Artist Spotlight: The Planks

By: August Spencer

If they aren’t playing the show you’re at, they’re in the crowd next to you. Greer-based alt-punk outfit The Planks has been hitting a stride that’s on track to take the Upstate into 2022. With their year-end show at Ground Zero slouching towards us (and COVID booster shots being extremely available), it’s time to get in on their old stuff and out to see what’s new.

The only song available on their Bandcamp page is their first single, “Trash Can”, which released last year with a different band composition, in this go-round showcasing Brian’s vocals while ultimately cementing The Planks’ aptitude for driving progressions that move a head-bob into a full-body feel. My car’s weatherproof mats aren’t fire-rated as ashtrays (though work just fine at catching crumbs and regrets), so I flick the embers to the wind and save the filters in a bottle in the dash. “Trash Can” inspires me to fill that bottle. The cig butts and backwash at the night’s end are given mournful voice through Brian’s chorus.

https://theplanks1.bandcamp.com/track/trash-can

What’s it gonna take / to make this go away?
I think I’m about to break.
There’s nothing left to say.

Not enough spit and beer in the world to wash out this ash stain. The champagne of punk, this song is a good pour with a fine head. Could easily slam six of these and hang off the rafters at the Melon Barn. The bright closing guitar is the splash as you land back in the pit.

In a new single on a new platform with a new singer, Kira fronts The Planks in their recent Spotify release, “Blood on my Shoe”. There’s something to be said for the staying power of an earworm. Names of childhood friends, roads I’ve driven on for a decade, latin names for flowers I once deemed important, all these memories, scrubbed away by time’s dull grind. Kira’s delivery of the chorus, however, for sure staying for the long haul.

There’s blood…on my shoe
There’s blood…on me and you

Kira’s voice wraps its way around every line, wrings out the sound however she likes. Her powerful delivery of a long “yooouuu” evokes Kelly Clarkson, and makes me thrash around all the hair I don’t have. Brayden strums the bass arterially, keeping the heart pumping, while Will bruises the drums and Brian’s guitar slashes through.

You can find more of The Planks music on their Youtube channel (“Trash Can live at Florence SC house show” is some choice stuff) as well as in a great Static Attic half-hour interview on Youtube that’s set inside the Melon Barn, which features a few of their often played yet-to-be-released songs. “Bitter Lemons” has Kira in control of her upper register in some great breakaways as the band keeps the swing going, pulling out those wine-rhymes in wave-like time. “Dirty Rug” is a drunk indoor-outdoor cat with a lot of grievances and a sick bassline. Innuendo always goes harder when it’s getting yeowled at you. Closing out, “Manic Monday” is classic, it’s the crowd swell to the left before that big guy comes charging in again and bowls you all back right, it’s got every instrument wanting you to crash into something.

They’ve cut their teeth on a couple tours now and are slowly bleeding out an EP. Until then, you can catch them for New Year’s Eve at Ground Zero in Spartanburg on December 31, and again for a blowout show at the Radio Room on Jan 27 playing alongside Radagascar (@radagascarband), Stranded Bandits (@Stranded_Bandits), and Grl Frat (@grlfratband).