Paper Airplanes

Paper Airplanes’ tale is of two records. The freshman Boyhood was met with wide critical acclaim and hinted at more wonderful things to come. When they did come with Scandal, Scandal, Scandal Down in the Wheat Field, Paper Airplanes’ tenure was over, and the record never saw the light of day. That is, until now.

Boyhood was largely comprised of home recordings created by Paper Airplanes’ core members, teenage songwriter Marcus Stoesz, bass player Anthony Piazza, and drummer Nathan Wilder. It was first released in 2005 in Wichita, but was soon picked up by veteran indie rock label 54 40 or Fight!. The single “The Fences” was a perfect college radio anthem, and it garnered significant airplay across the country. The album received enthusiastic write-ups from blogs and magazines including Pitchfork, Coke Machine Glow, Magnet, Spin, and Tiny Mix Tapes.

The band grew into a six piece touring band with a rotating cast and toured extensively for Boyhood. They even played a showcase for Capitol Records, and it was rumored that the choice lied between Paper Airplanes and the Decemberists. Though the majors passed, the band continued to work, tour, and record extensively for three more years.

While Boyhood was the opening cry of an ambitious group of musicians, Scandal is the portrait of a band at their technical and creative best.  Scandal saw a limited release of three hundred hand-made copies in 2009, which the band exclusively sold at shows. The deal with 54 40 or Fight! fell through and the band put the official release on hold. Soon after Wilder and Piazza moved to Kansas City and Stoesz moved to San Francisco, and in the next four years the memory of Scandal faded away.

As part of an effort to showcase great Wichita area bands and musicians, Air House Records released Paper Airplanes’ Scandal, Scandal, Scandal Down in the Wheat Field, on November 19th, 2013.