Getting Into The Mile High Club

By Lizz Kannenberg in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 6, 2007 5:48PM

The Hideout plays host tonight to two of Chicago’s brightest independent collectives, Skybox and Plane. The latter have been on the Chicago and national radar since their 2004 album Shake My Ground debuted at #42 on the CMJ charts, but the going wasn't as smooth after that. Fans and critics alike were puzzled by the alternatingly hooky pop and quizzical experimentation on 2005’s follow up EP, Hello More. Never fear, however – Plane has clearly confirmed their flight plan with this year’s I See Love In The Future, a successful amalgamation of all the tweaking and knob-turning with the band’s pop prolificacy.

Skybox are finally settled into their new home of Chicago, having relocated here as a band last year from Arizona. The band’s quirky pop songs have that endearing quality that would be equally at home on indie internet radio or on the soundtrack to a good date movie. In a word, they’re versatile, having struck a chord with hipsters and the all ages crowd alike. A plug on celebrity gossip king Perez Hilton’s site several months ago and a mention in Billboard Magazine didn’t hurt their profile, and has allowed the band considerable recognition outside of Chicago.

Skybox and Plane play the Hideout tonight | 10pm | $8