Mike Plume Band
Song & Dance, Man (1999)

Review by: Brandon Copple
Date: 6/1/03

The Mike Plume Band comes from Alberta. Which is in Canada. How’s that for obscure? I mean, I never would’ve thought people lived in Alberta, let alone that they made music there.

And it’s good music too, if the Mike Plume Band is any indication.

This is straight-ahead country rock, or roots rock or whatever we’re calling it these days. Americana? No. Canadicana? Why not. When you think about it, the Canadian music scene churns out some great acts. Even throwing out musical WMDs like Celine and Shania, the north country must produce five or six times as many hot bands per capita as its downstairs neighbor. I’m talking about acts like Blue Rodeo, Fred Eaglesmith, the New Pornographers and the Sadies.

Of course everybody on that list is relatively obscure because, well, they’re from Canada, a land that, as P.J. O’Rourke has noted, is generally only visited by sport fishermen and British royals.

Anyway, I bought Song & Dance, Man after seeing the MPB play at a local summer music festival a few years ago. They were buried in the middle of a six-band lineup, but they blew the place away. Their 45-minute set was one before one of my favorite Chicago acts, Robbie Fulks, and two before folk-country legend Joe Ely, both of whom I would gladly have bumped to keep the boys from Alberta rockin'.

Two drivers here. First, Mike Plume’s catchy, hooky songs. The lyrics aren’t that interesting, but the rhythm is pedal-to-the-medal cool. Second, Dave Klym’s energetic lead guitar, which manages to seem both precise and unconstrained at the same time.

Plume also has a cool way of singing; there’s a gravity in his voice that makes his lyrics seem smarter than they are. The first time I read the libretto I was a little surprised to find fairly unimaginative songs about unoriginal topics (booze, restlessness, etc). I realized that the sincerity in Plume’s vocals gives the lyrics an air of profundity.

And the music lends levity. Mike Plume may take himself too seriously, but clearly his bandmates do not. I usually hate artists who believe their own bullshit, but I’ll give Mr. Plume credit for surrounding himself with guys who just want to have a good time, play some rock and roll and probably smoke a lot of British Columbian weed.

Maybe that’s why so much good music comes down from Canada.