Plain Speak is a musical partnership between Dan Pechacek and Ben See, two longtime friends who share a passion for guitar-driven music that conveys the universal pangs of human experience. Over approximately a decade of collaboration, they have developed a collaborative approach to crafting their unique brand of emo-tinged indie rock. Their music may sometimes resemble a singer-songwriter record or a bombastic post-rock instrumental, but it always showcases the two artists working together, drawing inspiration from bands like Death Cab for Cutie, Manchester Orchestra, American Football, and Copeland.
Following their 2014 debut full-length album, Plain Speak honed their skills as a live band, providing local support for touring acts such as Hop Along, Empire! Empire!, and Single Mothers, while also embarking on their own tours. Despite changes in the band's lineup and day jobs, Pechacek and See continued to create music, releasing multiple singles and an EP. In 2021, they were joined by longtime bandmate Felix Rodriguez, and the trio set out to produce their second LP, Calamity.
Calamity symbolizes the culmination of eight years of growth and collaboration under the Plain Speak moniker and marks a new direction for the band: both See and Pechacek take the lead, contributing five songs each. Pechacek, who designs effects pedals for Old Blood Noise Endeavors, uses his expertise to make guitars sound like entirely different instruments. The band even created their own overdrive pedal for the album, called the Calamity Drive. Although their music is crafted by gear enthusiasts, it is not exclusively for that audience. The solid and heartfelt songwriting of Plain Speak allows listeners from all walks of life to connect with and appreciate their music.
