SAD PLANETS
AKRON, OHIO

Akron, Ohio…an All-American City. The city that powered America’s ride into the 20th century as the tire capital of the world. Where the American dream came easy and Art Deco skyscrapers sprang up. As Akron declined, along with the rest of the industrial Midwest, it inspired something very different – music from area bands such as Devo, the Cramps, Chrissie Hynde and Tin Huey. Two musicians and Akron natives - John Petkovic (Cobra Verde, Sweet Apple, Guided by Voices, Death Of Samantha) and Patrick Carney (Black Keys) - found a common bond over music that came out of the Akron area, but also the city’s glorious past and tumultuous present. Akron, Ohio is a celebration of their friendship. The debut album by Sad Planets is the product of two friends with storied careers and beloved bands coming getting together to have fun and record a batch of songs on the spot, in the moment. The 10-song album mixes deft songwriting with experimental and eclectic sounds played on a multitude of instruments. It also expands the musical roles they play in their other bands. Yes Carney plays drums at times, but also adds Eno-esque synthesizers and other instruments to the mix. Petkovic does all the vocals and adds layers of guitars to the album. They met in 1999 by chance at the Akron Art Museum – when Carney approached Petkovic to tell him that he was the nephew of Ralph Carney. The legendary multi-instrumentalist who passed away in 2017, had recorded with Cobra Verde. Twenty years later that bond has resulted in an album of their own.