Plexigrass
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| Plexigrass | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin |  Lawrence, Kansas, USA |
| Genre(s) | Alternative, bluegrass |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Label(s) | indie |
| Website | www.plexigrass.com |
| Members | |
| Justin Zaruba Jay Carpenter Theodore Momberg |
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Plexgrass is an alternative band, originally formed in the Lawrence, Kansas area by members Justin Zaruba (vocals, guitar, banjo, mandolin, keyboards), Jay Carpenter (guitar, slide, vocals, bass, sound engineering), and Theodore Momberg (drums/percussion). Robert Hein provided vocals on their studio recording.
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[edit] History
The band members came to live together in Lawrence in 2001. They had convered a bedroom into a recording studio; Zaruba wrote the songs and collaborated with Carpenter during the recording and engineering process. The band independently recorded their first album in 2004, entitled Songs for a Narrow Demographic. This album established the band as a favorite of an underground transitional bluegrass/punk rock scene that became popular through bands such as Split Lip Rayfield, the Gourds, and Manic Panic. The band was working full time jobs when they recorded the album. Shortly after the release of Songs the band played a series of low budget shows. In 2005, the band caused a series of problems by personally insulting whiever city and/or venue they were playing at the time. The most infamous of these was At a Set 'Em Up Jimmies where Zaruba got into a physical altercation with the owner of the same bar. Zaruba had insulted the venue between each song, despite being threatened to being removed from the stage. They released the song Dumbest Place in the Galaxy and, although they have said otherwise, is wildly accepted as being about that venue. (Zaruba had said the venue was "the dumbest place in the galaxy" shortly before the physical situation.) The band reached complications when Momberg placed himself into rehab. Zaruba and Carpenter have since collaborated on new material, although no studio releases have been made since "Songs."
[edit] Style
Plexigrass was recognized for the eclectic use of rock and bluegrass instruments to create interesting harmonies. Fans came to expect the use of a staple melodica in instrumental songs. Carpenter was known for using effects pedals on instruments other than an electric guitar. The band was often accused of failing to select a genre and stay within the confines of it. They were known to play anything from bluegrass instrumentals to violent punk rock, from folk rock to electronica, all within the confines of a one hour set.
While Plexigrass's studio albums included more instrumental variety (e.g. clarient, bass, drum kit), their live shows fell significantly short of this sound. Each musician was responsible for playing several instruments in the studio and gave a deceptively fuller sound than they were capable of live.
On September 18th, 2006 Plexigrass won Song of the Year (Major) at the Oswold Music Festival for "Imaginary Girlfriend."
[edit] Activism
In 2006, Momberg did a solo tour for My Anti-Drug. It is widely accepted that this was a court mandate.
[edit] Trivia
- Theodore Momberg missed several shows due to drug use. Fans would bring sticks to shows, anticipating Zaruba's request of "is there a shitty drummer in the audience?"
- Plexigrass was asked to write an environmental song for a local compilation CD. The song "Sounds of the Fucking Rainforest" was hailed as "too cruel" to include.
[edit] Members
Justin Zaruba (1991-present) - lead vocals, guitar, piano, banjo, mandolin, harmonica
Jay Carpenter (1991-present) - backing vocals, guitar, bass, slide, sound engineering
Theodore Momberg (2002-present) - drums, percussion
[edit] Studio albums
- 2004 - Songs for a Narrow Demographic
