The Planets at Don Hills - October 12, 2007

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I first saw the Planets at CBGBs back in 1976 or 1977, and probably saw them at various clubs between then and 1980. I spent untold sums on vinyl every payday at Sounds Records on St. Marks Place, in NYC's East Village (Planets guitarist/singer Binky Phillips owned Sounds).

In 1976 I was a teenager from the suburbs who was sick of hearing The Eagles, Jethro Tull, and the Grateful Dead, and had been for years. A few years prior to 1976, several things had happened to me. I had seen Lance Loud on "An American Family", and I knew suburbia was the last place I wanted to be. Around the same time, I had a brief infatuation with Blue Oyster Cult (a band that absolutely none of my friends liked), and then I heard the first Dictactors album, "Dictators Go Girl Crazy". Not long after that, I heard the first Ramones record, and my life changed forever.

Of course, I ended up boarding a Greyhound bus for 36 hour trip to San Francisco rather than just getting on a local Red & Tan lines bus to Port Authority (maybe 15-20 minutes?). Anyway, I couldn't stay away from NYC...and when I returned I knew where I was headed...the Bowery! I had been to several shows the year before (Talking Heads, The Ramones).

One of the first bands I saw was Binky Phillips and the Planets. Somehow I had never gotten tired of hearing The Kinks, The Who, The Small Faces (at least in their 60s incarnations) and when I saw the Planets, I knew I had found something.

Cut to 30 years later, my good friend Phil Solomon (who knows I love live music) invites me to a show at Don Hills. "Not sure if you would know who they are, but I'm singing for a little cover band called the Planets" says Phil.

"The Planets???? As in Binky Phillips, Tal Taliaferrow???!!!! Lois Lane???!!!" I couldn't miss this...I mean, how many times had I googled "binky phillips" to find out what he had been up to? Anyway, I showed up at Don Hills, and was definitely not disappointed.

Since then, I've been back to see the Planets at Don Hills a number of times. They don't do any more originals, but they are NOT A COVER BAND...the are and UNDERCOVER BAND!!!! They put their own spin some incredible songs from the 60s and 70s. They do a kick ass version of "The Train Kept a Rollin". When I heard the cry "Genzale, Genzale...anybody seen Genzale" I knew what was coming...a version of Johnny Thunders (and the New York Dolls) Chatterbox that Johnny would have been rocking to himself.

I'm hoping Binky starts promoting the Planets again...they were (and are) just too good to be playing to 30-40 people early on a Friday night. I'd also love to be able to find out just when they are playing...c'mon Binky...start putting together an email list! Right now I have to rely on Phil Solomon giving me a call 3 days before a gig.

The current lineup of The Planets is Binky Phillips (guitar and vocals), School of Rock's Desmond Sullivan (guitar and vocals), Jim Wiseman on bass, and 1970s era Dictator Richie Teeter (drums). If you like your powerpop hard, fast and scientific, the look out for the Planets.