This gig came about through one of the last ones, which was when I went to see Evaline at the Bull and Gate in Kentish Town.
Among the audience members was Steve Forrest, who used to drum with Evaline – but, when there was a difference of opinion between he and the band’s singer (I must confess, I can see why there would be a difference of opinion with the band’s singer), he went his own way. Or, in his words, “they kicked me out”. However, it was the best thing they did for him, as he now drums with Placebo.
Yep, the kid’s got a gig drumming alongside the world’s sexiest man.
Anyway, I digress.
So, Steve and I got chatting, initially about tattoos, and then he mentioned that his own band, Planes, were playing at the O2 the following Wednesday and that I should try to go along.
Now, I’m not a lover of sarff London, so the thought didn’t appeal. But, I was curious, and I wanted to show some support, especially as he’s a pretty cool guy in real life.
Before being either horrified or pleasantly surprised on the night, I decided it would be a good thing to buy their EP and see what they sounded like. On the initial hearing of the first song on the EP, Poor Boy, I was uncertain. It sounded nothing like either Evaline nor Placebo, but I stuck with it and the EP began to grow on me. By the time the gig was approaching, I had One in a Million on repeat. I was happy, because now I could go and actually enjoy the music!
When we got to the arena, we discovered that the section set up for its December Sessions was actually “outside”. Not outside the tent, but it might as well have been; and, with over an hour to go before Planes were due on, we had ample time in which to freeze. And freeze we did. The overpriced beer did nothing to warm us up either, so by the time Planes came on, we were feeling pretty miserable.
The band were cold too, but under the lights, and as result of the energy expended when playing music vigorously on-stage, they soon warmed up. As they warmed, we warmed.
Well, our spirits warmed.
Planes are good! Steve’s voice is very different from the kind of voices generally heard on the music scene right now. It grabs your attention and then invites you in. He’s an energetic performer, and that holds your focus.
Planes are comprised of Steve Forrest (obviously) Handsome Dan Sayer (that’s what he’s called, but I wouldn’t know how true it is because all I could see was hair, a guitar and some legs sticking out the bottom of it) Char O’ Lette (hot chick with violin and killer heels) Teddy Bear and Eddie Harris. (Plenty of toyboy eye candy for you TBW ladies!)
They came about when Steve set about pulling together various friends from the scene in Shepherds Bush and Camden to form them, and it’s a good thing he did.
I hope Planes take wings to become a band to be reckoned with on the circuit; they certainly deserve it.
A word of advice for when you’ve bought the EP – play it LOUD; and, don’t listen to One Drink drunk.
Written by Fyrebyrd, TBW Gig Correspondent
