Phantom Planet headlines Centennial Concert
March 8, 2004
KALAMAZOO--Rock groups Phantom Planet and Stroke 9 take the stage at Miller Auditorium for a concert at 8 p.m. Monday, March 15, as part of Western Michigan University's Centennial Celebration.
"We think it's going to be a great concert, because these are both groups that the students picked for themselves," says Kristen Betser, assistant director of Student Activities and Leadership Programs. "It was always part of the plan to have a concert organized by the students as part of WMU's Centennial Celebration. We originally wanted to have it in the fall, but the fall schedule was already packed with homecoming and other centennial events."
Phantom Plant is probably best known for the song "California" from the hit television show "The O.C." Following an 18-month tour, Phantom Planet recorded its second album, "Phantom Planet," in 2003 with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Fridmann. The group has toured with a number of other bands, including Elvis Costello and the Attractions, one of the bands with which Phantom Planet is sometimes compared. Alexander Greenwald provides lead vocals, backed by guitarists Jacques Brautbar and Darren Robinson, San Farrar on bass and drummer Jeff Conrad.
Ian Cranna in Blender Magazine referred to Stroke 9 as "enjoyably noisy guitars, crashing drums and driving hook-laden rock songs," but added that "beneath the sonic barrage, a smart and sensitive streak is maturing." Luke Esterkyn does lead vocals and guitar for San Francisco Bay-area Stroke 9, which opens the March 15 concert.
WMU's Centennial Celebration committee and Campus Activities Board are the principal sponsors of the student-organized event. For more about the concert, including links to the official Web sites for Phantom Planet and Stroke 9, visit CAB on the Web at <cab.wmich.edu>.
Tickets for the concert range from $8 to $12 for the general public and are $5 to $10 with a valid WMU student ID. For tickets, call the Miller Auditorium Ticket Office at (269) 387-2300 or toll free (800) 228-9858, or visit <www.millerauditorium.com>.
Media contact: Thom Myers, 269 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu