California, Here They Come

Phantom Planet are Hollywood to the core. Founding member/drummer Jason Schwartzman is the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola and has starred in a few films including “Rushmore”; vocalist Alex Greenwald has spent some time in front of the camera as a GAP model and was also in the flick “Donnie Darko”; bassist Sam Farrar is the son of singer/songwriter John Farrar, who’s responsible for writing “You’re The One That I Want” from “Grease”; and lately, it’s the band’s hit single, “California,” that’s been opening Fox’s hip new TV show, “The OC.”

California, they’re already here.

Phantom Planet have a headlining tour lined up that’ll keep them busy through November. Aussie Ben Lee, who’s currently touring his homeland, will join the Planet guys as support for the whole of the tour, which launches with a two-nighter at Hollywood’s Roxy Theatre October 22-23.

Although they’re practically Hollywood royalty, the guys of Phantom Planet have some real-life musical credits to their name. In 2001, they released their second album, The Guest, which came with the now hit song, “California.”

Their previous tours have featured support slots with Elvis Costello, Incubus, and American Hi-Fi.

In August, Schwartzman announced he was leaving the band to pursue other things, leaving a space for new drummer Jeff Conrad to fill. They’ve been in the studio working on a new disc, reportedly due out early next year.