Seattle’s The Plaid Perspective Worthy of Denver’s Ear
by Charlie Sullivan
Not only do sweet sounds flow out of the Denver music scene, they leech out of other cities around country as well. I’ve been doing some work in Seattle for the past year and picked up on some local music that hooked me right away. Seattle alt rockers The Plaid Perspective are a contemporary version of some of the great emo/gothy alt bands of the 80’s. The music of The Church, The Cure, and Echo And The Bunnymen came rushing back into my head. What’s nice about the band’s music is that it’s a fresh sound built on a foundation that was constructed decades ago by some great bands but never really mined for its potential by modern artists. The Plaid Perspective pays homage to these bands in gleaming the culture and bringing a modernistic tone to the music.
The thought process for the band started in 2004-ish with primary protagonist Matt Schumacher (guitars, keys, vocals) hooking up with friend and co-worker Brian Oppel (drums, percussion) to work through some music Schumacher had been recording. As the project developed the two started recording some demo tapes together. In 2009 the band became a reality with the additions of Jesse Dosher (guitars, vocals), Daniel Foster (bass, vocals), and Kristin Welke (keyboards, vocals). With a solidified line-up it was time to go to work.
Schumacher had composed the basic structure and lyrics for several songs prior to the inception of the band. With the help of a full band they were able cultivate the music, watch the songs take on life, and become Plaid Perspective songs.
“Over time we figured out what our strengths were and what we needed to focus on with our music,” says Schumacher. “Through the process we evolved as a band.”
July 17, 2015 will see the long-anticipated release of Something Simple Out Of Sight. This is the bands first full length album and after giving it a spin, listeners are in for a treat. The band recorded all of the tracks and brought in Chris Hanzsek to master the recordings. The finished product is masterful with a dark edgy feel. The texture of the music and the layering of the sounds are surreal. As the songs play out, there’s a quiet power that builds. The vocal quality of the band adds an immeasurable depth to the music. The melodic “Flashlight Tag” bounces along with a nice upbeat pace that’ll have club goers gyrating. The soulful “Drive” will give the listener an idea of how introspective the band can be. Listeners won’t find their finger jumping to the seek button looking to the next song.
The band had been performing once or twice a month and took a little time off to finish the album. With the album out of the way they’re out playing gigs regularly and heading into a new phase of their development.
“We already have a few songs in the tank, “relays Schumacher. “We’ll work out a few more and head back into the studio to follow up this release.”
“The idea will be to maintain our direction and keep some consistency with our music,” adds Schumacher.
If you find yourself in the Seattle area look the band up. If you’re looking for some great music check out the bands album in July, it won’t disappoint.
“I realized by using the high notes of the chords as a melodic line, and by the right harmonic progression, I could play what I heard inside me. That’s when I was born.” – Charlie Parker
www.plaidperspective.bandcamp.com
Photo courtesy of Jesse Dosher
Category: Buzzworthy
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
 |
 |
