Plum Crazy
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Plum Crazy

Petaluma, California, United States

Petaluma, California, United States
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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Going Crazy - The Argus Courier"

Going Crazy The five-member band Plum Crazy may have only been together a year, but they're already creating a stir with the release of their self-titled debut CD, concerts all over the county and airplay on The Crush radio station. On Jan. 14, the band will be opening for Garaj Mahal at the Mystic Theater. "We have large aspirations," said Plum Crazy vocalist Shawna Anderson. "We have the typical dream of being picked up by a large record label. We're interested in becoming popular enough so that people are approaching us and offering us deals. At the same time though, we're not going to stop playing if it doesn't happen." - Yovanna Bieberich, Argus Courier


"The Santa Rosa Press Democrat"

They say every person has a doppelganger somewhere in the world. A bizzaro, a lost twin. Bands are no different. Take for instance, Plum Crazy. In Santa Rosa they're known as an extremely talented jam band that hooked up in 2001 when guitarist/vocalist Josh Yenne and drummer Skip Urmson first jammed. Vocalist Shawna Anderson hopped aboard, along with bassist Greg Garvey and keyboardist Dan Zemelman, and they've drawn a loyal following in Sonoma County and beyond. Relix magazine just named them as one of the "five of the best unsigned bands in the country" as part of the Jamoff Showcase 2005. But, say Plum Crazy on the East coast and you're talking about a rowdy former cover band that likes to play hard and loud... - John Beck, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat


"Northeast InTune online magazine"

I’m going to spare you the lofty, abstract and most likely unnecessary introduction to this review and get right to the point. I was told to review the band Plum Crazy. Knowing full well that jam music is slightly out of my jurisdiction musically (seeing as the only band of this nature I have ever really looked into is Phish), I still decided to take on this band as a general objective observer of the musical landscape. And I have to say, these guys are damn good. Maybe even great. I was ready to write them off as Phish wannabe’s within the first 30 seconds. I decided to give the band the benefit of the doubt seeing as Phish and String Cheese Incident are my only real frames of reference here. I listened to Plum Crazy’s 3 press kit songs over and over and re thought my trite and lazy analysis of the band. These guys don’t sound like Phish at all, they are far more dynamic. With both a female (Shawna Anderson) and 2 male singers to round out the three part harmonies (Josh Yenne + Dan Zemelman) these guys can do anything they want vocally. And in surprising fashion, they do. Plum Crazy is not content to sit within the cozy confines of a major chord progression for an entire song. Take the song “Santa Cruz Tale.” Sure, they will lull you into a false sense of security with their opening few minutes of a song. Give it some time… the song splits off into a crazy minor-keyed jazz free wheel, complete with bebop-esque singing care of Anderson, a smooth, savvy walking bass line played by bassist Greg Garvey and a distorted pentatonic solo on guitar followed by a piano/synth effect section courtesy of Yenne and Zemelman, respectively. Drummer Skip Urmson lays down a bluesy, brushy sounding backbeat and serves as the perfect compliment to the multitalented group.

            This band has chops. But the best part about Plum Crazy is their ability to write songs. My biggest problem with so many jam bands is that the moderately talented members let their one super talented member riff and solo until the morning light. Plum Crazy knows that they are talented and they each can do what they do well, but they know how to blend their happy, bouncy songs into tight, 3 to 5 minute jazz escapes or one significant, dark, organ based outro with Anderson ’s soaring yet light melody carrying the song further into the distance. I don’t know if these guys are huge yet among the college party going, pot smoking, frisbee tossing scene, but they certainly should be and then some. Buy Plum Crazy’s self-titled album from www.cdbaby.com and if you aren’t happy at first, then just give yourself a few years, you’ll come around eventually. - Bret Silverberg, Northeast InTune online magazine


"Plum Crazy"

Well gosh, see, here's what happened...so I gathered my extra-plush writer's stationary and my favorite quill pen and then put on my aiwa headphones to listen to plum crazy and write my typical brilliant discursive prose, describing the music's roots and blend of jazz and pop stylings with bluegrass licks, funky beats and, of course, to consider its context within the highly diverse field of contemporary jam-band music, and how that music reflects a growing trend towards, well you know....but then, all of a sudden, my feet started tapping...and my hips started swiveling, and my fingers started popping, and my head started bobbing around on my neck like a rubber ducky in rough water, and before I knew it my writing implements had cascaded from my lap into a pile on the floor and I was shaking my groove thing all night long. - Jeff Conant, Lip Magazine


"Owlmag.com"

"A composite of skillful studio work and flawlessly performed live tracks, Plum Crazy's self-titled debut album is a lively representation of the band's broad and colorful pallet of musical style. The band's sound, a groove and jam-based melting pot of American sensibility that incorporates rock, funk, bluegrass and well, you know, practically everything in between, is as magnetic as it is danceable. These are clearly talented and versatile musicians, all of which are active participants in an ever-evolving rhythmic scheme that seems to have a mind of its own. But the piano, guitars, drums and sensuous vocals of Shawna Anderson all blend into an organic sound that fits right into warm summer evening gatherings, microbrews on tap, and smoke in the air. These are tunes for fans of all genres that appreciate expressive style, intuitive musicianship, and most of all, a band that just makes your feet move."

Joel Doss - The Owlmag.com


"Kynd Music"

By Dave Terpeny

I’ve decided to start the DC Music Exchange. This will function much like the New York Stock exchange except that it will focus entirely on independent unsigned jam bands. My main role in the DCME will be to advise potential investors as to which bands they should put their money on in order to make a positive cash return as the band grows.

I figure I’ll base whether or not to recommend a band on several factors:

• Can they write tight, memorable and original songs that appeal to a broad audience both within and outside of the jam scene?
• Do they have musical chops to pull of a unique musical vision?
• Are they hungry, do they tour and tour and tour and promote?

If all three elements are there, then I would recommend a band. I mean, a band with all three prerequisites could well move on to unimagined heights of success.

Following my logic then one of the first bands I would recommend to an investor would be San Francisco’s Plum Crazy. Consisting of Josh Yenne (guitars, vocals), Shawna Anderson (vocals), Greg Garvey (bass), Skip Urmson (drums) and Dan Zemelman (keys, vocals) they exceed the above criteria by a long shot.

With a blend of jam-happy music, jazz fusion funk, alt country, soulful vocals, sweet two-part harmonies and mad song-writing skills that create hypnotizing melodies, they have the potential to go as far as they want. Add to that a schedule that, according to their website, will “triple that (2004’s) figure in 2005” and you have an imminent new super group.

But it really all depends on you, the reader and jam fan. So, on behalf of the DCME and Plum Crazy, I implore you to check this band out. Buy their CD, go to their shows, pick up a t-shirt and tell your friends. Get on board now before these 5 stellar musicians are forced to hide behind a wall of security. I can’t stress this last part enough. Their autographs will be worth something one day.
- Kynd Music


Discography

Plum Crazy - E.P. Phone Home - 2007

Plum Crazy - Self Titled debut album - 2005

Find streaming music and video on Plum Crazy's myspace site:

http://www.myspace.com/plumcrazymusic

and on their website:

http://www.plumcrazymusic.com

as well as on CD Baby:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/pcrazymusic

Live Shows can be found at:

http://www.archive.org

Radio Stations Going Plum Crazy:

---- SIRIUS Satellite Radio Play
---- WSMU 91.1 FM at U Mass Dartmouth
---- KWMR 90.5 FM in Marin
---- KZYX 88.3/90.7/91.5 FM in Mendocino
---- KHUM 104.7/104.3 FM in Humboldt
---- KMUD 91.1/88.3/90.3 FM in Humboldt
---- KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles
---- JPR in Ashland Oregon and Beyond
---- KMBY 103.9 FM in Santa Cruz
---- KZSC 88.1 FM in Santa Cruz
---- KCSB 91.9 FM in Santa Barbara
---- small WORLD to podcast from San Diego
---- The KRUSH 95.9/95.5 FM in Santa Rosa
---- KVMR 89.5 FM Nevada City, 105.1 FM in Truckee

More Coming Soon...

Photos

Bio

When asked to describe Plum Crazy’s music, people often find difficulty mustering the words. Perhaps the song, Blade of Grass sums it up best with “I’ve got funk in my soul, bluegrass on my mind…” and later “I’ve got blues in my soul, reggae on my mind...” With five songwriters, the music explores a wide gamut of styles bound to a common groove that is prevalent in all their songs, bridging the gap between jam and pop.

“This band has chops. But the best part about Plum Crazy is their ability to write songs....”
-NorthEast In-Tune (now Indie In-Tune).

“… a blend of jam-happy music, jazz fusion funk, alt country, soulful vocals, sweet two-part harmonies and mad song-writing skills that create hypnotizing melodies…”
-KyndMusic

“These are clearly talented and versatile musicians, all of which are active participants in an ever-evolving rhythmic scheme that seems to have a mind of its own.”
-The Owl Mag

The seed was planted for Plum Crazy when vocalist Shawna Anderson and Josh Yenne (guitar) started writing songs and singing together back in 2000. When Josh met drummer Skip Urmson, the three sought to form a band with their unique vision. After some lineup changes, likeminded musicians were found in Daniel Savio (keys) and Justin Hellman (bass) who bring years of classical and jazz experience and more great songwriting.

Plum Crazy has been wowing audiences throughout Northern California and Hawaii. Radio stations all along California and nationwide have been spinning Plum Crazy’s debut album, as has Sirius Radio’s Jam On channel. In 2005, Plum Crazy won Relix magazine’s JamOff, where they traveled to NYC to play in the JamOff Showcase. Plum Crazy has had the pleasure to share the stage with many great acts, including Tea Leaf Green, Garaj Mahal, The Motet, The Mother Hips, Melvin Seals & JGB, and David Nelson (NRPS), among others.

With recording underway for their second release, Plum Crazy continues to garner new fans at their unique live shows. Knowing how to effectively mix tightly composed songs and exploratory improvisation into a set is a hallmark of this band. As one reviewer puts it “…I implore you to check this band out. Buy their CD, go to their shows, pick up a t-shirt and tell your friends. Get on board now before these five stellar musicians are forced to hide behind a wall of security.”