Club Note: Boulder's Paper Bird takes 'Flight'

Paper Bird has fans in Boulder and Denver, so the local band decided to hold a CD-release party in each city.

The Colorado group's celebrating the release of its second album, When the River Took Flight, and the start of a new career phase.

Tonight, Paper Bird plays a special show at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Then, the modern folk act heads to the Gothic Theatre in Englewood for Friday's release party.

"This August is the band's fourth anniversary," vocalist Esme Patterson said. "It feels amazing, because we've been through so much together.

"We're making the best music we've ever made. We're really hitting our creative stride. We've been working on this album for over a year and being able to release it is so freeing."

Paper Bird created a local buzz with its modern folk sounds and harmonious vocals. The band's genre-busting music earned the group loyal fans and sold out Colorado shows.

The band wanted to try something different for its second album, and the studio adventure took Paper Bird to a new level of songwriting.

"We put a lot of work into this studio album," Patterson said. "It has a very different sound -- it's more mature and developed. It also has a lot more orchestration than our first album.

"We really took the time to make sure that every note and inflection was perfect. This record is also a lot more introspective, but there are some fun party songs. We're proud of this record and we're excited to get it out."

Paper Bird felt it was important for every band member to contribute to the record, so the new CD shows off a diverse range of songs.

"There's a lot more dynamic songwriting on this record," Patterson said. "The first record was mostly done with three people, but everyone contributed to the new album.

"This is folk music -- the way we think of it. It's American music and that's the music of the people. It's really just music that will make you feel good."

Paper Bird recently got a distribution deal, but the band's doing a lot of its own promotional work. The group hand-wrote the lyrics for the new CD booklet and developed some new merchandise -- including Paper Bird oven mitts.

The band's also getting ready for its CD-release parties.

"We wanted to do a special show in Boulder for family and friends," Patterson said. "We picked the Boulder Museum of Art

Paper Bird plays the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art on Thursday.

"We do have some tricks up our sleeves for Friday's show at the Gothic. We're going to throw a big time party for our fans and we have some special surprises."

Paper Bird's on a mission to get its new music out, so the band will hit the West Coast in August for a mini-tour.

The group's also already planning its next CD.

"We're starting to piece together our next album," Patterson said. "It won't take us as long, and the songs are pretty silly, goofy and fun.

"We're going to just let the band's future unfold as it will."