MUSIC: Fugazi, Pixies, Guided by Voices, Pavement, Captain Beefheart, Lucinda Williams, Tom Waits, Willie Nelson, Talking Heads, Johnny Cash, Solomon Burke, Ray Charles, Breeders, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Pogues, (early) Weezer, Shudder to Think, Calexico, Brian Wilson, Steve Albini, 60's Garage, early American roots.
WORDS: Shane McGowan, Nick Cave, Bukowski, Kerouac, National Geographic (Nati G), Mother Jones, Tavis Smiley, Paul Auster, urban planning, social justice.
The Plains are no more. No big drama, no drug addictions, no pure hatred for one another. Just time to call it a day. THANK YOU for everything!
**Future projects: Aaron is currently drumming and writing for an un-named project yet to debut. Jon is drumming and writing for a new project, Marmot vs. Mammoth, debut EP to be released soon. Josh is painting like an inspired madman, getting tattoos, and mastering his beer brewing skills.
Review From Seattle Sound Magazine, August 2006
The Plains: The Boy in the Mansuit
Possibly Seattle’s least apathetic songwriter, Aaron A. Semer risks the house with almost every song on The Plains’ second self-released album. His informed takes on societal ills and personal afflictions come from the same dark place; his enraged civic discourses balance with more poetic, private reflections. The real story, though, is this album’s robust roots sound: The Plains switch between Crazy Horse fury and panoramic pedal steel worthy of Uncle Tupelo. A relentless, superior album. (PAUL PEARSON)
Bio:
Over three years in the making, The Plains have finally completed their much anticipated sophomore effort, The Boy in the Mansuit. This album finds them in more adventurous territory than their critically acclaimed debut, often leaving traditional song structure behind and opting instead to follow the lead of Semer's increasingly eccentric and cynical lyrics. Thematically, the album deals with growing into adulthood in a world controlled by overgrown children, and attempting to find love, honor, truth, and loyalty in the midst of this chaos. "Deep beneath our ribs and lungs, there's a beating heart that controls our tongues," Semer sings in The Heart is Stupid but the Heart is True, a song that lampoons traditional religion and relationships while championing the power of the heart.
Since forming the band over four years ago, Aaron Semer, Jonathan Kilian, and Joshua Atkins have not only grown as musicians, but become best friends. In addition to their musical bond, The Plains have gone through their mid-20s together, witnesses in one another's lives to marriage, relationships, mental break-downs, touring, family members sent to war, and death. Furthering their friendship, all three are social workers, and their passionate humanism is felt throughout the album without becoming preachy or clichéd. Their lack of line-up changes have given them the confidence and focus to eschew the trappings of genre, working in a variety of musical styles that somehow always sound like The Plains.
While their debut album was almost entirely performed by Semer, The Boy in the Mansuit is a collaborative effort. It is also a primarily home-recorded effort. Half of the basic tracks were recorded by John Randolph (The Cops, Kinski) in his living room. The rest was recorded by Semer in The Plains' practice space. The album was mixed at Seattle's Red Room by Ben Verellen (Roy, Mastodon).
A fun show last night! Thanks for letting me kick the jams out with you on your final set. Greatest version of AT A PARTY ever. We need to figure out how to get that video uploaded! XO, MT
The Plains rock! low-fi from Boise, ID. will be in Seattle playing two shows next Saturday April 19th! Silver Platters in Queen Anne @ 7pm and a bar called 'Solo' @ 200 Roy St, show starts @ 8:30pm! Hope you can make it! :)
Calling all denizens of the Emerald City! MERCURIUS plays the High Dive tomorrow night 4/2 for New Music Monday, and we need you. Sick, isn't it? Well, as musicians, we're used to groveling. :) Our set is at 10 and we play 45 minutes. Be there if you can. And if you're a musician bring CDs, cuz it's an industry night and you can peddle your hooey to booking agents! THANKS
Yo come check out some new music from LaRue and Rising Sun. "Black Image" and "I'm doin Bad" Feat. Shay. Thanks for the support! Leave a comment and tell me your honest opion. Peace........
