Of Humor and Harmony : Platte River Crossing Mixes Danceable Hits With Originals and Lets Its Rock Roots Show

Their business card reads, “For a good time call: The Platte River Crossing.” And they aren’t kidding. This new five-man country hits band has a sense of humor and high-energy country style that works even when its rock roots are showing. These guys play a good mix of danceable hits and original tunes served up with rich vocal harmonies you could eat with a spoon.

You’ll have several chances to hear them around the county during the coming weeks. But the San Fernando Valley-based group has developed a following at Cousin’s in Simi Valley where they’ve played often.

The lineup is fairly standard: Ron Platt (lead vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar), Al Sorena (lead vocals, bass), Mike Peritz (lead guitar, vocals), Lane Wesley (guitar, vocals) and Bruce Seidel (drums, percussion, vocals). But they’re not your typical country musicians.

After spending an hour sandwiched between four of ‘em in a deli booth, I felt like I’d been with Dwight Yoakam, Willie Nelson, Frank Zappa and the early Turtles. Here’s a flashback:

Were you playing the wedding-and-bar-mitzvah-circuit before turning country?

Berrett: No. I grew up with country music in Missouri and played rock ‘n’ roll and Top 40. But country has always been my roots. Mike and I started the band in September of ‘92, and replaced the bass player with Al. Lane joined in April and we got Bruce in May.

Wesley: And I started playing country music about three hours before my audition. Al and I had a rock band for about six years before this. I started playing guitar when my Dad turned me onto Jimi Hendrix. Now I’m playing country and my father can’t relate.

Seidel: I quit music and went into insurance for six years before returning to my first love. But I started in country when I was 7 and my parents found out I had natural rhythm. . . .

Wesley: Yeah, iambic pentameter.

Why don’t all of you dress more country on stage?

Sorena: I wear a hat sometimes. But it gets hot enough to poach salmon under it. Bruce wears a bolo tie and vest; he looks like the bartender on “Gunsmoke.”

Can you describe your sound?

Berrett: We’re like the country Beatles.

Sorena: Lots of harmony vocals and a strong, tight rhythm field.

Wesley: I’d give us a 10--you can dance to it.

How many original numbers do you perform?

Platt: Maybe six tunes a night. There’s a lot of songwriting ability in the band. Al wrote a nice cowboy cha-cha called “When You Let Go,” and a two-step, “Sleeping in My Boots.” We do “High Life,” a good swing written by our producer, Dave Seal.

Sorena: “Appalachian Express” is a 10-step by Ron and Mike.

Platt: And I do a real sad waltz, “Making New Memories.”

Wesley: It took Ron a two-year investment to write that song.

Sorena: And he’s still making the car payments.

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Schottische, anyone? Country lover Kathy Culley is on the lookout for a partner to help demo a Schottische workshop. To get your name on the interest list, call 984-3192.

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Organizers of Children for Tomorrow’s sixth Annual Concert in the Park--which will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Dec. 4, in Camarillo’s Constitution Park--are looking for country fans and dancers to turn out in full attire to support the group’s biggest fund-raiser of the year. The hoedown, featuring Darlene O’Connell and the Dixie Flyers, food, booths and other entertainment, is sponsored by a local chapter of the National Bone Marrow Donor Program. Proceeds will be used to defray the cost of testing and registering bone marrow donors. To participate in the dance activities or to volunteer help, call 376-9831.

Robyn Loewenthal, an avid two-stepper, welcomes all news of country doin’s around the county. All submissions should arrive at least two weeks before the event. Write to her at 5200 Valentine Road, Suite 140, Ventura 93003, or send faxes to 658-5576.

* TWO STEPPIN’: Your guide to area country music entertainment is located in the 11-Day Calendar section today. Page 13

Details

* WHAT: Platte River Crossing will perform locally at the following locations: this Tuesday, Wednesday and Dec. 29 through Jan. 1 at Cousin’s Country Saloon, 2381 Tapo St., Simi Valley, 522-2559; Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23 at Schooner Time, 5710 Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley, 526-1488; Dec. 11 at the K-HAY radio Country Celebration, Paseo Camarillo Shopping Center, Lantana Street and Daily Drive, Camarillo, 642-8595; Dec. 17 and 18 at Crazy Bull, 4426 Central Ave., Camarillo, 988-4209.

* ETC: For more Platte River Crossing play dates or to receive their newsletter, call the hot line, (818) 594-7322.