Plow United
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 in Wilmington, Delaware, United States |
| Headquarters | Wilmington , United States |
| Products | Punk rock music |
Plow United is a punk rock group from the United States, established in Wilmington, Delaware in 1992. Their sound is characterized by rapid punk rhythms infused with elements of pop, thrashcore, and hardcore. The band members consist of Brian McGee (vocals, guitar), Sean Rule (drums), and Joel Tannenbaum (bass).
Origins and initial three albums (1992–1998)
The trio—McGee, Rule, and Tannenbaum—first crossed paths at a private high school in Wilmington in 1989 and officially formed Plow in 1992, producing two demo recordings. They spent about a year and a half performing locally across Delaware and Southeast Pennsylvania.
After Tannenbaum relocated to West Chester, Pennsylvania in 1994, the band established connections with Creep Records (based in West Chester) and Coolidge Records (from New Jersey). Due to a naming conflict with another Baltimore-based group, they adopted the name "Plow United." That same year, their debut album, titled Plow United, was released through Creep Records.
Between 1994 and 1997, Plow United embarked on extensive tours throughout the Northeastern United States. Supported by releases on both Coolidge and Creep Records and traveling in their van named Sadi, they expanded their reach nationally and into Canada. During this period, they performed alongside notable acts such as Lagwagon, At the Drive-In, Bouncing Souls, and Good Riddance.
Their sophomore album, Goodnight Sellout, arrived in 1996 and garnered attention from major record labels. Despite this interest, the band chose not to sign with any major companies and disbanded in 1997 while at the height of their popularity. In 1998, Creep Records released Narcolepsy, their third album featuring a darker tone. That year also saw a brief reunion for three concerts promoting Narcolepsy in New York and Pennsylvania.
Hiatus period (1998–2010)
In 2000, Coolidge Records compiled singles and non-album tracks into a collection titled The Dustbin of History.
During the hiatus, McGee collaborated with Throttle Jockey and briefly served as a second guitarist for Super Hi-5. He pursued education in North Carolina where he became president of the WPA (Werewolf Protection Agency) chapter. From 2005 until 2010, McGee performed and recorded under Brian McGee and the Hollow Speed before transitioning to solo work. Additional details can be found at www.brianmcgeemusic.com.
Tannenbaum became involved with indie pop groups The Skywriters and The Snow Fairies, releasing a solo project under the moniker The Whales titled Music Should Be Seen and Not Heard. After moving between Philadelphia, the UK, and Hawaii, he returned stateside in 2008. By 2010, he joined indie-pop act Glitter and co-founded Ex Friends alongside designer JP Flexner.
Rule shifted his career toward education, teaching mathematics at Salesianum School as well as Central Oregon Community College. Concurrently, he played in Bend-based thrash metal band Hands On Throat and ska outfit Necktie Killer; the latter declined live performances from 1998 through 2011.
Reformation (2011–present)
Plow United reunited on September 24, 2011, after nearly thirteen years apart at Riot Fest East held in Philadelphia. They successfully reacquired ownership of their master recordings via an arrangement with Creep Records and issued a retrospective compilation LP called Sleepwalk on Paper + Plastick coinciding with the festival.
Following their reunion, Plow United toured along the East Coast participating in events such as Insubordination Fest 2012 in Baltimore and Fest 2012 in Gainesville. Early in 2012, they supported Less Than Jake during a three-day tour.
In mid-2012, the band entered the studio to record new songs for the first time in fourteen years. The resulting twelve-track album Marching Band was released on April 2, 2013 through Jump Start Label. Additional material from these sessions appeared on a 7-inch via Kiss of Death Records, a split 7-inch with Mikey Erg, as well as on Chance 4 Change Records' compilation For the Shore. To promote Marching Band, Plow United performed live shows including appearances at WXPN Studio A and on The Chris Gethard Show, with further concerts scheduled throughout spring and summer of 2013.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Plow United CD/12" LP (Creep 10, 1995)
- Goodnight Sellout CD/12" LP (Creep 26, 1996)
- The 2005 remastered edition combines all tracks from these two initial albums
- Narcolepsy CD (Creep 40, 1998)
- Marching Band (2013)
- Three (2016)
Compilation Albums
- The Dustbin of History compilation CD (Coolidge 32, 2000)
- Sleepwalk: A Retrospective CD (Paper + Plastic, 2011)
- Contains remastered recordings along with the unreleased track "Monte."
Singles
- "Dance"/"Timmy Is an Arsonist"
- "Sadi"/"Break My Heart"/"Plow Beach" COOLIDGE 18
- "West Chester Rock City"/"Comeback"/"The Beat Fades Quickly"/"No Parole"
- Transcend 7-inch EP (FOE Records 1998) featuring Christopher Neumann performing as Texas Criffer and the Bunny Humpers
- Tracks include "Selling Pretty Poisons," "Bottled Up," "Road Less Traveled," and "Routine."
Split Releases
- Tallman - "Reason"/"Sorority Girl"/"Firedogs Are Deaf"
- Weston - "Christoph"/"Could You?" COOLIDGE 11
- Stressboy - "Yes, Sir!"/"Fuck Up"
- Throttle Jockey - "Backslider"/"Universal Ball"/"9MM"
- The Ick - "Last Call"/"Love Comes in Spurts"