Phantom Planet
We chatted with Phantom Planet's Sam Farrar and Darren Robinson on their new album and other silly things! Read below...

By Jennifer Park

Los Angeles based rockers Phantom Planet are friends who discovered a way to pass time by jamming in the garage playing rock and post-grunge, and ultimately preparing themselves to become stars. PHANTOM PLANET is: Alex Greenwald as Vocals, Sam Farrar on Bass, Jacques Brautbar on Guitar, Darren Robinson on Guitar and Jeff Conrad on Drums.

Your new album is coming out in February, right? What’s the new album called and what type of music would you say it's like?
Sam: Wire, Cure, Fugazi, Radiohead, Costello, jazz-hipster-classical-funk.
Darren: The new album will be self-titled. At least that's what we currently are going with. And it's rock music.

I heard there are some interesting stories that go along with recording the new album. What was the experience like recording in a remote location in New York? Did any of you get cabin fever like Jack in The Shining?
Sam: I witnessed Alex dive head first into a very small trash can and stay there for twenty minutes. I don't think anyone ever got as bad as the dull boy...more like Yosemite Sam after chasing bugs for an entire episode.
Darren: We did get cabin fever. It got bad. I had to eat Alex's right arm and leg. His nickname is now, "Lefty."

Your first single off the album, "Big Brat," is also your first video too. How did you get Spike Jonze to
co-direct the video and who came up with the idea for the video?
Sam: We've known Spike for quite a while. It was Just a question of timing and the right
idea. Alex is rather obsessed with the undead, and has wanted to do a zombie movie for quite sometime. Spike liked the idea of us making something and then displaying the final product at the end of the video...so spike and the AV Club documented us making a horror flick...then you see the horror flick...then my arm falls off.
Darren: Alex originally wanted to do a zombie video for "Lonely Day", but we didn't have the time to make it happen back then. Spike has known that we wanted to do a video with him for a few years now, and finally he agreed to make our zombie idea come to life. He's the best.

Since your song "California" is also the theme song for the O.C., does that mean you're entitled to watch the show, are you guys fans of it?
Sam: I've seen it a couple of times—frighteningly addictive and very attractive actresses. A little overly dramatic plot lines. It's 90210 all over again, for the next generation.
Darren: No comment...I don't watch much TV!

Now, I've heard a million stories of how you guys came up with the name for the band, everything from movie titles to comic book heroes, which is the true story?
Sam: It's a 60's sci-fi movie title, with a little help from Neil Norman.
Darren: Actually, we should be called "Godzilla." And yes, that is the truth.

You guys have toured with a ton of cool people from Elvis Costello to Incubus, which one(s) are your favorite and why?
Sam: Opening for Elvis was a dream come true. A living legend. The master lyricist. The genius band. But I must say theat Incubus might have been my favorite, simply for the amount of ridiculous fun we had. It was our first experience with very large crowds. We played the Garden and I had a cake brought up to me on stage in front of 10,000 people who sang me happy birthday. The guys took such great care of us...simply amazing.
Darren: There are no favorites. Every band and every individual has something great about them. We've had fun on every tour, but in different ways.

Who are some your favorite musicians past/present? What’s in your CD player right now?
Sam: I only really listen to my ipod these days. and it's usually on shuffle. Recent purchases include Robert Randolph, Strokes, Ambulance, The Stills, Pearl Jam, and Lost Dogs. I fell asleep today listening to "Hail to the Thief".
Darren: I am currently listening to: A.R.E., Weapons, Lightning Bolt, Radiohead, Blonde Redhead, Fugazi, Outkast, and various others. I respect any musician that has a sense of melody and who knows the value of a note.

OK, this is where we like to ask random off the wall questions:
Sesame Street or Mister Rogers?
Sam: Sesame Street.
Darren: Sesame Street, of course.

Chocolate or Vanilla?
Sam: Both. I always mix them.
Darren: Both. Combine them.

Hot or Cold?
Sam: Cold.
Darren: Hot if it's cold out, and cold if it's hot out.

Roller Coasters or Spinning Rides?
Sam: Coasters. No doubt.
Darren: Roller Coasters.

Christmas or Halloween?
Sam: Halloween.
Darren: Christmas.

The tortoise or the hare?
Sam: Tortoise.
Darren: The lion.

And lastly, all of our female readers are dying to know if you guys have girlfriends or are you single?
Sam: I'm taken by a very lovely lady.
Darren: I am single. Want to make out?

For more information, check out their site at: www.phantomplanet.com