There will always be bands whose job it is to help lead people into the dark centre of punk rock, and there will always exist a need for them. Denver-based Planes Mistaken For Stars have sculpted a record designed to consume that void whole with their latest effort, Up In Them Guts, yet they remain aware of the different paths people may take to get there.
"Not everyone's born with good taste. You have to start somewhere. Even if you buy your first punk rock record at Sam Goody or Best Buy, at least that opens the door," says Gared O'Donnel, one half of the band's duel vocal/guitar assault. After finishing a stint last year opening for radio punk darlings the Ataris, Planes have grown into their role as the musical equivalent of the shady older brother with a heart of gold.
"We definitely had a lot of 'deer caught in the headlights' looks going on, which is always a good thing. At the end of the day, whether that crowd hated us or fucking loved us, we still left an impression with them. For a lot of those kids, we were probably the first band they've ever seen play like we do and sound like we do. I don't mean that to sound arrogant, but it's definitely a different end of the spectrum than what most pop radio kids listen to."
Tours like that would have barely been considered a little awhile ago, as the band's ethic was merely to "jump in the van when it felt good to." These days find Planes putting far more consideration into their actions as a band, and reaping the results of being a "real band" on their own terms. "It's cool to be able to show those kids that there is a wider world of music out that than what's being shoved down your throat on MTV."
"Not everyone's born with good taste. You have to start somewhere. Even if you buy your first punk rock record at Sam Goody or Best Buy, at least that opens the door," says Gared O'Donnel, one half of the band's duel vocal/guitar assault. After finishing a stint last year opening for radio punk darlings the Ataris, Planes have grown into their role as the musical equivalent of the shady older brother with a heart of gold.
"We definitely had a lot of 'deer caught in the headlights' looks going on, which is always a good thing. At the end of the day, whether that crowd hated us or fucking loved us, we still left an impression with them. For a lot of those kids, we were probably the first band they've ever seen play like we do and sound like we do. I don't mean that to sound arrogant, but it's definitely a different end of the spectrum than what most pop radio kids listen to."
Tours like that would have barely been considered a little awhile ago, as the band's ethic was merely to "jump in the van when it felt good to." These days find Planes putting far more consideration into their actions as a band, and reaping the results of being a "real band" on their own terms. "It's cool to be able to show those kids that there is a wider world of music out that than what's being shoved down your throat on MTV."
