LUVPLANET

Nestled into the golden hills of Northern California, in the quaint Sonoma County town of Penngrove there dwells a band that is inspired by the truth of music and the heart-opening power of creation. Through a collaboration of spirit and sound comes the band Luvplanet.

Luvplanet takes the concept of positivity and whips it into music. That music, which consists of a dash of folk, a pinch of jam-band and a heaping serving of rock not only uplifts our souls but also allows us to thoroughly enjoy a veritable festival of hard rocking joy.

When one ponders bands that are all about peace, love and all-that-hippie-stuff, one may become judgmental and begin to think that band is just a bunch of wacked-out softies playing acoustic guitar in some field of daisies. That is certainly not the case with Luvplanet. Luvplanet proves that one can rock hard and be open hearted with the world all at the same time.

In 2003, songstress Nicole Sutton and Gregg Allman and Friend’s guitarist Mark McGee formed Luvplanet with fellow Musical Travelers bassist Tommy Sisco and Drummer Scott McKenzie with the creation of their self titled debut CD, Luvplanet. With this wonderful first disk Nicole Sutton and Mark McGee’s songwriting magic and vocal harmonies are showcased as well as Marks’s free-for-all guitar style. “My favorite thing about playing in Luvplanet is that I have complete musical freedom.” States mark McGee, “Variety is the spice of life, especially with music.”

With 2 subsequent disks under their guitar straps, State of Mind (2005) and Lucky One (2008), the music never seemed to stop for Luvplanet and the band became more and more solid in its live performances, musical connections between each member of the band as well as their over all professionalism.

“Playing in Luvplanet consists of 4 individuals looking together in the same direction. Achieving that with one person is rare enough, but to have that happen with all of us – magical. Nicole, Mark and Scott are my musical everything!” States the Zen-like bassist Tommy Sisco.

The band takes it’s postivity seriously, often smiling and laughing while singing songs about relationships gone good, deep friendships and being at peace in this tumultuous world all without sounding soppy, contrived or wimpy. Powerhouse vocalist Nicole Sutton uses her songwriting skills to manufacture dreams of a reality based on one’s truth and an open heart while communicating a trust in herself that shows her confidence as a strong front woman.

“Music saves my soul.” Says the super cool beauty that is Nicole Sutton. “It reflects our society and our world and the collective conscience, just as all art does, and it helps us process what we are experiencing here and now so that we may continue to grow.” Nicole states that her true course with Luvplanet is “being able to bring life to songs and share them with others”

With the release of their 4th CD, Luvolution set for October 10th, 2010 and a CD Release Party on October 9th. 2010 at Chrome Lotus in Santa Rosa, Luvplanet will continue to support the Positive Bent In Life through hard driving, guitar-based music. Sharing the love via your sound is a good way to go with your band. “Music is that which gives my soul life. It moves it, grooves it, spins it all around and it’s my goal in life to share that with as many people as possible,” is how Tommy Sisco lays it down. States Mark McGee of Music and Luvplanet, “It’s medicine. It’s like a drug and I am addicted.”

- Moon Mama

Luvplanet’s new release is called Luvolution, and it may be their best yet. There’s just something magical about the voice of lead singer Nicole Sutton, and Mark McGee once again delivers the goods on guitar. Some of our readers may remember Mark as lead guitarist for Gregg Allman and Friends for over ten years. While Luvplanet is in no way a southern rock outfit, they are a damn fine rock and roll band with songs that defy category, from pop to rock, blues to country. Excellent songs abound, including the title track and “Virtual Life,” a rocker that is the band’s current single and video. Just great. Buffalo says “Check ‘em out.” luvplanet.net
- Michael Buffalo Smith

Great production!! An album full of great vocals with rich harmonies and as always Mark McGee's beautiful guitar playing blows my mind. - Karl Derfler - Producer/Engineer (No Doubt, Live, Nelly)

Hats off to great production on this feel-good answer to difficult times in our world. In a time of a seeming American dictatorship that endorses monopolized control of a dollar-dominated society, we need something real to relax with. In a time of ProTools-articulated severed and reconstructed electro-digital Frankenstein music, Luvplanet rouses the village!

This sounds like a band that has played together for years. Non-pretentious lyrics on a bed of guitar greatness express songs that aren't cliché-cluttered. I think all the greatest guitarists in the world would agree that Mark McGee stands among them as impressive and inspiring! Nicole - where have you been? You deserve a high chart position, top radio rotation, personal roadies and chauffeur-driven rides to receive your grammies! - Roger Fisher (Heart)

An extremely soulful piece of work. This thing rocks! Definitely one of the best albums to come out of Praire Sun... - Mooka Rennick (Praire Sun Studios)

Luvplanet is one of the strongest bands in the Bay Area right now. What you have is no gimmicks. Great song writing delivered by seasoned musicians who know exactly how to craft a radio ready tune. With their second release, Luvplanet sounds more like a band with Nicole easily handling most of the lead vocals and Tommy and Scott sounding like a rhythm section that has spent a lot of time playing together! As for Mark, he's one of the strongest players around. The man can do it all! Buy this record, you won't be disappointed! - Audio Voyage

Sensational female fronted Melodic Rock out of California is what this LUVPLANET is all about. This is one of those superstrong independent releases you love right from the start, because the 12 songs are filled with lovely melodic vocalwork, catchy hooks, memorable super melodic choruses, terrific guitarwork, harmony vocals and this is all packed into some lovely songs which can easily be compared to HEART, Journey or Led Zeppelin.

Without a doubt, this LUVPLANET CD is really a superb release, which is a must for any aor/melodic rockfan. Songs like the uptempo rockers "State of mind", "Luv U madly" and "Girl" and the calmer semi-ballad/rockers "More than I do", "Life goes on", "Last chance" and "Something's waiting" are definitely high class and memorable. Better check out this sensational CD a.s.a.p. - Strutter Magazine (http://www.strutter.8m.com/)

The second album by the American quartet LUVPLANET, a band that is difficult to label. Greatly influenced by melodic rock, almost pop, and related to arena rock. "State of Mind" was produced by guitarist Mark McGee (renowned guitarist for the band of the legendary Gregg Allman), who also does vocals on some songs. Accompanying McGee, the sweet voice of the beautiful Nicole Sutton (her face is on the cover) brings back fond memories of that mythical band formed by women by the name of HEART. Also featured are the powerful rhythem section of former Vicious Rumors bassist Tommy Sisco and Scott McKenzie on drums (ex-Starcastle), "State of Mind" is a completely melodic disc and all the songs are very pleasing to the ear. This is thanks to the great sound achieved in the recording process combined with the beautiful voice of Nicole. The result is a fine, delicate piece of work, but without losing that rocker spirit. Especially heard on songs like "Life Goes On", "State of Mind", "Luv You Madly" and "Girl". On the other hand, the disk also has a strong, almost completely acoustic orientation that reaches its more interesting high points in cuts such as "More Than I Do" (the best one on the disk, with Nicole being brilliant everywhere), the ballad "Last Chance" (with Mark on vocals), "You Are the One", "Highway Song" or the extensive "Home" (with very atmospheric riffs). The blues are also present in "Faded" (with riffs reminiscent of GARY MOORE). Extremely interesting...A must have for any fan of great music! - Pablo Boschiazzo from Encrucijada Webzine in Argentina

Is there a Sonoma sound? Some kind of laid-back but fired-up, cabernet-infused, sun-kissed melodic milieu?

Hard to say, but if there is you may be able to divine its dimensions by listening to the quartet of very different musicians who hale from here and could be described as up-and-coming, although some of them have been up for a long time.

Luvplanet

Orbiting in Petaluma, Luvplanet combines melodic rock with powerful female vocals that spins you back to the power pop groove of the late ‘80s, with a twist of modern adult rock. Founded in 2001 by guitarist Mark McGee and vocalist Nicole Sutton, the band has three releases under its belt with a fourth, “Luvolution,” scheduled for release in October. McGee is no stranger to success, having toured the world with the metal act “Vicious Rumors” throughout the ‘80s and early ‘90s. He also did a nine year stint with Gregg Allman, playing on several of his releases and has been a mainstay in the Alameda All-Stars.

Since hooking up with bassist Tommy Sisco and drummer Scott McKenzie, Luvplanet has toured the country and played with names like the B-52’s, Boston and Todd Rundgren. McGee’s guitar and Sutton’s vocals are the focus of the project, but the solid rhythm section wraps the sound together. The band touts itself as a new era of melodic rock, and they deliver on the promise. Look for the band on the Sonoma County festival circuit this summer, but the right place and right time could have this band opening for acts like Journey in no time. www.luvplanet.net.
James Marshall Berry - Sonoma Magazine

Luvplanet comes from United States and recently they sent us their latest self financed album with the title "State of Mind". In this album the band included twelve songs and offer us more than an hour of pure melodic rock music.

The band has female vocals and believe me Nicole did a very good job with the vocals, which are really melodic and they fit perfectly with the whole music arrangement. Definitely the compositions that Luvplanet have written are well developed with some interesting ideas inside them. For sure the fans of melodic rock will find many elements in this album in order to love it.

In conclusion, I can say that I catch myself a lot of times adoring the songs that I hear and I am sure that you will find a lot of things inside the album from Luvplanet. Believe in this band and you will see a new world through the music of Luvplanet.

SCORE out of 7.8/10
- Antonis Maglaras from Power Play Records: Germany

http://www.crossover-agm.de/cdLuvplanet06.htm

An absolutely professional self-produced effort by the quartet from the San Francisco area. This disk refuses to be easily categorized--it quite simply offers truly good music. Whether one regards it as pop or rock, or a mixture of both is for the listener to decide.

An absolute plus for the band is the pure clear singing of Nicole Sutton—her pleasant, warm voice really adds to the songs.

It may surely be a tightrope walk to hear pop songs enhanced by the noble riffs of Mark McGee. This makes the band, which stands for exceptional musicality, very good. And every word sung by Nicole can be clearly understood, even without a lyric sheet.

“Gem”, a song that starts out gently with vocals by Marks McGee, who has a fantastic voice, is initially reminiscent of bands from the 70's, but then, as the song continues to nearly eight minutes long, there appears a fascinating guitar solo.

This disk must definitely be heard more than once in order to grasp everything that is going on. Clean, crystal-clear production (by Mark himself) should be a further argument for the band. The entire package, from the very beautiful cover to the lyrics, exudes a positive, life-affirming tendency. - Reviewed by Georg Lögler from Crossover