The Planets at Arlene's Grocery

Soon after graduating high school in 1971, Brooklyn native Binky Philips formed a band called the Planets and played all of New York's rock circuit. While earning a meager living working a day job at a record store in the East Village, his nights were dedicated to the Planets, opening shows for up and coming bands like the New York Dolls, Kiss, the Ramones and Blondie. While many glam and punk bands eclipsed the Planets, the Planets never broke past that local club circuit. Watching new clubs open and close for 20 years, the Planets finally packed up their guitar cases permanently. Philips wrote a well-received memoir, My Life in the Ghost of Planets - The Story of a CBGB Almost-Was, and continues to reminisce as a regular contributor to the Huffington Post. Recently, more than 40 years after it all began, Philips revived the Planets and down-scaled his former rock and roll ambitions; these day he simply hopes the Planets can draw enough paying customers to pay for the next few rehearsal times. The Planets presently consists of Philips on guitar and lead vocals, Nolan Roberts on vocals, Desmond Sullivan on guitar, Mike Greenberg on bass and Bobby Siems on drums.

At Arlene's Grocery tonight, it was obvious that Philips still listens to the Who's Live at Leeds album. In the 1970s and 1980s the Who was an inspiration for many local bands, but in the 21st century this influence is rare among bar bands, and the Planets utilized it very well tonight. Occasionally Philips even stood with his feet wide apart and swung his arm over his guitar like a speedy windmill, looking very much a Pete Townshend technique. Roberts was not Roger Daltrey, however, when he swung his microphone just one time and dropped it. Roberts is young and new, and hopefully in time will learn to work the audience rather than sing with his eyes closed like an emo vocalist. Throughout the set, the band was rock solid. The Planets performed mostly Philips' songs, ranging from compositions dating to the band's CBGB's/Max's Kansas City era to songs written earlier this month. The band also performed a song from Philips' 1976 solo album and a very rocked-up cover of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' "If You Don't Know Me By Now" (although a puzzled listener might wonder why). The Planets lined up well tonight for some good old-fashioned classic rock sounds, and it felt like old times at the long-defunct Coventry, the Mercer Arts Center and the Hotel Diplomat glam-rock music stages.

The Planets perform at Arlene's Grocery on September 30 and the last Tuesday of every month through the end of 2014.