Live Review: The Paper Kites, Patrick James

Images of childish fragility come to mind when one thinks of The Paper Kites. Even the name conjures up a sort of elegant simplicity and makes a promise of the experience the band can bring. Contrary to the rowdy pub gigs often frequenting the venue, Thursday night was a refreshingly calming atmosphere that explored the beauty of live music.

Walking into The Gov we were immediately treated to the crooning indie folk sounds of Patrick James and his band. Having recently moulded his sounds to suit a more indie-rock fuelled audience, he had all eyes and hearts on him as he bared his roots and soul. A cover of The Killers' Runaways was a nice homage to Americana roots.

A majestic blue and pink hanging light display was an appropriate vehicle for the room to be transported to a place not unlike a scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream. The stage was an ethereal fairy forest complemented by the airily sublime sounds of The Paper Kites as they opened with dreamy new single Electric Indigo.

It seemed as if the sounds literally danced their way through the crowd — a result of the delicate and humble stage banter. Half the band's attraction comes from their ability to somewhat fly under the radar while still managing to garner a following dedicated enough to hang out at a show.

The soft acoustic twangs and fragile harmonies of tracks Willow Tree March and Featherstone were calming without being snoozy and relaxing without being soulless. A cameo from a banjo vying for attention, giving rise to a temptation of slapped knees and dancing in cowboy boots, picked up the pace a bit and showed off the band's diversity. "We read an interview we did with an Adelaide magazine and they called me Ben Elliot and said my parents were in a rock band... None of that is true," remarked lead singer Sam Bentley playfully.

At the request of singer/guitarist Christina Lacy a collective shushing hissed out before Paint, afterwards a unique stillness falling over the room as if everyone was totally entranced by their surreal musical capabilities.

It truly is a feat for bands to maintain the authentic and organic sound achieved in recording throughout a live performance. The Paper Kites are a gem in the rock pool of Australia's indie scene, somehow managing to shine through. In their magical fairy forest of hanging lights and surreal sounds, they're right at home.