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Plateau Releases "The High Country"
Alt-Folk Quintet Hombres Alternativos represents shift for Country label
Nevaras City, Duchy of Nevaras
May 20, 5703


The High Country, on Plateau Records is a mix of Alternative, Country, and Eclectic Weirdness

Plateau Records is primarily known for country and alt-country. It has served the country and folky markets for a very long time, filling a niche in Kalistan's primarily alternative music scene. But is seems that even Plateau Records is not above recording artists outside of its normal genres. And Hombres Alternativos is proof positive of that theory. The Alt-Folk quintet from Nevaras City said that getting a recording deal with Plateau was the reason they became a band in the first place.

"Yeah, we all grew up loving Plateau Records," said lead singer and primary songwriter Greg McHenry. "I loved their willingness to tint country with other styles, and I really think their lo-fi no nonsense production style was exactly what we were looking for to help our freak flag fly." The band itself is composed of McHenry, who plays acoustic rhythm, Bob Reynolds on electric lead and sings back up, Chris DeMarcus on bass, Stew Velasco on drums and Javier Blanco on brass, primarily trumpet and occasionally keyboards/and Hammond organ. It's a wonderful weird eclectic mix of sounds which doesn't exist anywhere on the radio.

"We were definitely really impressed by some of the kind of mariachi stuff from Athosia and mainland Gaduridos," said Blanco. "But we couldn't find that stuff on LTD all the time, and getting records, especially from Athosia was kind of difficult, as they don't have a very well developed recording industry at all, and we would have to wait for those bands to come up here, which they almost never did. So after a while, we just decided to start making it ourselves." He also declared getting onto Plateau to be a goal of his.

"It's not so much that Plateau is going in a different direction with this band," said Veronica Miller, head of marketting at Plateau. "We are interested in expanding our customer base, as every company is, and so appealing to cross over audiences is a smart businss decisions. There is enough country in this band to appeal to some of our more alternative minded country fans, and enough rock to bring the alternative kids in. And who knows: maybe in that listen they may find something else they like, and decide to check out some of the other music we record. He have had some major artists on this label, including Carrie Hill, and though we're a smaller label, there is a whole market out here that we exclusively serve, so why not try to branch out?"

There is no telling what the record will do. It is unlikely, however to appear to the Kaliburg or Sulari scenes, but there is some evidence of movement within the Art Rock scene in the Capital and the Port Swedes scene, which has always been more eclectic and unique. "Our first shows after the release will be in Port Swedes," said McHenry. "We've been booked into a punk club strangely enough. I can't imagine that punk kids will dig mariachi tinted alt-folk music with a lead singer who sing-talks his lyrics, but who knows? They drink a lot of coffee up there, so maybe we'll catch them on the right day."

To help them gain exposure, they filmed a low budget music video which has been playing on M7 last week. "We got a few requests," said McHenry. "That's always a trip, whenever I turn on M7, and there's our video. And I'm basically like 'We made it. Our band is on M7.' There really is no better feeling. That's such validation. And you know what would be better? If we could sell enough copies of this record to recoup. That would be fantastic!" McHenry said that the band and the label are putting together a tour to promote the album, primarily in Nevaras and Vrassa, though they are hoping to play some nights in Kaliburg. "Oh there's a million clubs over there. We can easily get into them, but we need to build a bit of a name first.

Meanwhile, you can check out Hombres Alternativos' new Video for their first single from The High Country, the band's debut album on Plateau Records. The song is "The Four Letter Word", and it is in medium rotation on KRTVN and M7 currently. And check out The High Country in all your local record stores!

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQeYLTEd2Ig]

@KalistaniRawkMonthly