01.05.03 - The Stranger. Seattle, WA
by Kate Pruesser

(Graceland) Oh, lucky us. Right after our holiday stupor comes a show that will surely knock the stuffing right out of our bloated bellies. I've already talked about how great the Plains' debut CD, On Earth as It Is in Heaven, is; I am pleased to report that the live show is equally excellent, although in different ways: On the night of their CD release party, Aaron Semer (the man who taught John Darnielle how to emote) sang so hard he short-circuited his vocal cords--I'd be surprised if he wasn't supping Jell-O and whispering for the next week. Meanwhile, the rest of the band thrashed and danced with an intensity to match that of Semer's singing, and I found myself rediscovering songs I didn't know I had loved--like "El Borracho," a Calexico-style dueling-guitar number that has found a place on all of my most recent mix tapes. Do yourself a favor and trade the sweatpants in for some dancing shoes; the Plains will rock those holiday pounds right off of you.