In Concert: The Paper Kites

My journey back to concerts began mostly because my child was too young to get into certain venues alone. It was the perfect push to go back to something I loved as a teenager, then was too poor as a college student to partake in, and now as a full-fledged adult I am making up for lost time and having the time of my life. Boston is a great place to enjoy concerts in venues that run the gamut from tiny and intimate to large and raucous. In concert is a series that recaps concerts primarily in Boston. In Concert, is a vignette of each show, hopefully to inspire you to take a listen to a new band and catch them next time they are in town if you’re a fan. I love a wide range of music styles and always prefer to be standing on the floor than seated at a concert because I love to dance. Each vignette will include a little 101 on the venue as well.

When + Where

Monday, October 30th, 2023 in Boston’s little theatre district nestled between Chinatown, downtown, the South End and Back Bay. It was a rainy temperate evening in Boston. The perfect evening to spend inside listening to rich soulful sound of Australian quintet: The Paper Kites. The Wilbur is a theatre originally opened in 1914 and seats just over 2000, but has an intimate feel.

Opener

Described as alternative country and indie folk, The Cactus Blossoms, from Minneapolis, Minnesota kicked off the evening. The sibling pair, Jack Torrey and Page Burkum, took the stage with their guitars and harmonies. They did a cover of Bob Dylan’s To Ramona in addition to a set of their own songs.

Vibe On The Floor

The Wilbur filled with people; many gathering by the stage with drinks in hand to enjoy a mellow evening of indie folk rock. The rest of the theatre was seated with fans from all over including expats who knew the band from Australia and other countries, students who follow The Paper Kites and were excited to have them in town, and local people in the know. The energy was chill, peaceful and mellow matching the energy of both bands.

The Songs

The Paper Kites opened their set with Between the Houses off of their 2018 Album On The Train Ride Home. They included a cover of Every Time The Sun Comes Up by Sharon Van Etten. The set included one of their most popular songs Bloom. For the encore, they sang By My Side and Electric Indigo. Their set included June’s Stolen Car a song from their latest album, At the Roadhouse released September 2023

Vibe On Stage

Something about The Cactus Blossoms and The Paper Kites felt so right in The Wilbur. The cozy, historic feel of the space with these two folk heavy, bands felt perfectly at home. The small duo of The Cactus Blossoms filled the space just as easily as the quintet (plus a few) of The Paper Kites. I do get excited when a stage is set up full of instruments and those who play them. The more the merrier is something I say often. It was a mellow, lovely evening of music.

Lyrics to Linger Over

I want to take you in my arms, I do
I’ll light a flame and let it burn for you
And if I ran then I would run to you
Every time

By My Side, The Paper Kites Roses (2021)

I want to take you in my arms, I do
I’ll light a flame and let it burn for you
And if I ran then I would run to you
Every time

June’s Stolen Car, The Paper Kites At The Roadhouse (2023)