Backup Planet, a self-described Experimental Funk-Rock band out of Nashville, Tennessee, is proud to announce the release of their debut album “Element.” Backup Planet is composed of Ben Cooper (Keys/Synth/Bass/Vocals), Carson Brown (Drums/Vocals), Gavin Donati (Guitar/Vocals), and Blake Gallant (Bass/Vocals). Despite coming from Southeast USA, this band have a very distinctive sound, departing from the predictable southern-rock vibes of The Allman Bros Band and Widespread Panic. Backup Planet combines elements of metal, funk, southern rock, all masked behind the soothing vocals of the band members.
The album opens with some excellent keyboard playing from Ben Cooper, but it is the vocal work of Backup Planet that really stands out for me. The southern-rock influences shine through most via Gavin Donati’s guitar work, but as the album progresses one can really appreciate his diverse guitar work which embraces sounds all across the board, ranging from metal to funk to some acoustic work. In fact, it is Backup Planet’s all-encompassing sound that makes this band so unique. The varying sounds and tempo-changes (check out “The Road” and “The Other Side” [Tracks 4 and 7 respectively]) makes me want to label them as prog-rock meets jamband, but I think the album deserves a few more listens before I can really nail down an accurate, singular description of Backup Planet. I highly recommend for you readers to grab the album yourself to experience their amalgam of genres.
Aside from their extensive and wide-ranging sound, Backup Planet’s “Element” contains a few tracks that I wouldn’t be surprised to hear on the radio. Although the guitar is at times “in-your-face-metal”, the band’s vocal work remind me of many rock songs that have topped the Billboard Charts over the past few decades. Tracks such as Wanna Be Love (Track 3) and Seize the Day (Track 8…personal favorite of mine) will please even the most generic of music fans as well as the most jaded music vets out there. Like many bands you will find on this website, the beauty of Backup Planet’s music really shines through during their live performances; thus I urge you to go ahead and grab Backup Planet’s “Element” once it hits the shelf this weekend, and do yourself a favor and catch them at a live show. Happy Listening!
Live for Live Music: You guys seem to have an eclectic sound, clearly with an assortment of influences. What are some bands in particular that helped (or still help) influence your unique sound?
Carson Brown: Michael Jackson, Gov’t Mule, Medeski Martin & Wood, and Rage Against the Machine.
L4LM: Your album seems to fluctuate between funk and metal and prog-rock, etc. What genre/sound would you describe yourself as?
CB: We try to take songwriting elements from Tedeschi Trucks Band and the Allman Brothers Band, but if we had to describe the sound itself we describe it as high-energy experimental funk-rock. That’s a bit of a mouthful but we have a hard time describing our sound. Our live shows usually include a lot of improvisation but we also try to write songs that have a good hook.
L4LM: Any particular favorite tracks on the album?
CB: We like The Road because it is one of the few songs on the album that we wrote as a group in the current lineup. It encompasses all the different styles on the album and is the longest track. We feel like it’s the most representative of the future of our songwriting together.
L4LM: How did Backup Planet start?
CB: Ben and Gavin met at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and began playing gigs at college parties and moved to Nashville in 2013. Before Blake and I joined the band, Ben and Gavin were playing as a trio with a drummer and Ben covered bass on the moog synthesizer. I met Ben and Gavin through a mutual friend in December 2013 and joined the band in May 2014. Ben wanted to utilize all his keyboards and not necessarily be tied down playing synth bass so we reached out to Blake and he joined Backup Planet in May 2014 as well.
L4LM: Which current band/artist would you most want to collaborate with either in the studio or on stage?
CB: Both on stage or in the studio we would love to collaborate with Warren Haynes, Billy Martin, The Motet, Lettuce, Dopapod, Moon Taxi, Bruce Hornsby, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Corey Glover, Michael League, Cory Henry, and Chris Dave.
L4LM: Favorite venue that you have performed at thus far?
CB: Either the Mercy Lounge in Nashville or the International in Knoxville.
L4LM: What are your plans moving forward?
CB: Expand our touring schedule and continually push ourselves musically. We also love being in the studio and we’re already looking forward to recording our next album.
– Ben Fortgang