THE PLANETARY BLUES BAND

The Planetary Blues Band is formed by the trio of Martin Schaefer-Murray (guitar and lead vocals) Bobby Schaefer-Murray (bass) and Michael Schaefer-Murray (guitar), with their longtime friend Nick Evans on drums. The band is based in Valparaiso, Ind., near Chicago, and has been paying dues in Midwest bars and at local festivals for a decade. The name of the band, and the shortened moniker by which their fans know them – Planetary – exemplifies who they are and what they hope to accomplish. 

 

They are a rock band, taking influence from a wide range of musical styles and melding it into their own distinct vision of what music is capable of, and how they can interpret and present it in a new way. Like most rock bands worth their salt, Planetary got their start playing, and being influenced by, the Blues. The band was born in 1999 in their mother's basement, where they spent countless hours learning entire albums by Chicago Blues greats like Buddy Guy and Son Seals. From there, over the course of the past 10 years, Planetary has held onto those roots while expanding outward into various other corners of the musical universe.