Mind Equals Blown

Rock If You Like: Planes Crash

Band: Planes Crash
Location: Riverside, CA
Releases: Planes Crash EP, Running From The Truth, Secrets EP
Website: Myspace.com/PlanesCrashRock
Rocks If You Like: A Day To Remember, 36 Crazyfists,

It came as no surprise when I ran into Josh Paschke, vocalist of Planes Crash, at the A Day To Remember/The Devil Wears Prada show in San Diego, CA.  Bearing both a physical (well, they both have beards) and musical resemblance to Josh McKinnon of ADTR, Paschke wasn’t found in the hellacious mosh pits that night.  Rather, he was leaning against the fence surrounding the sound board, watching a near perfect show from afar. He might as well have had a pad and pen in hand, the way he seemed to be studying the band.

ADTR isn’t a bad band for Planes Crash to be looking up to, as they share a similar sound.  While the Floridians behind “The Downfall of Us All” have more refined pop/rock choruses, the Californians tend to be a tad harder, leaning towards metal a tad more while maintaining the sing-alongs, such as in the featured video, “Anchors.”

Off their first, self-titled EP, the band showed a more alternative influence, with songs like “Deleted But Still Lurking” that had Top 40 Potential. “Ace” and “The United States of Dramtics” both showed great harmonies over hard rock that have become a staple of the PC sound. Available on iTunes/Zune Marketplace.

Running From The Truth, the band’s first full-length, showed the band harden their sound for a more powerful CD then their EP. “Raping The Willing” displays ever aspect listeners love about PC: strong guitar work, Josh Paschke’s unmistakable vocals, Jon’s harmony tracks, and great songwriting employing alternative, metal, and post-hardcore with great hooks. Available on iTunes.

The band’s latest release, Secrets EP, has two of the strongest PC songs to date. PunkRockVideos released the group’s first music video for the song “Anchor,” with a dantastic melodic chorus.  For the first time, we hear screamed vocals a little out of control from Paschke, and it sounds phenomenal. The way Josh screams “I hope that you’ll forgive” in the song “2003 to 2008″ should get anyone’s fist flying. This new EP is exclusively available at AboutToBreak’s Webstore.

Most of the songs listed are posted on their myspace page.

Editor’s note: I have the worst timing ever.  As of yesterday, Planes Crash has decided to call it quits.  Even still, check out their tunes.  You’ll like ‘em.

Author: Jack Appleby View Staff Page for Jack Appleby

That 6’5″ guy you curse about under your breath for standing in front of you at shows. Southern California resident (a fact my fellow MEBers tend to hate me for). Student at Hope International University, where I served two years as Editor-In-Chief of the Hope International Tribune. College basketball player (I’m losing cred by the word). Social networking connoisseur. Musically, I’m all across the board, but tend to hover around ____core and good catchy-rock. Always ready for seven hour Facebook debates on the music industry, your favorite band and anything else.