I bought my Red Planet shirt in early 2002 - the night my former band Billion Dollar Bastards opened up for the band at the very last night of The Blue Ox (the infamous, yet very short lived punk rock bar in east Phoenix). I havent wore the shirt in about two years. One, I gained some weight two years ago and the shirt didnt quite fit me anymore. Luckily I got my weight almost down to normal and as of yesterday had lost almost 35 pounds since 14 months ago. So now I can wear the shirts I wore years ago again, which is almost like having a new wardrobe of cool rocknroll t-shirts. Two, I was getting compliments about the shirt from several people who thought it was a tribute to some animated sci-fi television series that I have never seen before.

So, when the International Pop Overthrow Festival came to the Alley this past weekend, I thought it would be a perfect chance to break out the old threads and entice conversations from fans of the power pop genre. Red Planet actually headlined the San Francisco edition of the IPO a few years back. Although they are practically an obscure band nowadays, I didnt think I needed to go out and buy a Fountains of Wayne or Cheap Trick shirt to show my admiration of power pop bands worldwide. Red Planet were at one time one of my favrorite new bands, so I thought my effort was sincere. I wouldnt go out of my way to wear a Wu Tang Clan shirt at a hip hop show in a pathetic attempt to attract higher tips. What I own, wear, and advertise is what I live, love, and listen to. I just make an effort to coordinate certain shirts for certain nights depending on the genre of entertainment booked.

Yet last night I am pretty sure I said "they are a power pop band from San Francisco on Gearhead Records" almost as many times as I said "would you like that in bottle or draft?". 

Then again, it's not 2002 anymore. Alot of music styles have come and gone. Does anyone remember TSAR? Did anyone even notice Supergrass put a new record out last year? And what has Red Planet done since their last album We Know How It Goes was released in 2004? That's five years ago. Their website is down and their myspace page looks like it hasnt been updated in ages. Gearhead is selling off their remaining supply of  t-shirts, usually at a discount. It seems like they have all but officially announce a break-up.

That is a shame if a break-up is true. Red Planet's debut album Revolution 33 was an undiscovered hit machine of a record if I ever heard one. From the pop punk blast of "Satellite Radio" (imagine Green Day with two part harmonies) to the new wavey could-had-been-cowritten-by-Benjamin-Orr "Sensual Girl" to the celestial body of 70s glam that is "Starforce", Revolution 33 was destined to be among Gearhead Record's prized masters. It was the turn of the century and Red Planet came off like the bratty snot-nosed younger brothers of Weezer who had inspired themselves to be less difficult to figure out then their older siblings. They sung and performed like 4 boys breaking the golden rule of not having as much fun as their audience. And maybe that is why no one among the majors took notice... becuase I think mainstream rock and roll has an issue with bands who  walk and talk "happy". The corporations sell image while the actual music is a sideshow. No one from the music-buying public can relate to a man with a guitar and a sincere smile, let alone four men in their late 20s who should be worried about how they are going to pay back their student loans rather than if or not they can write a better pop record then the previous. The majors know this and that is why we are massively fed grumpy grumpertons through major media outlets. The rock can be sweet and hummable, but the face has to look it hates life as much as you do.

So if you are reading this...and you are a fan of either the power pop of old (Cheap Trick, The Kings, Rasberries) or new bands like Peachfuzz, Apples in Stereo, or any of the ones that can be discovered through the IPO website ..and you have never heard Red Planet ...then you are missing out on one of the best and most energetic bands in the genre.

Thanks to Promonet, I am able offer a free download off the stellar debut album I describe above. Check it out. If it doesn't push you to buy the whole album, then it will atleast drive your desire to hear those old Beat Angels and Birdland CDs you found in a pawnshop but havent heard in 7 years. 

Red Planet
"Satellite Radio" (mp3)
from "Revolution 33"
(Gearhead Records)

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