The Paper Kites start to wrap up US leg of Where You Live Tour at Underground Arts Wednesday

Australian folk rockers The Paper Kites are fresh off two releases this year. April’s On the Train Ride Home and September’s On the Corner Where You Live are the first new works we’ve seen from the band since 2015. Known best for their hypnotic, acoustic, guitar-centric track “Bloom,” The Paper Kites quickly gained precedence in the indie genre with their gentle vocals and intense, intra-personal lyrics.

However, September’s release seems to take a step in a different direction. The introductory track, “A Gathering on 57th,” features only a piano and a saxophone, peppered with white noice and subway sounds. (Side note: listen to “Please Be Naked” by The 1975 and compare. They’re stunningly similar songs.) Then, the album takes a turn for something heavier than we’ve seen, with heavy drum beats and synthetic guitar in “Give Me Your Fire, Give Me Your Rain.” Most bands realize that they can’t stay in the whispery-acoustic niche forever, and I’m glad The Paper Kites have expanded their horizons. This show should be an awesome mix of loud and soft, old and new, and I can’t wait for it.

The Where You Live Tour’s US leg is almost over, with Philadelphia and Washington DC being the last dates before the band plays Europe in February. Joined by Wild Rivers, a folk pop group from Toronto, this tour has been nearly sold out on all dates and obviously long-awaited by fans.

Listen to On the Corner Where You Live before you hit Underground Arts Wednesday, because you’ll want to be well educated on the newest release before you hear it live. It’s always better that way, I promise. We’ll have a post-concert review up on Thursday, so check back for an update.