Ryan Horns (lead vocals-guitar), Caleb Bandy (bass), Antonio Garza (drums, vocals) and Teresa Kent (keyboards, vocals)
Influences
John, Paul, George and Ringo, The Kinks, Harry Nilsson, Guided by Voices, The Creation, The Lemonheads, Elliott Smith, The Zombies, Wilco, Quasi, Rufus Wainwright, Joan as Police Woman, Roy Orbison, Pete Seeger, The Shins, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Beach Boys, The Velvet Underground, Lou Reed, The Walkmen, David Bowie, T. Rex, Richie Havens, Woody Guthrie, Muddy Waters, Dion, Flaming Lips, The Byrds, The Minders, Cat Stevens...
Described by fans as a Wes Anderson movie come to life, Ohio's (Columbus/Cincinnati) PAPER AIRPLANE has set its path on creating melodic, vocal-based music that never really goes where you think it will - and don't be fooled by the sunny melodies, the songs often deal with topics most bands would rather not touch. The Paper Airplane debut release "Middlemarch" is out now on Columbus, OH. indie label All Hail Records.The band is currently recording it's second LP "White Elephants" with engineer Brian Niesz (Heartless Bastards) during the winter and spring of 2008. The group is currently being played on college radio stations across the United States and Canada, and is a a featured band on Nic Harcourt's "Morning Become Eclectic".
Paper Airplane has supported such national recording artists as Mates of State, The Walkmen, Rogue Wave, Matt Pond PA, The National, Robbers on High Street, The Redwalls, Richard Swift, Howlin' Maggie, the legendary Dick Dale, The Minders and more.
In the 1990s singer/songwriter and crime journalist Ryan Horns was performing under the solo name "The Last Hotel," basing songs on offbeat topics, people and events he had written about as a small town crime reporter. The music received regional critical acclaim, radio play, major label attention and dedicated fans after its self-titled EP was released in 2003. But by the end of 2004, Horns wanted a change. The point was to completely start from scratch, avoid hype of all kinds and base everything on the music.
With a strong DIY approach, things soon fell together. Horns reformed with a group of friends as Paper Airplane in early 2005 and since then the group's underground status has risen fast, garnering media praise, spots on the Desdemona Festival, Midpoint Music Festival, the Midwest Music Summit, NXNE, featured on the Hollisterco.com and was named among Columbus Alive's 2007 "Bands to Watch."
The group has mobilized a passionate regional following based on a tight, decidedly more aggressive and spirited sound than those shows of the past. Its sound is always evolving. With drummer Antonio Garza, bassist Caleb Bandy (Templeton, Jon Chinn) and keyboardist Teresa Kent, Horns and the band have found a way to avoid trends and focus entirely on the craft of songwriting, often jumping across the board from dirty garage rock to delicate acoustic melodies and harmonies, while always staying true to themselves.
Paper Airplane is also reknown regionally for it's annual "John Lennon Show," during which the band tours every December, performing a set of John Lennon tunes, along with a set of its own music, in remembrance of Lennon's death in 1980.
I've been hearing good things about you guys for a while now, haven't had the chance to see you yet. Thanks for joining the celebration! Women and Kitties are so very likable....-Wilsey (and you've got Richie Havens in your top friends....right on!)
Thanks Paper Airplane for being on my friends list, love the page great stuff. I’m so blown away by all people that have joined me on Myspace. The support and positive comments about the music and the new CD "Abstract Man" have been great and appreciated. The track "Only In America" hit the air this month and so fare it’s a hit with all that have heard it, I’d like to let you know about the free MP3 giveaway as a token of my appreciation for being on my friends list. It’s available at www. tomfullerband. com Hope you have a great summer with lots of good music for sitting in the sun. Thanks again, Tom
hey antonio and gang! if any of you need a cheap doctor for any checkups after your mini tour, I know a great guy...good bedside manner too, he's hilarious!
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Hi guys, I received so many compliments on your music last Thursday and just wanted to pass that along to you. Thanks again for playing the show. You were fantastic!