The Prospector exploded with a musical frenzy Tuesday night as Long Beach natives Plant Tribe took the stage, captivating the audience, while speaking volumes for their generation.
In a divey little bar on the corner of Seventh Street and Junipero Avenue, the sound of music reverberated off the walls of the tiny interior and into the dampened streets, helping to ignite a sphere of fresh musical talent. Among the ranks of faces, the five humble members of Plant Tribe reminded the audience what its like to embody their craft, and live only for the music.
Plant Tribe began as simple as friends who shared a similar taste in music in 2009. Accompanied with Jeff Ziemba (vocals), Phil Lemke (bass), Tyler Sweeney (guitar) and Jon Cox (guitar) to help keep that steady flow of rhythm and percussion, the group added drummer Graham Spillman just two weeks prior to their gig Tuesday evening.
With a sound that encompasses ’70s African beats with acid rock, their music is nothing short of a fusion of electrifying talent that had the audience engulfing the stage, despite the hour of the evening. Acting as the last band of the night — just shy of 1 a.m. — the group kept the crowd on its feet, demanding full attention while executing heavy instrumental sounds with a slight vocal transcendence.
“They’re a group of guys who aren’t all about themselves, and that’s uncommon in Long Beach,” said “Coyote,” a friend of the band. “They’ve learned to cover their asses but they’re really all about the music.”
Being humble seems to be Plant Tribe’s muse. With the notion of a Tuesday evening working heavily against him, Ziemba, a Cal State Long Beach alum, threw caution to the wind, setting up the set list and allowing other musical groups like Golden Goat and Lazy Mary to strut their stuff alongside them.
“We want to give opportunities for others to play with us for us and for us to play with other people,” Ziemba said. Despite being the headliners, Ziemba made sure to modestly point out that, “It’s not really about [Plant Tribe] tonight.”
The Daily 49er got a chance to talk casually with the group, learning about the humble nature that encompasses the witty five-some, as they alluded to the notion that it really is all about the music.
Daily 49er: As a group, what are some of your musical inspirations?
Jeff Ziemba: It’s a fusion of sorts. We set out to make original music combining various influences with nods to late ’60s/early ’70s acid rock, urban funk and sprinkled with spells of world freak beat and groove music — music from all over the world. We are also very influenced by current groups and many of our peers. Our musical direction is constantly evolving.
49er: What sort of messages to you guys wish to emit to your audience though your music?
Tyler Sweeney: Just good vibes really…
Phil Lemke: …and have fun.
Ziemba: Yeah, just lose yourself for a while. Lose your mind, get lost in it all.
49er: Do you ever get nervous before playing shows?
Jon Cox: In the beginning, we used to.
Ziemba: When we go on tour, funny stuff happens that can make you nervous. During our first tour in Washington, we didn’t know anybody, and we were playing this biker bar with like 10 or 12 people in the audience with some other heavy metal band. There was definitely a little anxiety with that, but that’s just sh-t you gotta get used too.
49er: What about you, Graham? As a new member of the band, this is your first performance with the group and you’ve only been with the guys officially for two weeks. Any nerves?
Graham Spillman: Not really. We’ve only had about two or three rehearsals, but I saw them play a few months ago and their sound was fresh, so it definitely peaked my interest.
49er: So explain the name. Where did it come from?
Sweeney: It’s from a root word from a dictionary that my husband’s cousin gave to me for Christmas. The meaning of the suffix was Plant Tribe.
Ziemba: We had major headaches over choosing a name.
Lemke: Plant Tribe was the first thing we all sort of agreed on…
Cox: …Well, it was first name we didn’t all hate.
Plant Tribe will play at the Prospector again on Feb. 16. For more information about the band, visit Facebook.com/planttribe.
