Allison Polans (guitar, vocals), Alec Meltzer (drums, percussion), Deirdre Kelly (cello), Andrew Lipke (keys), and Phil D’Agostino (upright bass)
Other great contributors include or have included (if you’ve been in the studio or on stage with us, we consider you family!):
Ben Snodgrass, Jason Fraticelli, Dan Putrino, Rocco Renzetti, Shane Leddy, Ross Bellenoit, Aleksander Yaker, Devin Greenwood, Joel Rose, Raphael Cutrufello, Gretchen Lohse, Andy Keenan, and Bevin Caulfield!
Influences
Songs: Ohia, Magnolia Electric Co., Feist, Astrud Gilberto, Neil Young, Patsy Cline, Azure Ray, Cat Power, Belle & Sebastian, Johnny Cash, June Carter, The Magnetic Fields, Mirah, Neutral Milk Hotel, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Portishead, Hayden, The Microphones, Grandaddy, Otis Redding, Doug Martsch, Amy Winehouse, The Weeds, The Beatles, Sondre Lerche, Sufjan Stevens, Red House Painters, Sigur Ros, Bjork, John Vanderslice, Jason Anderson, Madeleine Peyroux, Elliott Smith, Bob Dylan, The Floorbirds, Hanne Hukkelberg, Andrew Bird, Beck, Beulah, Wilco, The Unicorns, Langhorne Slim, Hezekiah Jones, Andrew Lipke, Red Heart the Ticker, and more Friends and Family! Also: the Environment, Listening to people unseen, Mornings, Late nights w/ little sleep, What can and cannot be seen, and Wanderlust.
We are constantly evolving. papertrees began with Allison writing songs, strumming a guitar, and vocalizing some songs but has now grown into a family of sounds (formerly known as Allison Polans & Friends but now papertrees!) The core crew also consists of Deirdre Kelly ..o and Alec Meltzer on drums/percussion. Recently joined up in Fall 07 is the wonderful Andrew Lipke (keyboards). And even more recently (Winter ’08) we have brought in Phil D’Agostino (upright bass). We are excited for the fullness of music we can send to you in soundwaves.
Keep checking back soon for more new, full band recordings!
People say really nice things:
"“Feist and Jason Molina made a baby?” No, that’s not gossip from the indie rock world—that’s what local gal-with-guitar Allison Polans wrote in the “Sounds Like” section of her MySpace page. It’s actually a pretty apt summation of her music: There’s both a sophisticated, sorta-jazzy tinge to her husky voice and arrangements (that’s the Feist gene), and an affecting, world-weary vibe in her simple, folky acoustic strumming and heartsick lyrics (that’s the DNA of Molina, of Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co. fame). Don’t be surprised to hear little tiny bits of Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power), PJ Harvey and Brandi Carlile in Polans’ delivery. But this growing baby seems talented enough to stand all on her own soon enough." (M.A.G.) - Philadelphia Weekly
"...a budding songwriter backed by familiar faces and soon to be plagued by Cat Power comparisons." (Doug Wallen) - Philadelphia Weekly
"If you’re looking for a good acoustic act that has no immediate plans to leave the city I speak so highly of, you should check out Allison Polans. Her music is brutally honest without making the listener feel excluded, a quality seldom encountered in the world of young musicians. With her soulful voice and addictive charm, Polans is best experienced live." (Jon Weiner) - CampusPhilly.orgMembers of papertrees are also members of Walker Lundee, Elevator Parade, Roomtone, Hezekiah Jones, and The Super Humble Country Band. Be sure to check those bands out too! We are always looking for more shows so we can crowd your stage and make you smile.
papertrees (and Allison solo) has shared the stage with many wonderful folks such as Hezekiah Jones, Roomtone, Elevator Parade, Nicole Atkins & The Sea, April Smith & The Great Picture Show, Devin Greenwood, Hoots & Hellmouth, The Spinning Leaves, Kind of Like Spitting, Frida Hyvonen, The Feverfew, Andrew Lipke, Amy Pickard, Rarebirds, Bettie Seervert, This Radiant Boy, Early Day Miners, Alphabet Army, Shelley Short, Wes Mattheu, Hop Along Queen Ansleis, Franzschubert, Kristi Rae, Adam Arcuragi, Walker Lundee, Phonograph, Cowmuddy, The New Time, The Sweetheart Parade, Natalie Walker, Quintero, The Sisters3, AND MORE!
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Amazing News::: Brat Productions & rock bands: Toothless George, Devin Greenwood, Franzschubert, Danny McKane, & Allison Polans (papertrees) have won the 2007 Barrymore Award for The Ted and Stevie Wolf Award For New Approaches to Collaborations!!!!!!!
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Well hello! Ya know I am brand spankin new to Philly, so it's great to hear back from another artist! Hope you get to hear the tunes. I really dig your stuff! Any advice for a musician fresh on the Philly scene?? -Andra
Hey Allison! I and my friend Theresa bought one each of your ep at the Tin Angel show. I'm SOOO Glad to finally have something I listen to when I'm not listening live (and way cool that they're songs you guys played!), but what are the names of the songs? So great to meet you after seeing you so many times, and I look forward to seeing you guys later in the month! :-)
Strum the strings gently at first A blind trust between steel and skin Harmonic vibrations Echos of chords linger in the air That zen when in the groove The guitarist's nirvana.
Thanks for the kind words. I heard you had a great night at World Cafe with The New Connection. Hope to catch a performance. Stop in for a visit sometime.
Salut!! Stoppin in to take a listen..how all is well...its gettin a bit hotter here in Bangkok now but things are good...this year is really flyin by!! YOuna
