Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall as a Hank Plank song materializes, as if out of thin air? Did you ever stop to ponder what a Plank tune might sound like before it gets polished into a brilliant gem? From time to time, did you stop to think what songs might have been ruling the airwaves if Hank Plank had been just a touch less lazy the last 15 years?

Today is your lucky day! For the first time ever, you can listen to this alternative history: 21st Century Demons. This special release collects a set of previously unreleased demos stretching out over a decade. The only song from the aborted Rocket to Venus follow-up, Venus or Bust? It’s on there. Mark trying to play violin? On there. Same song, actually. The album of drinking songs that was considered as a follow-up to Planks of Grass? Many of those tunes are here.

Eighteen tunes about drinkin’, rockin’, missin’ Portland, and learnin’ to love yourself. Stream it today:

Here’s a rare show that’s never been released…until now. Down in the Hole was recorded at the Rabbit Hole/Mad Hatter Lounge. Don’t look for it, it’s not there anymore. But you can stream these classic tunes, including a few super-rare gems:

Word on the street is that Jackass Willie (MySpace, Angelfire) are back in action. Rumor has it that “Jackass Willie and Friends” will be at the Railside Pub on the night of Thursday, August 18th. I know what you’re thinking: “Friends?” Yes, apparently even Jackass Willie have friends and I guess we’ll find out who they are.

A quick check on Yelp reveals the Railside is about the perfect spot:

“Don’t be afraid…”
“…one part divey…”
“I was nervous…”
“…don’t let the outside scare you off…”
“Could be worse…”

So you’ve heard the official releases, but what about those rough gems lurking in the Hank Plank vaults? Cherub Skewer, a compilation “released” in the early 2000s takes you deeper into that territory than anyone would realistically want to go. Curious? Stream this mix of studio outtakes and live rarities…if you dare.

Did Hank Plank and the 2x4s struggle to capture the high-voltage electricity of their live show in a studio setting? Maybe, maybe not. Who cares? It doesn’t matter when you can stream this white hot live set from the year 2000.

Get back to somewhere reasonably close to where it all began: Ridin’ Shotgun on the Bandwagon, the debut album. A classic, if only by virtue of its age.

Take a trip back in time to 1990-whatever, when everything was simple…except the far-out sounds being made by Hank Plank and the 2x4s. Set aside some time to stream their avant-country masterwork Venus Hair Trap.

Has it been a while since you listened to Rocket to Venus? Perhaps it is time to do something about it. Stream away:

Want to hear the latest Hank Plank album? We uploaded it to bandcamp so you can stream it. Possibly also on Spotify and who knows where else.

Some vintage Hank Plank shots from Central Oregon.