“Los Angeles is definitely a city of dreamers and dreams” says Plastic Parachute chanteuse Deb Hooks. “For us, it was a natural progression. We had been touring the west coast over and over and our fan base grew very quickly. It’s been a good twisted combination: raw Oklahoma down-to-earth sensibility meets the land of dreams! We dig it.”
Indeed it is a mighty long way from the Sooner state to the City of Angels - the latter of which is infamous for its "plasticity." However alternative power popsters Plastic Parachute (Hooks, guitarist Ricky Brewer, drummer Clint Johnston, and Michael Angelo on bass), friends since childhood, readily embrace their new competitive environs all for the sake of bringing their infectious blend of bravado and melody to the masses. “A small town gets boring- you pick up your guitar, write songs, and make your own backyard concerts” recalls Hooks.
After a year of living and writing together in a remote Victorian house in their adopted home base, the ‘Chute is primed to release their debut long-player Elephants & Giraffes. Capturing the fervor of their live show, the band was on-call 24/7 as not to miss the muse. “We have been referred to as ‘the most rehearsed band in Cali’ on occasion” Hooks quips. “We’re sickly perfectionist - but we never knew when inspiration was going to hit so we had to be ready. That was the deal - music first. Everything else? Well, there just wasn’t anything else!”
Though the ‘Chute in the aforementioned configuration has been in business for a scant two years, they’ve already shared stages with The Fray and Nelly Furtado and their songs have appeared on CBS, MTV, films, and Jeep/Chrysler ads.
As the modern day record industry remains in a state of flux that shows no signs of abating in the near future, the band is quite comfortable with their outsider status. “Downloading is the best thing to happen to the independent musician in a long time” Hooks preaches. “It has evened the playing field with the big leagues. Music is not hidden anymore - it’s here, it’s available! Anyone can search and discover and love whatever they choose...isn’t it about time?”
The dozen funky/poppy tracks which comprise Elephants & Giraffes exude the wide-eyed west coast zeal (dare we say Californication?) most evocative of the of new wave revivalists No Doubt, Sugar Ray and Sublime in their reckless youth. “You know the feeling?” asks Hooks with regard to the album title. “When you’ve crossed the same path so many times yet you feel invisible? Thus the line ‘I crossed your path with elephants and giraffes / and a circle full of freaks in party hats / and you say that we never met.’ It just seems to be the norm in modern society: politically, socially, economically, personal levels to professional. It seems as though everywhere we looked we saw this trend: elephants and giraffes!”
Producer Dave Darling (Brian Setzer, Joss Stone) garners praise from the band for making Elephants an artistic triumph. “A genius with rugged energy…tough” notes Hooks. “He’s the daddy of all things cool with a rock star resume. He made us dig deeper and get to the grit and core of what makes us tick. We all want to bear his love children!”
--Tom Semioli
Photo: Aaron Pung
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Plastic Parachute’s Elephants & Giraffes is available now on WIPP Records
http://www.plasticparachute.com
http://www.myspace.com/plasticparachute
