhawks, and the Only Ones. The album comprises eleven new songs about love, loss, fear, strength, hope and redemption, penned by singer/songwriter Chris Buskey. Picking up where Songs for Young Lovers" left off, it represents a significant step forward. And while the music business isn't any tamer than it was a few years ago, Chris Buskey and the High Lonesome Plains remain undaunted, and unvanquished. Like a train that keeps on rolling "
the Freewheelin Chris Bousquet's Friend Space (Top 16)
Thank you for the request. Cold Day seems to be a Connecticut favorite. No other states writes as much about that one. Must be the weather :) Anyway, we hope to come play it there soon!
Hi, Chelsea- Great! I didn't know that you like photography. Marc loves it when people ask him for advice: marchickmanphotography.com (blatant plug!) I hope I get to see you guys sometime. Much love, Rebecca
I see that you guys are Cracker fans, too. Check out my new book review series on the Hickman/LeRoy Songbook site: http://www.myspace.com/thejohnnyhickmanchrisleroysongbook Have a peaceful MLK Day. Rebecca
Thank you CB for the kind words and for watching! The BI show was a blast to do. Keep your eyes open for us going into 08, and I will see ya on the fifth Thursday @ TNEBS...Wishing you all the best and to...Stay Floatin'!
