Regardless of what anyone else thinks or says, People in Planes are currently the best Welsh band around. Currently finishing up a huge North American tour in support of their sophomore release, Beyond The Horizon, OUT NOW! via Wind-Up Records.
People In Planes 2006 debut, As Far As The Eye Can See, brought the band massive critical success and was followed by performances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live and tours with The Bravery, VHS or Beta and The (International) Noise Conspiracy.
In December the boys are kicking off a UK tour in small clubs all over the country. If you want to go and see an amazing gig you should be at one of these shows as I guarantee you that their next tour will be in much less intimate venues. If your going to the Cardiff show I shall see you there!
6 Dec 2008 20:00
Kasbah Coventry
7 Dec 2008 20:00
Barfly - Liverpool Liverpool
8 Dec 2008 20:00
Night & Day Manchester
10 Dec 2008 20:00
Clwb Ifor Bach Cardiff
11 Dec 2008 20:00
Buck’s Student Union Buckinghamshire
12 Dec 2008 20:00
Bodega Nottingham
13 Dec 2008 20:00
Hamptons Southampton
14 Dec 2008 20:00
iBar Boumemouth
15 Dec 2008 20:00
Borderline London
18 Dec 2008 20:00
Boiler Room Guildford
19 Dec 2008 20:00
Esquires Harlow
Altsounds was lucky enough to catch up with Pete Roberts maestro guitarist with People in Planes where we talk about their new album, touring, the bands roots, Joaquin Phoenix directing their music video plus shed loads more. A must read!
Altsounds: You guys had a somewhat turbulent beginning, but now the amazing credentials are piling up, are things going just as you'd planned now?
People in Planes [Peter Roberts]: Not really. The music industry in general is now the source of turbulence for every band. I don’t really care about anything except playing live any more. Although, eventually we’ll probably have to play gigs in studios in front of a green screen and people will download you into their living room in hologramatic projection form, with optional film and Dominos pizza.
Altsounds: Are you more or less the same band now as when you were Tetra Splendour, or was that the perfect excuse to try something a bit different?
People in Planes [Peter Roberts]: We’re more or less the same. The song writing has greatly improved since those days and we don’t bombard ourselves with drugs any more. We now have a more focused outlook on life. I think we’ve grown into our skin now as performers and communicators. But, we’ve always essentially wanted to be alternative and diverse and that’s always stuck.
Altsounds: Your new record, Beyond the Horizon, was recorded in 6 different locations, any particular reason for this?
People in Planes [Peter Roberts]: We tried to form two equilateral triangles from the GPS locations of each studio in accordance with the constellation Leo, in order to create celestial harmony and power in the music.
Not sure if it worked.
We tried using multiple producers until it got a bit crazy and then stuck with Dan Austin. We used many different spaces with him because we wanted to do as much of it as possible on our laptops. That worked really well because we could take as long as we wanted in my house without the studio clock ticking away.
Altsounds: How was working with famed Producer Sam Williams on "As Far As the Eye Can See"?
People in Planes [Peter Roberts]: Life changing. He made us set up in a rehearsal scenario for the first time and actually question each part of the song and whether it was any good. It was weird because no one had influenced us in that way before. We thought he was so cool because we basically worshipped Supergrass and ‘I Should Coco’ so it was easy to trust him. Also, he persuaded us to become a five-piece and get Gaz singing the songs like a singer and not stuck behind a keyboard rig.
Altsounds: Can you shed a little light on your slogan "People in Planes are mainly concerned with living another day"?
People in Planes [Peter Roberts]: It’s about taking each day as it comes. Kind of like a Buddhist sentiment of living in the moment. It effected us quite badly when we got eaten up by EMI records at such a young age, so when we came back we didn’t want to take things too seriously or have any big ideas about the future. In the same way, I think when you get on a plane there’s one concern which unifies everyone on board which is, fucking hell, please let me get through this day!
Altsounds: Speaking of planes (nice segue there!), who would you love to be stuck on a plane with? Top 5?
People in Planes [Peter Roberts]:
- Marilyn Manson
- Tom Waits
- Peter Cook
- Frank Caliendo
- Barack Obama.
Altsounds: So you're obviously not afraid of flying, what are some of the things you are afraid of?
People in Planes [Peter Roberts]: John McCain. Religion.
Altsounds: You've mentioned that you've previously done covers of Supergrass and Neil Young songs. What do you think is the greatest cover version of a song ever released?
People in Planes [Peter Roberts]: Biffy Clyro doing ‘Take Me Out’ by Franz Ferdinand.
Altsounds: You've performed at the Reading festival and SXSW, how does performing at those events compare with a regular People In Planes tour gig?
People in Planes [Peter Roberts]: Reading was awesome. Great to be a part of something massive. SXSW is usually a chaotic disaster where amps blow up and lightning strikes. That’s kind of like a regular People In Planes show. You never know what’s going to happen!
Altsounds: How was it being asked to join the ranks of artists such as Scott Stapp, Seether and Finger Eleven at Wind-Up records?
People in Planes [Peter Roberts]: It was a novelty. We’d never heard of any of the Wind Up bands (except Creed and Evanescence obviously), so it suited us very well to be going into an insular environment after coming from EMI. We loved the fact that it’s a family owned label, and there were very few bands there. All the bands get the love and attention they deserve.
Altsounds: How did you manage to get Joaquin Phoenix to direct the "If You Talk Too Much My Head Will Explode" video?
People in Planes [Peter Roberts]: He asked us. We were spreading the track around and he loved the track and wanted to work with a new artist. Next thing you know, I’m in my mum’s house on the phone with him. Trippy!
http://www.myspace.com/peopleinplanes