From indie folk to rock and roll: The Paper Kites deliver unforgettable performance at August Hall

Nearly 13 years ago, Australian band The Paper Kites charmed the indie-folk community with the release of their debut EP Woodland (2011). Today, it would be hard to find anyone who has not heard the band’s first single “Bloom.” 

The band’s latest album, At the Roadhouse, released in 2023, is a daring transition from their earlier releases and mixes their classic indie-folk sound with rock and blues influences.

On March 6, The Paper Kites and their eclectic team of musicians, The Roadhouse Band, brought the stage to life at August Hall in San Francisco on the sixth stop of their current tour. 

With the stage all aglow in a warm orange light, The Paper Kites proved that after all of these years their relevance is enduring. 

After a charming opening performance by  Bella White, the band kicked off their set with their song “Between the Houses.” The gentle strumming of the guitar felt like an embrace and set a lovely tone for the rest of the evening. 

The music scene in San Francisco is incredibly diverse. You never know what kind of audience will be at any given show. However, The Paper Kites have an innate ability to draw a special audience of true music lovers. 

The room was quiet — not out of  boredom or discontent. Rather, the audience was quiet as if to allow the music to reverberate throughout the room. People stood smiling, closing their eyes, swaying and allowing the music to wash over them. 

“Nothing More Than That” and “Tenenbaum” served as soothing songs for the audience. When they played their biggest hit “Bloom,” the band stood around one mic and harmonized — their voices serving as the primary instrument.  The audience joined the band in singing the words “Can I be close to you?” 

For the rest of the night following the performance of “Bloom,” the audience indeed felt a little closer to one another. 

After the gentleness of the first half of the show, The Paper Kites completely transformed the energy in the room and showed they were much more than just an indie-folk band. 

Two high-energy standouts of the night were “June’s Stolen Car” and “Black and Thunder.” Vocalist Sam Bentley, the same man whose vocals sound like gentle  lullabies on their slower songs, approached the uptempo songs with grit and grunge, proving he is also a powerhouse vocalist. 

David Powys, the band’s guitarist, delivered one of the most memorable performances of the night. The song “Black and Thunder” was his time to shine. Powys, who was incredible earlier in the night, came to life during the band’s rock and blues songs. It is worth noting that in addition to his technical guitar work, Powys was also an impressive vocalist. 

In the first half of the show, it felt as though the audience was transported to a forest surrounded by nature and the gentle hum of acoustic guitars and harmonies. By the end of the night, they were transported to an old dive bar in Memphis listening to the music of blues legends.

Following the music trip to Memphis, The Paper Kites and The Roadhouse Band slowed things back down. Bentley took a moment to praise Adrianne Lenker, who he referred to as “one of the greatest songwriters of this generation,” and proceeded to cover her song “Anything.” 

“Anything” is one of those songs that feels untouchable — like no cover could ever do it justice. However, with only an acoustic guitar, Bentley achieved the impossible and delivered a nearly-perfect rendition of the song. To say Bentley did the song justice is an understatement. Bentley delivered a cover so fresh and unique that it felt like I was hearing it again for the first time.

To close out the night, the band played  “By My Side” and “Electric Indigo.” 

Perhaps even more impressive than the show itself was the band’s chemistry and generosity towards one another. Each member was given a moment to shine on stage and the audience was able to clearly see the role each individual played in making the music that touched every individual in the room.

Article and Photos by Anna Armstrong