Australian veteran rock’n’soulers PlanB – all eight of them – are coming to Cambodia this week as part of their Paint It Black tour of South East Asia. They first came to Cambodia in 2010, then returned in 2011, 2017, 2020 and 2023. While they were passing through Vietnam this week LengPleng was able to have a chat with bass player and tour organiser Peter ‘Sneaky Pete’ Flierl to discuss what’s new in the 2024 version of the band and reminisce about previous tours.
How’s the tour going so far?
“It’s been going well. We started with two shows in the seaside town of Mui Ne. When I used to work at the Australian Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, many, many years ago, it was a four to five hour bus trip through the wilds out to the seaside. Now it’s about three and a half hours, depending on traffic. An idyllic little place, ideal for windsurfing. It’s a lot more touristy now than it was 20 years ago. We had two gigs there at Joe’s Café to start the tour. We’re now in Ho Chi Minh City, on Sunday night we played at No 5 Bar. After one final gig at Acoustic Bar we’ll get on a bus on Thursday morning bound for Phnom Penh.”
I understand there’s a forced change in line-up this time.
“Yes, our usual drummer was initially coming along for the tour, but had to pull out. So I reached out to a Vietnamese drummer, Thao, who I’d known back in the day – she played drums in a band that my wife and I formed, the Mekong Delta Band. We arrived in Vietnam last Thursday, flying in from Adelaide, and went straight into the rehearsal studio with Thao. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster since arrival. And she’ll be coming to Cambodia with us.”
What else is new on the Paint It Black tour?
“We’ve added a handful of new songs that we’re road-testing. COVID meant that it’s been a long time between recordings, and trying to organise eight players is a bit like herding cats. On top of that re-working everyth8ing with Tau on drums – everyone’s on their toes. Also we’re playing quite a few Cambodian venues that we haven’t played before, including Kep Natural in Kep and Queenco in Sihanoukville.”
Since you were last here one of your number, Cameron Smith, has actually moved to Phnom Penh, and is already in nine bands.
“Yes, we’ve been lucky to have Cameron on board with PlanB. I know he was really looking forward to the move, and he’s thriving on it.”
Touring seems to be a major part of what makes the band work now.
“Most of our gigs are actually overseas these days. Most of us have got other ventures – our main bands or side projects. I try to keep the momentum going somehow. The tours are a labour of love, organising everything and making sure things work smoothly. Cambodia has always been very good to us, so touring there is always very high on the agenda whenever I’m planning them. With Cameron stationed there at the moment it makes sense to be looking at next year for another tour, maybe incorporating Bangkok for a weekend.”
PlanB kick off the Cambodia leg of the tour tonight, Thursday, at LOLA Music Lounge, and continue through the weekend with shows at Hometown Hangout, Duplex and The Waterside, before heading to Kep and Sihanoukville.
