People in Planes must really want to play in Columbus.
Four days before their show here, the Welsh band played a show in London. Three days after their show here, they’re playing in Los Angeles.
London to Los Angeles, with a Columbus stop sandwiched in the middle. That’s a lot of traveling.
And keep in mind, all that travel inside U.S. borders isn’t done by charter jet. These guys will be hitting the road to get to California, and they’ll be on that road for a long, long time.
So the show in Columbus better be worth it.
We think it will be.
People in Planes—the band that sings “Last Man Standing” (which is getting airplay on CD101 these days)—is one of five groups taking part in CD101 Day at The LC Pavilion on April 11. Tickets are $5.
The other four bands are The Parlor Mob, The Cliks, Audrye Sessions and local group Karate Coyote.
After winning over some fans with their debut album “As Far as the Eye Can See,” People in Planes is reaching a wider audience with the sophomore album “Beyond the Horizon,” which came out late last year.
Before leaving England for the states, guitarist-songwriter Pete Roberts gave Metromix a call to discuss the concert.
The first time we heard of you guys was a few ago when we saw the video for “If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode),” which was directed by the now-infamous Joaquin Phoenix. How was it working with him?
He was a really cool dude. He was very down to earth. He was pretty engrossed in his craft. You could tell he was really passionate about it.
Is it safe to say you didn’t hear him do much rapping on the set?
No, not back then. He’d just done the “Walk the Line” movie, so he had a little strum on the guitar every once in awhile, but he didn’t get into any rapping stuff. But I will say he looked the part holding that guitar.
You guys have been all over TV and film, from a cameo in the movie “John Tucker Must Die” to having your music appear on “House,” on a commercial for “The Sopranos” and also on a show previewing a UFC fight. What is it about your music that appeals to such a wide array of programs?
Just good songs, I hope. You know what I mean? Connecting lyrics, I guess. It’s weird, really. It’s just another form of promotion where we’re getting our music out there. In the early stage of your career, it’s just easier to let people use your music whenever you can. You’re just trying to get it out there. We weren’t too picky about who used it.
Does the same thing apply to appearing in the movie? You guys actually got to be on camera a little during “John Tucker Must Die,” playing the band at a party. How was that experience?
It seemed really cool to begin with, but it rapidly turned into a bit of a drag. We shot a bit for the movie, but being a part of it really does take you outside of your comfort zone. You really just end up getting associated with a piece of art that you have no control over. You don’t really have anything to do with the final [product]. It’s a strange concept, really. I’m not sure if I particularly like it. I think I’ll stick with the songwriting.
Finally, talk a little about this crazy schedule you guys booked for yourselves. You’re in London on Tuesday, then L.A. the next Tuesday, with a Columbus show squeezed in there. How did that happen?
Yeah, we were just talking about that now. That’s gonna be some serious, grueling driving in a van. We’ve just been on the road in Britain for about two weeks, but we haven’t done that much touring in Britain over the last four years. So it’s been really cool to come back home and play here, and we’re looking forward to continuing back in America. But that drive is gonna be sick.
