Paper Plane Crash

Always Crashing The Same Plane - Paper Plane Crash

Despite forming right here in god's greatest city (Nottingham, for those of you who don't know what I'm alluding to), Paper Plane Crash are still yet to play a gig here. But all that is about to change when on Wednesday 21 July they are set to play at The Chameleon alongside Dutch band WeBeNaked and indie-popsters Fonda 500. We find out just who Paper Plane Crash are...

Hello, how are you?
Charles: Intoxicating
Bod: Or more importantly, how are you?

Who does what in Paper Plane Crash?
Charles: Stu does the pots and pans, Charles happily plucks away on his twanger, & Bod makes some sort of booming noise.

For those who may not have heard of you, how would you describe your sound?
Charles: Intimate
Bod: Well, guitars are bright and melodic. Charles has a good ear for a pop riff, and on rare occasions we let Stu loose on his disco hihats. There’s the inevitable female-vocalist-with-a-bit-of-balls comparisons, PJ Harvey, Cat Power but I don’t really sound like either and if anyone, I mean ANYONE says bloody Florence I’m gonna nut them. And besides, the music is totally different.

How long have you been together?
Bod: It’s not quite our first birthday…

Are you from Nottingham?
Charles: No. But yes, 21 years and counting. Stu is.
Bod: I’m from NottingHull via a few other places North South East and West

How does the songwriting work in the band?
Bod: Charles brings the chords, Stu puts on the disco-drums, and Bod tries to make it make sense.

Do you have any musical influences?
Charles: The flute
Bod: 10CC, who are, of course, a much underrated band. I think we all agree on Pavement….

Any non musical influences?
Charles: Enya & Shakira
Bod: The dim mists of time….

How can whoever is reading this hear your music?
Charles: With ears…
Bod: What my esteemed colleague means to say is that we are recording shortly, and will put said tunes up on our myspace, but until that time, the only way to give us a thorough aural inspection is in person at The Chameleon on 21st July.

Do you have any tips for any new bands starting out?
Charles: Use a capo. Always iron your own costumes.
Bod: Play in Belgium. Waffles, Chocolates and the nicest beer on the rider, mmmm.

If you could play in any other band who would it be and why?
Bod: I think I nearly ended up in Future of the Left once. That would have been unbelieveably awesome but it meant moving to Cardiff. Nyahhh, I play in too many bands anyway!

What can we expect from your gig at The Chameleon?
Charles: Frolics
Bod: Cake, us playing songs, a fantastic Dutch band called WeBeNaked, and, of course, the mighty Fonda 500. They’re warming up for headlining the Last.FM stage at Truck Festival in Oxford. And Cake.

If you could introduce a gig going law, what would it be and why?
Stu: No tapping tall people on the shoulder and gesturing for them to move out of the way. You move!
Bod: No way man….that’s said by a tall person. All tall people to the back!
Charles: Always buy a band T-Shirt cos you will look well cool wearing it at the gig.

What other Nottingham bands do you like?
Bod: Lords but I never got to see em, erm Yunioshi, Fists, Dusty Bible, Molten Gods.
Stu: Nephu Huzzband were great last time I saw them live. Also, I keep meaning to see Made in the Shade live.
Charles: Slayer?

We are in the middle of festival season, if you were to put on your own who would you have on and where?
Bod: There are too many festivals these days, and I reckon its not the best way to see a band you like. The sound is often rubbish cos everyone’s in a rush and invariably there’s two people on at the same time that you want to see. I reckon a week camping on the Lizard in Cornwall with a few of bands a taking it in turns to play each night would be the best! Pavement, Sebadoh, David Bazan, NoMeansNo, Deerhoof and the Holy Orders.
Stu: No festival is complete without Hundred Reasons and The Subways. I’d say no artists permitted unless their live set features at least one guitar. In fact, I’ll just have Leeds Festival, but in Wollaton Park, please. And moshing is mandatory.
Charles: Dread Zeppelin, Smashing Bumpkins, Jonny Cash-back, Antartic Monkeys.

Describe a good night out in Nottingham for you?
Bod: The best nights out seem to end up back at mine with me making round after round of Philadelphia on toast for random waifs and strays…
Stu: Any combination of beer, pool, pub quiz and all my bestest buddies. And if it’s Curry Club at Wetherspoons then even better...
Charles: Extra dips for 50p and all night Greggs!

What was the first record you bought?
Charles: Pulp – 'Different Class'
Stu: That Mr Blobby Christmas single. 1993, I remember it well.
Bod: Neil – 'Hole in my Shoe'

What was the first gig you went to?
Charles: Eels at Rock City. I got a free poster
Stu: I honestly have no idea. I think when I saw Radiohead in 2003 it was so mindblowing that it erased all my memories of previous gigs.
Bod: Mega City Four at the Astoria, sadly no more, sigh!

Do you have any musical 'guilty pleasures', stuff you know you shouldn't enjoy, but do?
Charles: Leo Sayer, ABBA, David Duchovny, Dream Theatre
Stu: I think all of my friends are already aware of my unhealthy enjoyment of various Lady Gaga songs. There are various other dark musical secrets, although I don’t feel so guilty about those.
Bod: Balls to that question, if you like it, like it and sod what anyone else says!

What was the last book you read?
Stu: 'Number 9 Dream' by David Mitchell. No, not that David Mitchell. It’s set in Japan like all really good books are.
Bod: 'The Owl Killers' by Karen Maitland. It was OK, but I didn’t think much of her take on the Beguines. I’m boning up on historical fiction for a future epic…

If you were to die and were reincarnated, what would you like to come back as?
Stu: Someone who can sing.
Charles: A bond villain’s cat
Bod: Nyahh, I don’t hold with this afterlife rubbish; wishes, horses and all that. Make the most of what you’ve got now, before bits start dropping off!

Tell us something that you have never told anyone before...
Bod: I was a Roman Centurion in a past life. It’s not true, but I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone…
Stu: I still listen to trance music every now and then.
Charles: %&$£ my &%£4! (Bod: Charles is normally quite the gentleman, I’m shocked!)

Any final words for the LeftLion readers?
Charles: It’s OK to have an After Eight at 7.15 pm.
Stu: Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance if you turn up to the gig. We’re playing with two great bands and I’m sure between us we’ll leave you sonically satisfied.
Bod: Plethora. Obfuscate. Clarty. None of these are used enough.

Paper Plane Crash along with WeBeNaked and Fonda 500 perform at The Chameleon on Wednesday 21 July 2010.

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