Tag Archives: The Paper Kites

The Paper Kites to Kick off West Coast Tour This February In Support of New Album At the Roadhouse

Australian indie-folk groundbreakers The Paper Kites make their way back to North America this February for the final leg of their tour in support of their latest acclaimed album, At The Roadhouse. The nearly sold-out headline tour starts on February 27th in Salt Lake City with stops in Denver, Phoenix, Pioneertown, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, and more. Full list of dates below.

‘At The Roadhouse’ LP

Last fall, The Paper Kites set out on the first leg of their At The Roadhouse tour, selling out numerous dates, including Toronto’s 1,500-capacity Dan Forth Music Hall and Washington DC’s historic 1,200-capacity Howard Theatre, as well as their NYC, Austin, and Durham shows.

Watch the Band Perform “Till The Flame Turns Blue” LIVE

At The Roadhouse is the continuation of an odds-defying run for The Paper Kites that has seen them achieve accolades like a certified Platinum record in the US, over a billion streams and 8M monthly listeners on Spotify, and continuously-growing sold-out audiences across continents.

Removing themselves from the typical pageantry that accompanies accolades like that, the group found inspiration for this new album by relocating to the remote village of Campbells Creek – away from the pressures of daily life – where they joyfully filled The Roadhouse with music around the clock for weeks on end. While often creating new songs by day, performing them to a growing fan community at night, and recording right there the next morning – the resulting sixteen songs form a touching ode to what waits for us on the winding roads of love, loss, acceptance, and wanderlust.

The Paper Kites West Coast Tour Dates

Get Tickets Here

  • Feb 27 – Salt Lake City, UT @ UTMetro Music Hall – SOLD OUT
  • Feb 28 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre – SOLD OUT
  • Mar 1 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom – SOLD OUT
  • Mar 2 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s – SOLD OUT
  • Mar 3 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s – SECOND DATE ADDED
  • Mar 4 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park – SOLD OUT
  • Mar 5 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre – LOW TICKETS
  • Mar 6 – San Francisco, CA @ August Hall – SOLD OUT
  • Mar 8 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom – SOLD OUT
  • Mar 9 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune – SOLD OUT
  • Mar 10 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre – LOW TICKETS
  • Mar 12 – Calgary, CA @ Bella Concert Hall – LOW TICKETS
  • Mar 13 – Edmonton, CA @ McDougall United Church – LOW TICKETS
  • Mar 15 – Winnipeg, CA @ Burton Cummings Theatre – LOW TICKETS
  • Mar 16 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Café– SOLD OUT
  • Mar 17 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall – SOLD OUT

The Paper Kites have more upcoming tour dates in Canada, Europe, and Australia. View Full List of Tour Dates Here


At The Roadhouse

Listen to the Album Here

‘At the Roadhouse’ album artwork | Photo: Dara Munnis. @daramunnis

Tracklist

  1. Midnight Moon
  2. Till The Flame Turns Blue
  3. Black & Thunder
  4. Marietta
  5. Rolling On Easy
  6. Hurts So Good
  7. Burn The Night Away
  8. Good Nights Gone
  9. June’s Stolen Car
  10. Maria, It’s Time
  11. Green Valleys
  12. The Sweet Sound Of You
  13. I Don’t Want To Go That Way
  14. Pocket Full Of Rain
  15. Mercy
  16. Darkness At My Door

 “anyone who steps into The Roadhouse — in person or via listening to the recording — can carry with them a light against the darkness”  –  No Depression


The Paper Kites are:

  • Sam Bentley (Lead Vocals, Guitars, Harmonica & Mandolin)
  • Christina Lacy (Backing Vocals, Pianos, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, Guitars)
  • David Powys (Backing Vocals, Guitars, Banjo)
  • Samuel Rasmussen (Bass)
  • Josh Bentley (Drums)

With The Roadhouse Band:

  • Hannah Cameron (Backing Vocals, Organs, Piano & Percussion)
  • Chris Panousakis (Backing Vocals, Guitars, Percussion)
  • Matt Dixon (Pedal Steel, Guitars)

SPECIAL REVIEW: The Paper Kites Breeze into Neptune Theatre (9-16-19)

SEATTLE — Like a gentle breeze, The Paper Kites brought in a soothing and refreshing performance to Neptune Theatre, accompanied by special guest Harrison Storm. Purely cathartic, The Paper Kites’ dreamy indie/folk rock music serves as a lullaby, the stitches that mend broken lovers, escapism for the weary and hopeless. 

Neptune Theatre’s interior architecture
| Photography:
Katherine Amy Vega, Kataklizmic Design © All Rights Reserved

Held in a historic theatre with ornate Renaissance-influenced architecture and folding chairs, there seemed to be some ambiguity as to whether the crowd should handle themselves formally or casually, whether they should keep silent in reverence or cheer, sit or stand. Singer-songwriter Harrison Storm helped assure the audience that they had permission to applaud, although the presence of chairs still persuaded all to stay planted in their seats for most of the night.

Harrison Storm
| Photographer:
Katherine Amy Vega, Kataklizmic Design
© All Rights Reserved

Storm was a good lead-in for The Paper Kites, with a personal and minimalist style. He will be parting ways with the band following their September 20th show in San Luis Obispo, and embarking on a headlining tour in the UK and Europe beginning on October 11.

The Paper Kites
| Photographer:
Katherine Amy Vega, Kataklizmic Design
© All Rights Reserved

Being a performing arts venue, Neptune Theatre didn’t have overhead lighting directed toward the band, and the lights on the edge of the stage were low, leaving The Paper Kites mostly backlit. This lent itself to the midnight mood of their music, and also often illuminated drummer Josh Bentley and bassist and synthist Sam Rasmussen more than the others.

twelvefour

Sometimes the combination of blue and magenta lights resembled the neon sign on the cover of twelvefour, creating an even deeper sense of immersion.

The lone woman of the group, keyboardist and guitarist Christina Lacy, has a humble stage presence despite the prominence of her vocals within the harmonies in their songs. On this night, her entrancing vocals, along with those of Dave Powys, were nearly as soft as a whisper.

Christina Lacy, The Paper Kites
| Photographer:
Katherine Amy Vega, Kataklizmic Design
© All Rights Reserved

Powys entranced onlookers when he played the lap steel, an instrument that many had undoubtedly never seen.

Dave Powys (Lap Steel, Guitar, Vocals), The Paper Kites
Photographer:
Katherine Amy Vega, Kataklizmic Design
© All Rights Reserved

Frontman Sam Bentley brings authenticity to the stage, sharing endearing stories that brought some levity, and visibly drawing on his emotions as he sang verses and held notes like a long, slow yoga exhale. Seeming to channel a trance-like state, each musician in the five-piece band performed with otherworldly control and subtlety.

Sam Bentley (Lead Vocals, Guitar), The Paper Kites
Photographer:
Katherine Amy Vega, Kataklizmic Design
© All Rights Reserved

We often like to impose our own lives onto the music we listen to, giving it particular relevance to ourselves, but it was interesting to hear some of the tales behind the songwriting that Bentley shared that night. The meaning behind the lyrics is often so much more interesting and creative than what you would assume. Some of the best parts of the show were a couple of times when every member of the band came together to sing into a single microphone. One of the most shining moments for Bentley’s vocals was the climax of “Give Me Your Fire, Give Me Your Rain” off of On the Corner Where You Live — the second of a two-part album release in 2018. They closed out the night with all five  on a guitar (incl. bass) for “Standing in the Rain” from the first 2018 release On the Train Ride Home. Including the encore, The Paper Kites performed a 16-song setlist.

On the Train Ride Home
On the Corner Where You Live

Beginning in British Columbia, this was the second stop on The Paper Kites’ 2019 fall tour that will be traveling down the United States and passing over Phoenix, Arizona  — home of Burning Hot Events. They will be making stops in the south, working their way north up the eastern seaboard, visiting the Midwest, and heading back up to play their last date in Alberta. In 2018, they toured in support of their two releases that year. The 2018 fall tour was concentrated primarily in California, Canada, and the northeastern US, so Phoenix wasn’t privy to this tour either, whereas Seattle had the privilege of being slated for both tours. However, Seattle holds a special place in their hearts, being that it was a location they ventured to in 2015 to record the one and only twelvefour. On this night at Neptune Theatre, Bentley called Seattle a “second home”.

It seems that Arizona was last graced with their presence in 2017 when they performed at Club Congress in Tucson. Since they have performed in landmark venues such as Club Congress, Seattle’s Neptune Theatre, and San Francisco’s The Fillmore, perhaps one day they will be hosted by The Van Buren in Phoenix — converted from a historic vintage auto dealership. Good luck Phoenix… You could use a chill night like this.

The Paper Kites tour dates can be found here.

Fans of The Paper Kites might also like Faunts, an electronic rock/pop band from Canada

Photo Gallery

Photographer: Katherine Amy Vega

The Paper Kites & Harrison Storm – Neptune Theatre 9-6-19

Photography © Kataklizmic Design
All Rights Reserved.

REVIEW: The Paper Kites Get Intimate with Club Congress 4-3-17

Tucson, AZ — The Paper Kites rolled into town from San Diego to perform at the intimate Club Congress inside of the historic Hotel Congress. The 7 year old band of an indie folk-rock genre hails from Melbourne, Australia. The band supported headliner Passenger for this North American tour, however Tucson received the special treat of a show headlined by The Paper Kites.

Opening the night was local songwriter Jess Matsen, who chilled his way through his mellow acoustic set while some in the crowd chattered directly in front of him. In between songs, Matsen spoke to the crowd, stating that he hadn’t anticipated such a large turnout. Despite the noise, there were some attendees that clearly appreciated his performance, and shouted up front to ask for his name. Matsen released The Killing of Our Kind Of in November of last year, and has also performed with local groups Dream Sick & J.R.M.

Jess Matsen - Photo Credit: Katherine Amy Vega
Jess Matsen
Photo Credit: Katherine Amy Vega © Kataklizmic Design

The Paper Kites directly followed Matsen with a sound that one fan was overheard describing as “ethereal”, and they brought passersby into the venue with their notable sound. The band’s harmonies are entrancing, particularly their signature duets between lead vocalist Sam Bentley and keyboardist/guitarist Christina Lacy.

The Paper Kites - Club Congress
Christina Lacy (Keyboardist, Guitarist, Vocalist), The Paper Kites
Photo Credit: Katherine Amy Vega © Kataklizmic Design

In between songs, Bentley took the opportunity to chat with the crowd, commenting that the intimate venue was like playing a house show… except not, because it’s much fancier. He also joked about wishing he could take one of the cacti home, that he saw during the drive to Tucson from California. After he broke out his harmonica, he mused that everyone always gets excited about the instrument.

The Paper Kites - Club Congress
Sam Bentley (Vocalist), The Paper Kites
Photo Credit: Katherine Amy Vega © Kataklizmic Design

The venue afforded him the opportunity to interact with the crowd in a way not possible on the other dates of the tour in which they performed grand theaters such as The Wiltern in Los Angeles and Fox Theater in Oakland, CA.

The Paper Kites - Photo Credit: Katherine Amy Vega
The Paper Kites
Photo Credit: Katherine Amy Vega © Kataklizmic Design

With the lighting that Club Congress offers, it was pleasant to be able to observe every band member clearly. The least visible being bassist/synthist Sam Rasmussen, who was tucked in the back right corner behind the other musicians and instruments.

The Paper Kites - Club Congress
Sam Rasmussen (Bassist, Synths), The Paper Kites
Photo Credit: Katherine Amy Vega © Kataklizmic Design

With impressive mastery of their musicianship and sound, there was nary a difference in sound between hearing The Paper Kites live and listening to one of their albums.

The Paper Kites “Too Late” live in Tucson

Amidst their set, following the song “Too Late”, came the most intimate segment of all. Bentley asked that the lights be turned off, and the room was then lit only by the faint glow of the exit signs. The next two songs were a unique and meditative period of visual deprivation. The first song in the darkness was “A Silent Cause”, which was fitting considering how silent the crowd felt obligated to become with the lights out.

The Paper Kites - Club Congress
David Powys (Guitarist, Vocalist), The Paper Kites
Photo Credit: Katherine Amy Vega
© Kataklizmic Design

The second song in the darkness was “Bloom”, which instead had the audience united in a beautiful chorus.  Usually while the unison sing-a-longs at concerts are touching, tone-deaf vocals shout-sang by fans are commonplace. (It doesn’t matter, because it’s about the experience and showing love to the artists.) But The Paper Kites’ fans in Tucson have surprisingly good singing voices, as they fell into a delightful harmony.

The Paper Kites - Photo Credit: Katherine Amy Vega
Josh Bentley (Drummer, The Paper Kites
Photo Credit: Katherine Amy Vega © Kataklizmic Design

Before the encore, the band played “Electric Indigo”, followed by “Featherstone” to close the show. Afterward, the band was so kind as to meet fans, autograph merch, and take group photos outside. It was not just a small concert, but truly an experience to be in attendance at The Paper Kites’ gig in Tucson, with such a personal connection both during and after their performance. No doubt fans were grateful for the rare opportunity before the band heads back to Australia.

PHOTO ALBUM
by Katherine Amy Vega

The Paper Kites & Jess Matsen – Club Congress 4-3-17

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