Live From Planet Peelander

Fun is what drives Peelander-Z.  Hailing from the Z-area of planet Peelander by way of Japan and now living in Brooklyn, the members adapt performance names that are combinations of the band’s moniker and various colors.  Whether frontman Peelander-Yellow is leading sing-alongs, playing a couple frames of human bowling or high-fiving every person in the venue, the band’s goal is to make sure everyone has fun, as evidenced by all the smiles found in the crowd in every one of the band’s live videos.

Smiles are very important in the Peelander-Z world.  So is audience participation as the band strives to give people performances they’ll never forget.

Peelander-Yellow chatted with Pollstar about the band’s new album – the heavy metal influenced Metalander-Z, the group’s upcoming tour, and all the injuries he’s suffered through the years bringing the world of Peelander-Z to the people.

How is life on Planet Peelander these days?

We do not just play music.  We do human bowling, jumping rope, the rainbow dance, play baseball … Peelander Planet people need something happy because they eat smiles. I have to make you smile. … and get your smile to send to our planet. … We are so happy to play everywhere.

What are initial rehearsals for an upcoming tour like?  Does the band establish the set and then add elements like human bowling?  Or do you plot out the audience-participation features and plan the music around them?

Our music all sounds kind of the same … [so it’s] easy for us.  We need to practice because [we have] an off, off, off-Broadway style.  Kind of like a theatre style. … [Rehearsals are] 90 percent theatre practice, 10 percent music practice.

Peelander-Z began in the late ‘90s. Why do you think the band has lasted as long as it has?

I’m not a genius musician [but] I know how to have fun on stage.  All my friends in the band, they started at the same time but they gave up because they were only thinking about music. … I’m not thinking about music, that’s why I think I can keep on playing a long time. That is kind of a key for me.  I’m having fun.

How do you take all that fun from the stage and condense it into an album?

Making music is just one thing to bring the people to see the show. In the beginning we made a punk-rock music album.  We tried to make a kid’s album. … This one, we tried to make a heavy metal album. I think the next one, we might make a hip hop album.  We [also] want to do bluegrass, blues, country … and make it in Peelander style.  All of life is not only music.  We have to learn something, open a new door, and have fun.  I want to teach everybody how to have fun.

Do you think Peelander-Z interacts with audiences more than most bands?

I think so.  We’re thinking about the audience, first. If I go to see a show, I cannot see only music-playing bands.  I cannot shake hands with [all the musicians] at the same time. You can see [Peelander-Z] on TV [and] I want to shake hands from TV to your house.  When we do the show I want to go on the floor, never play only on the stage. … That is Peelander-Z basic style.

Do you see a lot of return business with fans coming back to see the band tour after tour?

I think so. We are not super famous.  I want to see the next generation, like baby Peelander-Z people.

With the shows being so physically demanding, are you exhausted at the end of a performance?

Of course I’m getting old, but after shows I’m always super-hyper.  My heart is full of all the happy smiles.

Peelander-Z played at Bonnaroo 10 years ago.  How did that go over?

I hit myself and broke my tooth on the stage.

That’s not the only injury you’ve had performing.  Didn’t you break a leg once?

Yes.  In Albuquerque I jumped from the second floor and broke my bone. … I broke my nose … everywhere I broke [something].  But I know how to counter, now.  I know how to use my energy.

Did the Albuquerque show stop after you were injured or did you try to keep performing?

I never stop.  On Warped Tour in 2011 … I did the high-five every day, 2000, 3000 [people].  I broke my shoulder.

The band has experienced a few personnel changes through the years.  What kind of musician makes for a great Peelander-Z player?

That’s hard to answer. … It’s very hard to find.  People want to play with us but it’s a totally different audience, different style. Maybe we should play with a circus.  They have clowns, tigers, bears … Maybe we ought to play with a magician, like David Copperfield.

What can you tell fans about the new tour?

We released our heavy metal album – Metalander-Z.  We have a new [single] “Ride On The Shooting Star.”  Maybe everybody [should] learn that song and sing it with me karaoke style. … You will see a new side of Peelander-Z.

The band has toured extensively through the years.  Are there any places that are big Peelander-Z cities?

Austin, Texas.  We’re going down to SXSW.  We have our own festival called Peelander Festival.  That is all-ages and on Sunday we have a kids show.  We play every year at SXSW and on the last Sunday we play for kids … a family show we call “Mad Tiger Festival.”  I’m an artist, too, [and] we do live painting with the kids.  There is a magician, a guy making balloons, toys, music.  Everything for kids.  Maybe someday we’ll do a kids show tour.

What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t an entertainer?

I love to create. … I never think about [anything else].  Maybe a fisherman.  I love fishing.

Upcoming shows for Peelander-Z:

March 8 – Savannah, Ga., Club One (Savannah Stopover)
March 11 – Austin, Texas, Valhalla (SXSW)
March 12 – Austin, Texas, Hole In The Wall (SXSW)
March 14 – Austin, Texas, The Grackle (SXSW)
March 16 – Austin, Texas, Kenny Dorham’s Backyard (SXSW)
March 18 – Houston, Texas, Fitzgerald’s
March 19 – New Orleans, La., One Eyed Jacks
March 20 – Birmingham, Ala., BottleTree
March 21 – Athens, Ga., 40 Watt Club
March 22 – Knoxville, Tenn., The Bowery
March 24 – Atlanta, Ga., Drunken Unicorn
March 25 – Chattanooga, Tenn., JJ’s Bohemia
March 26 – Nashville, Tenn., High Watt
March 28 – St. Louis, Mo., The Demo
March 29 – Springfield, Mo., The Outland Ballroom
March 30 – Tulsa, Okla., Mercury Lounge
April 1 – Norman, Okla., Opolis
April 2 – Wichita, Kan., Lizard Lounge
April 3 – Lincoln, Neb., Knickerbockers
April 5 – Kansas City, Mo., The Riot Room (Middle Of The Map Fest)
April 9 – Denver, Colo., Marquis Theater
April 10 – Salt Lake City, Utah, Urban Lounge
April 11 – Las Vegas, Nev., Double Down Saloon
April 12 – Phoenix, Ariz., Last Exit Live
April 15 – San Diego, Calif., Soda Bar
April 16 – West Hollywood, Calif., The Viper Room
April 17 – San Francisco, Calif., DNA Lounge
April 19 – Portland, Ore., Hawthorne Theatre Lounge
April 21 – Seattle, Wash., El Corazon
April 22 – Boise, Idaho, Neurolux
April 24 – Missoula, Mont., The Palace
April 25 – Bozeman, Mont., Zebra Cocktail Lounge
April 26 – Billings, Mont., The Railyard
April 28 – Fargo, N.D., The Aquarium
April 29 – Minneapolis, Minn., 7th Street Entry
May 1 – Chicago, Ill., Reggies Rock Club
May 2 – Pontiac, Mich., Pike Room
Mike 3 – Toledo, Ohio, Frankie’s Inner-City
May 4 – Newport, Ky., The Southgate House Revival
May 5 – Cleveland, Ohio, Beachland Tavern
May 6 – Columbus, Ohio, Rumba Café
May 7 – Pittsburgh, Pa., The Altar Bar
May 8 – Richmond, Va., Strange Matter
May 9 – Baltimore, Md., Ottobar
May 14 – Providence, R.I., Fete Lounge
May 15 – Boston, Mass., Church
May 16 – New Haven, Conn., Cafe Nine
May 17 – Brooklyn, N.Y., The Glasslands Gallery
June 21 – Philadelphia, Pa., Trocadero Theatre

Please visit Peelander-Z.com for more information.