Owen Plant
Saint Simons, Georgia, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2014
Music
Press
The Sunshine Brothers are a Santa Barbara-based collaboration between vocalist/guitarist Owen Plant, percussionist/guitarist Christopher Tyng, and bassist Bear Erickson, backed by a full rhythm section and horns. On the whole, Live By the Sun could easily fall into the Jack Johnson school of mellow-minded musicology—but dig deeper and you’ll find an amazing array of sounds and influences (Toots and The Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, Cat Stevens, Paul Simon, James Taylor). The album flows beautifully from opener “Rum Song” to closer “Cerasse Tea,” interweaving its world beat, reggae, surf pop, and folk styles into a coherent whole. Plant’s comforting lyrics and mellifluous vocals are key to the Brothers’ Jamaica-meets-Santa Barbara simpatico, and David Crosby dug the band’s flavor so much that he lent backing vocals to the sublime “Love Again.” When all’s said and done, Live is the perfect Santa Babylon summertime record. - Santa Barbara Independent
The Sunshine Brothers are a Santa Barbara-based collaboration between vocalist/guitarist Owen Plant, percussionist/guitarist Christopher Tyng, and bassist Bear Erickson, backed by a full rhythm section and horns. On the whole, Live By the Sun could easily fall into the Jack Johnson school of mellow-minded musicology—but dig deeper and you’ll find an amazing array of sounds and influences (Toots and The Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, Cat Stevens, Paul Simon, James Taylor). The album flows beautifully from opener “Rum Song” to closer “Cerasse Tea,” interweaving its world beat, reggae, surf pop, and folk styles into a coherent whole. Plant’s comforting lyrics and mellifluous vocals are key to the Brothers’ Jamaica-meets-Santa Barbara simpatico, and David Crosby dug the band’s flavor so much that he lent backing vocals to the sublime “Love Again.” When all’s said and done, Live is the perfect Santa Babylon summertime record. - Santa Barbara Independent
Thursday, May 21, 2009
by ALY COMINGORE
GOOD DAY, SUNSHINE: It’s really no surprise that reggae rockers tend to congregate around Santa Barbara. Our laidback beach culture and collective penchant for taking things as easy as possible practically demands it. And while I myself will openly admit to not being the genre’s biggest supporter (sharing so many walls with so many die-hard Marley fans will do that to a girl), there are a select few reggae outfits I can definitely get behind. On the S.B. front, my enthusiastic thumbs up are wagging at Sunshine Brothers. Formed in 2004 by Jamaican-born lead singer Owen Plant, the Brothers have been gaining some serious steam since dropping their debut full length, Live By the Sun, last spring. Now firmly rooted in town, the seven-piece have been keeping busy playing shows all around town, including a couple jam-packed dates at SOhO. Most importantly, the band’s infectious mix of Jack Johnson-y pop melodies, Rasta riffs, and Jimmy Buffett’s sun-soaked party-loving attitude add up to something that is decidedly Santa Barbaran—without sounding forced, clichéd, or ripped off. Combine that with the guys’ fun-loving, dance-worthy live shows, and it’s no wonder Sunshine Brothers have become synonymous with having a good time. - SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT
Thursday, May 21, 2009
by ALY COMINGORE
GOOD DAY, SUNSHINE: It’s really no surprise that reggae rockers tend to congregate around Santa Barbara. Our laidback beach culture and collective penchant for taking things as easy as possible practically demands it. And while I myself will openly admit to not being the genre’s biggest supporter (sharing so many walls with so many die-hard Marley fans will do that to a girl), there are a select few reggae outfits I can definitely get behind. On the S.B. front, my enthusiastic thumbs up are wagging at Sunshine Brothers. Formed in 2004 by Jamaican-born lead singer Owen Plant, the Brothers have been gaining some serious steam since dropping their debut full length, Live By the Sun, last spring. Now firmly rooted in town, the seven-piece have been keeping busy playing shows all around town, including a couple jam-packed dates at SOhO. Most importantly, the band’s infectious mix of Jack Johnson-y pop melodies, Rasta riffs, and Jimmy Buffett’s sun-soaked party-loving attitude add up to something that is decidedly Santa Barbaran—without sounding forced, clichéd, or ripped off. Combine that with the guys’ fun-loving, dance-worthy live shows, and it’s no wonder Sunshine Brothers have become synonymous with having a good time. - SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT
Discography
We All (2007)
The Sunshine Brothers - Live by the Sun (MAY 2008)
Beach Busker (2011)
Bears Repeating (2012)
Photos
Bio
Jamaican-born troubadour Owen Plant is reminiscent of introspective singer/songwriters from the 70s and contemporary acoustic artists and incorporates his Caribbean roots on many songs. Owens strong vocals evoke the emotional depth of Cat Stevens and the soulful passion of Bob Marley and you can hear James Taylor, Paul Simon and Leonard Cohen in his guitar work and writing. He's in the same wheelhouse as artists like Martin Sexton, Amos Lee, Ray LaMontagne, Jack Johnson or Ziggy Marley love Owens stuff. Owen has toured the country over the last decade playing clubs such as historic Club Passim in Cambridge, MA and Genghis Cohen in LA. His presence as a touring artist was thrown into high gear after joining the Vans Warped Tour's Acoustic Basement Stage in 2012 and 2013.
For the most up-to-date Owen Plant music and news go to www.owenplant.net
Band Members
Links
