Plateaus

Emerging from San Diego toward the close of the 2000s, Plateaus assembled as a quartet that fused punk drive with power pop structures. Its members surfaced from an informal network of local players already active in separate groups: Jon Greene, who handled drums and sound engineering; singer/guitarist Kevin Gist; guitarist Elliot Moeller; and bassist Chris Rosi. The quartet’s approach quickly reflected the rougher strain of power pop, drawing cues from Redd Kross, Guided by Voices, and the earliest roster entries on Flying Nun Records. Gist settled on the name Plateaus after spotting the film Platoon among his DVDs and realizing that a small shift in pronunciation produced a suitable title. Months of regional shows preceded the release of several 7" singles on the independent punk imprints Art Fag and Hozac in 2011. The band also maintained a busy touring schedule that year, then devoted 2012 to completing its first full-length album for Art Fag.