Southern California's Phantom Planet probably will never be considered as just a bunch of guys who play catchy rock music. That's what they do, of course. But to some, they'll always be the band that Rushmore star Jason Schwartzman left and to everybody else, they'll always be the band behind "California," the theme song from The O.C. (California ... here we come! Right back where we started from!)
They are a band that was born into and has thrived in celebrity culture. Bassist Sam Farrar's dad wrote Olivia Newton John's "You're The One That I Want." Front man Alex Greenwald appeared in Gap commercials. It's easy to write Phantom Planet off as privileged pretty boys, but they do create propulsive songs that demand your attention. Their latest album, self-titled, sounds like Guided by Voices channeling the Cure and Social Distortion.
Phantom Planet seems intent on playing stripped-down rock music influenced by every goddamn thing they've ever heard. They are the type of guys who mix punk and post-punk, pop and power pop, without caring what the difference is.
"We literally listen to anything," Farrar says. "We take as much different shit as possible and try to interpret it in our own way."
When I ask Farrar who he's going to check out after his band plays the massive Coachella Valley Music Festival in Indio, California, this weekend, he mentions noise band Erase Errata, punk-funkers !!!, indie hip-hop act Prefuse 73 and garage rockers the Black Keys. (Bet you a Jamba Juice his record collection is more diverse than yours.)
Of course, there are thousands of kids who probably will never listen to any of this stuff but will still pay $20 to listen to Phantom Planet perform "California."
"We had a phase where we got iffy about playing 'California'," Farrar says. "We don't want to become a theme-song band, but now we've sort of incorporated it into our sound." Phantom Planet now plays a more energetic version of the sunny song, with clapping and stomping reminiscent of Queen's "We Will Rock You."
But if all you know Phantom Planet for is one song, the rest of the set might seem like a big mood swing, and the band is happy to throw down this surprise.
"We hook them in with one song and then get them addicted to the others," Farrar says. "And a lot of fans don't just come for one song. We get louder screams for some of the songs on our new record than we do for 'California'."
On many songs, Greenwald broods, feels guilty and ponders the meaning of it all in ways that might seem a bit rich coming from a former model. Phantom Planet's latest album isn't cohesive in the same way that life isn't cohesive. Your thought processes get jumbled. You get mad, ecstatic and sad—sometimes in a span of seconds, or all at once.
On "Making a Killing," Greenwald sings: "One day you could find yourself suddenly / Underneath a guillotine / You'll have to answer up for / What you want and what that means / That's the difference between / Breaking the bank and / Just breaking even."
If you're rolling your eyes, know that there are also moments where the band gets it just right. "By the Bed" could be one of Bright Eyes' best songs. It's earnest and emotional and simultaneously naïve and knowing: "I tried, but no, I could not stand / I touched her with a trembling hand / I choked / I could not say goodbye."
Phantom Planet's anguish sounds real because it sounds like pain experienced by people who also know how to smile.
"We have so much California and Beach Boys in us," Farrar says. "It sounds cheesy, but we're just happy kids. We had a good time growing up in California."
It does sound cheesy coming out of his mouth, but it doesn't seem cheesy at all when you hear the proof every Wednesday night. Rock on.