Plastic Parachute

Workingsnug Review:

Plastic Parachute rolled into Southern California for the second time on their cross country tour. After two months on the road, including four shows in the last four days, and another month to go, you would think the band would be taking it easy this late into the tour. However, this is a band that has been on the road for the better part of two years playing nonstop. This night they landed in San Diego at a venue called Lestats.

The night started out with a solo artist named Jordan Reimer. With only an acoustic guitar and her mature voice she managed to capture the crowd. A very impressive feat considering she is only 15 and has only been playing live for a little over a year. With many girls her age hanging out at a mall or watching some crap TV like "The Hills" and embracing soulless MTV manufactured music, it is a relief to find someone her age embracing real music with heart. You can check her out at jordanreimer.com.

It was then Plastic Parachute's turn to take the stage. Right off the bat they kicked into a high energy set featuring music from their latest album "Elephants and Giraffes." With a little unintentional irony their first song was "Four Alarm Fire" (considering they were playing San Diego). The crowd was into them from the first note. Lead singer Deb Hooks had the crowd captivated with her unique blend of endless energy and style.

The band has wholly developed as onstage performers as well. With the addition of a new guitar player, Adam F., and lead guitar player Ricky Brewer pulling double duty on keyboard, they seemed to have found their formula for success. We also can't forget Clint Johnson banging away on drums and Michael Angelo holding his own on bass.

They've really come a long way in 3 years, going from a straight-up Powerpop band to incorporating elements of Pop, Indie, Dance and even a little Punk for good measure. It seems that no matter where they play or to how many people, Plastic Parachute will always give you 100% at their shows. Their "Elephants and Giraffes" tour runs through mid-December. For tour dates and all things Plastic Parachute check out their Myspace page.



- Working Snug Music Review

Plastic Parachute Soars at the Mint
Amy Talaska

Finally a band that breaks the mold! There are so many 80’s sound alike bands taking over the airwaves, it’s refreshing to hear something new and original for a change. I first discovered this band for myself this weekend at the Los Angeles Pride Festival where they got to play with such artists as Debbie Harry, Cece Peniston, Lucy Lawless, and so many more. I was so impressed by their performance there that I had to catch the show Sunday night at The Mint just to get one more dose of their music before they hit the road for Denver.
The Mint is such an intimate venue that no matter where you sit it feels like you are in the front row. It’s also one of the few venues out there where you can catch a talking flower walking around. The drinks are really strong, the sound system there is great, and the performers are nothing short of amazing. What more could you ask for in a concert venue?
Deb Hooks is the lead vocalist of Plastic Parachute and she creates a new personification of sexy. Her stage presence and moves are enough to make even a straight girl, such as myself, turn her head. Her amazing energy can only be compared to Gwen Stefani. The rest of the band played a flawless, tight set two nights in a row. Most bands sound great on their cd but live can never match up. Plastic Parachute sounds incredible on their recording and somehow manages to sound even more amazing live! This is all contributed to the talent of Ricky Brewer on guitar, Clint Johnston on drums, Michael Angelo Brewer on bass, along with the raw vocals of Deb Hooks. Watching this band play I was transformed for a moment thinking I must be at the Universal Amphitheater or Long Beach Arena. I had to pinch myself just to make sure I was really seeing a band with more talent than the majority of the main stream bands of today at such a small venue as The Mint. The overall sound and performance of this band exceeds any other band on their level. It’s no wonder their music has been featured on MTV’s programming for shows such as The Osbournes, The Newlyweds, and The Ashley Simpson Show.
It’s only going to be a short time longer that you can still catch a band of this caliber playing at intimate venues such as The Mint so you better hurry while there is still a chance! The next show you can catch them at is The Cat Club on July 30th at 8pm. Also, to check out their sound you can visit www.plasticparachute.com or www.myspace.com/plasticparachute. I’ll see you at the next show! - Rock City News - L.A.

Parachute Interviewed - February 2007

Plastic Parachute are the best band I've heard so far in 2007. Hailing from America they play some excellent Power Pop tunes that just blow you away. After being impressed by Plastic Parachute I sent them off and interview and here's what they had to say for themselves.


Street Voice: Can you introduce Plastic Parachute to the world and tell our readers who plays what in the band?

Plastic Parachute is:

Ricky Brewer ..lead guitar, keyboards & backing vocals..

Clint Johntson, Drummer

Deb Hooks, Vocals

MichaelAngelo Brewer: Bass & backing vocals

Brian Lewis: Rhythm Guitar

Street Voice: How did you think up of the name Plastic Parachute for the band? Has it any significance to any of the band members?

Deb's dad was in the 82nd Airborne, so it started with her fascination of parachutes etc...but it grew into something more. We've decided we're much like a Plastic Parachute in the fact that we are very fragile at first sight...but when the chips are down?? We're strong as steal & can weather most anything. Mainly just meaning we're much more solid than our name or a first glance might suggest.

Street Voice: So how long have you been going as a band and how did you all meet?

Going on 3 years now...we are all childhood friends from a very small town in Oklahoma. We started the journey in Oklahoma, then moved to Denver, CO, then on to the road for a year. Then we landed in Los Angeles. We're currently in Kansas (for the next 5 months) living in an huge old Victorian House writing music for our new album & we're truly inspired out here. Not many interruptions here and we don't really know anyone, so it's just write write write. A beautiful thing.

Street Voice: You've opened for some huge acts like Blondie, The Go-Go's and Nelly Furtado so how did you go down with their fans?

We're such a LIVE ACT band. Total hams...absolutely adore the spotlight. We can say with all honesty that if you are present at our show? We're GONNA get you. It's our mission. All of our openers have been pure joy. Every Single One.





Street Voice: I believe you have an album and ep out so can you give the readers a little information about them and where they can be purchased from?

We have just released a new version of our Ep "SWELL" with Bonus Trax. It will be available at amazon.com & at cdbaby.com Feb. 23rd. A very popular record with the singles HOUDINI & One Greta Garbo Love on the playlist...including five more tunes. We are currently working on our Full Length album & it is set for release in mid summer. (This Record is going to make you want to tattoo Plastic Parachute on your forehead & dance the watoosie with your neighbors in your front yard) We will be recording in LA with the phenomenal producer Dave Darling & we cannot wait.

Street Voice: After being recognised with certain awards like 'Best Female Fronted Band' do you sometimes feel disillusioned that things maybe aren't moving fast enough for you?

We have always been musicians for the pure joy of writing music, recording music & Playing LIVE. It is our passion. The lifeblood of who we are. We think it's all going just as planned & we are absolutely loving the journey. (the scenery never looked nicer)

Street Voice: With so many female artists/bands posing in naked and semi-naked poses have you ever thought about doing something similar? Or is this something you feel would have a detrimental effect on the band?

We have thought about having Clint dress up in a bikini to boost record sales, but so far he has declined. ;o) No seriously, whenever you are a female fronted band the sex card is always going to be there. We've really just stayed true to ourselves & our music & deb's a very classy chick who worships vintage icons and Audrey Hepburn. Can't really imagine Audrey Hepburn naked on a cd cover..hmmmm So maybe that answers your question??

Street Voice: So who writes the lyrics to the band and where do they get their influence from?

Deb is the writer of all Plastic Parachute lyrics. Her influences most normally come from personal experience, but she's also a big conversationalist. She's the one chitchatting with strangers on the bus. She gains a lot of perspective from other people's stories.





Street Voice: You all look as if you are a fun band so any good stories regards drunken behaviour you'd like to share with our readers?

We have a TON of broken down on the roadside stories if you want those?? We've had so many near fatal accidents, concussions, blowouts, You name it. We've probably been through it. It's never been an easy ride for The'Chutes...but like we said, we always seem to land it ok. (tougher than we look) OH and Deb accidentally burned down the house kitchen this year, so that was a bust. We have the most amazing & forgiving Landlord on the planet & Deb will no longer be preparing ChimiChangas.

Street Voice: You're the - The Street Voice UK

Deb Hooks has a sassy little girl voice laced with an edge & a lot of attitude. When she lets it loose and wails it takes on a deeper timbre and increased maturity as in the intro to "Tickle Me". Fans of Reel Big Fish, Early Madonna & Early No Doubt as well as The Dance Hall Crashers should find Plastic Parachute to be the perfect addition to their music collections. - South of Mainstream

Plastic Parachute is one of the best new bands to hit the Denver Scene in a long while. A strong sounding band with honest potential to take their act to the top. Lead singer, Deb Hooks, has it all. Her exciting stage presence is captivating. She has the voice, the look, and the style of an MTV superstar. PP is a force to be reckoned with. - Colorado Music Association

OH my, I think I'm listening to a HIT!! Dinero by Plastic Parachute has great chord selection. Love the use of harmonics in this song. Interesting female vocals over a driving beat and driving guitars. An emo feel to it that I really dig. Great prechorus and great lyrics! - Garageband.com

PLASTIC PARACHUTE IS AMPLIFIED

(From AMPLIFIED section of AmplifierMagazine.com)

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

- Amplifier Magazine 11/ 2007

Review from AMAZON.com
THE ZEITGFEST July 2007

Well now, the US college rock fraternity are going to love this! It's as if Plastic Parachute were genetically engineered to meet the programming requirements of college radio. Quirky, pop tunes - check, cute chick singer (we know it's sexist but there are a lot of virgins out there in indie land) - check, bloke with glasses and a hat - check, the ability to go from bouncy No Doubt tunes to introspective Kirstin Hersh type tunes - check. Everything is in place to ensure at least a decades worth of gigs on the circuit if they can get heard in the right places, and the songs, attitude and the look all seem to be right on the mark.
http://www.myspace.com/plasticparachute - AMAZON.COM

From UK STREET VOICE MAGAZINE 2007

Plastic Parachute is the best band I've heard so far in 2007. Hailing from America they play excellent Power Pop tunes that just blow you away. After being impressed by Plastic Parachute I sent them off and interview and here's what they had to say for themselves.

Plastic Parachute is:
Ricky Brewer ..lead guitar, keyboards & backing vocals..
Clint Johntson, Drummer
Deb Hooks, Vocals
MichaelAngelo Brewer: Bass & backing vocals

Street Voice: How did you think up the name Plastic Parachute for the band? Has it any significance to any of the band members?

Deb's dad was in the 82nd Airborne, so it started with her fascination of parachutes etc...but it grew into something more. We've decided we're much like a Plastic Parachute in the fact that we are very fragile at first sight...but when the chips are down?? We're strong as steal & can weather most anything. Mainly just meaning we're much more solid than our name or a first glance might suggest.

Street Voice: So how long have you been going as a band and how did you all meet?

Going on 3 years now...we are all childhood friends from a very small town in Oklahoma. We started the journey in Oklahoma, then moved to Denver, CO, then on to the road for a year. Then we landed in Los Angeles. We're currently in Kansas (for the next 5 months) living in an huge old Victorian House writing music for our new album & we're truly inspired out here. Not many interruptions here and we don't really know anyone, so it's just write write write. A beautiful thing.

Street Voice: You've opened for some huge acts like Blondie, The Go-Go's and Nelly Furtado so how did you go down with their fans?

We're such a LIVE ACT band. Total hams...absolutely adore the spotlight. We can say with all honesty that if you are present at our show? We're GONNA get you. It's our mission. All of our openers have been pure joy. Every Single One.

Street Voice: I believe you have an album and ep out so can you give the readers a little information about them and where they can be purchased from?

We have just released a new version of our Ep "SWELL" with Bonus Trax. It will be available at amazon.com & at cdbaby.com Feb. 23rd. A very popular record with the singles HOUDINI & One Greta Garbo Love on the playlist...including five more tunes. We are currently working on our Full Length album & it is set for release in mid summer. (This Record is going to make you want to tattoo Plastic Parachute on your forehead & dance the watoosie with your neighbors in your front yard) We will be recording in LA with the phenomenal producer Dave Darling & we cannot wait.

Street Voice: After being recognised with certain awards like 'Best Female Fronted Band' do you sometimes feel disillusioned that things maybe aren't moving fast enough for you?

We have always been musicians for the pure joy of writing music, recording music & Playing LIVE. It is our passion. The lifeblood of who we are. We think it's all going just as planned & we are absolutely loving the journey. (the scenery never looked nicer)

Street Voice: With so many female artists/bands posing in naked and semi-naked poses have you ever thought about doing something similar? Or is this something you feel would have a detrimental effect on the band?

We have thought about having Clint dress up in a bikini to boost record sales, but so far he has declined. ;o) No seriously, whenever you are a female fronted band the sex card is always going to be there. We've really just stayed true to ourselves & our music & deb's a very classy chick who worships vintage icons and Audrey Hepburn. Can't really imagine Audrey Hepburn naked on a cd cover..hmmmm So maybe that answers your question??

Street Voice: So who writes the lyrics to the band and where do they get their influence from?

Deb is the writer of all Plastic Parachute lyrics. Her influences most normally come from personal experience, but she's also a big conversationalist. She's the one chitchatting with strangers on the bus. She gains a lot of perspective from other people's stories.

Street Voice: You all look as if you are a fun band so any good stories regards drunken behaviour you'd like to share with our readers?

We have a TON of broken down on the roadside stories if you want those?? We've had so many near fatal accidents, concussions, blowouts, You name it. We've probably been through it. It's never been an easy ride for The'Chutes...but like we said, we always seem to land it ok. (tougher than we look) OH and Deb accidentally burned down the house kitchen this year, so that was a bust. We have the most amazing & forgiving Landlord on the planet & Deb will no longer be preparing ChimiChangas.

Street Voice: You're the best band I've heard so far in 2007 so what plans have you to get a bigger name for yourselves in 2007?

Why, Thank You!! That means a lot to us & we appreciate your encouragement. - UK Street Voice Magazine