Review: Planetary Overdrive Self-Titled LP

Today, March 31st, Louisville band Planetary Overdrive released their eponymous first album. Planetary Overdrive has been playing the Louisville area for about a year and consists of husband and wife Dan & Nat Sturdevant and drummer Cam Thomas.

The album plays as if Randy Bachman (from Bachman turner Overdrive) recorded an album with Billy Gibbons (of ZZ Top) backed by The Donnas. Which is to say, it is a straight up party record. The first track, Party Weekend, is a testament to Planetary Overdrive's skill at rocking the party.



Lead vocalist and expert axe shredder Dan Sturdevant said of the track "I had always wanted to write an anathematic song about the frame of mind and lifestyle that is Party Weekend. Going out with your friends and just having a good ole time no matter what kind of week you had." This Party Weekend theory was also the basis for Dan's brother Nate Sturdevant's legendary hot sauce (of the same name) used by New Wave Burritos.

The 8 song party continues with Burn Out, followed by Just Drive, a full on 80s dirty rock anthem aimed at taking that party on the road. There's no rhythm guitar here, and it's not missed, just two and half minutes of hair metal solos with gang style vocals by the Sturdevants.
 

The album takes a solemn turn with ballads Along The Road and Over The Years (complete with Sax solo by Travis Stanton) reminiscent of the more pensive Murder City Devil tracks, before returning to dirty party time with Tennessee Sunrise, Got It Made and Better In Red.
The 8 track self titled album was produced by the band and features Dan Sturdevant's shredding skills on every track backed by Cam on drums and Nat on bass while supplying backing vocals that are curiously soaked in reverb and dropped low in the mix. Personally I like my party upfront and would have preferred to have the entire band turned up to eleven, but as that is my only reservation with this album, I'd say Planetary Overdrive presented a fine first attempt at bringing the hot sauce to the party.

Planetary Overdrive self tittled album Release show with Adventure & Jet Black Orchid is tonight, March 31st, at Haymarket Whiskey Bar. 9pm. $5.

Interview: Dan Sturdevant of Planetary Overdrive

Dan Sturdevant is 1/3 of the Power rock trio Planetary Overdrive with his wife, Nat Sturdevant, and drummer Cam Thomas. Their first album will be released this friday, March 31st. 

Party Time: (L) Dan (C) Nat (R) Cam

37) Planetary Overdrive consists of you, Cam Thomas, and your wife Nat Sturdevant. How long have you guys been together and how is the dynamic as a three piece and being married to one member? 

DS) We have been together for right at a year. It's great being able to work on songs with Nat here at our home studio and bounce ideas off each other just in daily life. We have been playing together for over a decade so we are certainly on the same wavelength. 

The three piece dynamic really keeps things tight. Cam is one of the best drummers I've had the pleasure playing with and we really clicked off the bat.  I personally have always been drawn to the power trio model, it allows everyone in the band to really weave their part in. 

37) Your brother, Nate Sturdevant, is the co-owner of New Wave Burritos, home of the Party Weekend Hot Sauce. Is there a connection with that and the first track 'Party Weekend' on the new self-titled album?

DS) Yeah! We love New Wave Burritos. Nate would yell Party Weekend at shows back when Nat, Nate and I were in the band Supertruck with our buddy Jordan. I had always wanted to write an anathematic song about the frame of mind and lifestyle that is Party Weekend. Going out with your friends and just having a good ole time no matter what kind of week you had.

New Wave's Party Weekend sauce and crispy chicharrones

37) Your older brothers Nate and Andy have been mainstays in the Louisville music scene for years, playing together in the early oughts. Is rock n' roll in the genes and what's it like coming up in the music scene on the heels of rock legend brothers? 

DS) No doubt about it. I have been playing guitar since '98 and some of my first jam sessions were with Nate. I remember going to a Glasspack and Red Sun show with Andy around that time. Andy, Nate and Nat and I did a one off band named One Term Senator in 2010 when Andy was in town for a week. Some of my first shows were Andy and Nate's band, The Blow Up in Japanese. After seeing them I got together with my high school buddies and we started our punk band, Hung Jury. 

37) Speaking of the Louisville music scene, what local bands inspired you growing up and are you listening to any contemporary local bands in particular?

DS) I was definitely inspired by The Blow Up in Japanese. I actually tagged along with Nate and one of the guitarists in the band, Dave Wolkensperg. I pulled some old junky guitar off the wall and started messing around with it upside down (I'm a lefty) and Dave walks over and asks if I'm interested in it. I said yeah I was and he put it on layaway for me right there. I mowed a few lawns and got back up there as soon as I could to take it home. 

When I was growing up I remember seeing Your Black Star and really being impressed with some of sounds coming out of Jeremy's amp. I also had the False Cathedrals cassette and really enjoyed Elliott. The Glasspack put on an awesome show and I was blown away by their energy. I saw Ayin more than a few times at the BRYCC house. 

Supertruck played many times with Adventure in the past and I am really stoked on playing with them again at our album release at Haymarket. Jordan Frost of Adventure mastered our album and really helped it come together. I just saw Powell for the first time this last Saturday at Galaxie, they had a great three piece feel, they're all brothers and they were tight. Kingslayer is an awesome power metal band with a ton of energy. I love Stagecoach Inferno's sound and their new album is fantastic. 

37) Where do you see Planetary Overdrive going into the future?

I'm really pumped on this first album. It's self produced and recorded and we plan on making many more. We had been working on it over the last few months and have many more songs to share with the world. Looking forward to playing many more rock and roll shows in the future and spreading the party! 

Planetary Overdrive self tittled album Release show with Adventure & Jet Black Orchid is this Friday March 31st at Haymarket Whiskey Bar. 9pm. $5.