Planes on Paper

One thing I really love and appreciate about living in the Bay Area is that this is a place for artists and those artists like to show their work in some really great ways.  I stumbled upon an event on facebook for a show by Planes on Paper, who I’ve never heard of, and Josiah Johnson, a member of The Head and The Heart, a band I absolutely love.  The event was for a show at The Lost Church, a place I’ve never heard of and the tickets were only $15.  I asked my friend, another Head and the Heart fan, if she wanted to go, but she had to work, and rather than miss out, I decided I’d just go alone.  Well I couldn’t be more happy that I did.

I walked into The Lost Church and there are chairs, about 50, setup around a little stage as well as random church like decorations, the place is tiny.  I sat down and took in the whole room, there was a bar in another room and 1 bathroom.  I felt like I was at someone’s house so I was immediately excited for what was in store.  The couple in front of me sat down with a hot cup of tea and I asked if they had gotten it here, they responded yes.  Now I was really happy, as I’ve decided to do a dry March, and it was a cold rainy night so tea would hit the spot.  I went up to the bar and saw cash only, decided not to leave to get cash and that I’d be fine without tea.  When I got back to my seat, Miranda, the girl sitting in front of me, asked if I got some.  I told her I didn’t have any cash and she insisted I take cash from her and get myself a cup.  I asked if she was sure and she said yes, just leave a tip for him as I forgot to.  So I got a hot cup of peppermint tea, left a tip, and gave Miranda back her change.  I settled in for the show.

Josiah Johnson is the only artist I knew of before coming.  I had listened to Planes on Paper on Spotify in order to get an idea of what to expect.  Their songs were simply, guitar and harmony, nothing fancy, but beautiful.  I knew even if I didn’t like every song, it would definitely be worth $15 for a couple hours of live music.  Worth it it was!  The show opened with Josiah Johnson doing a couple songs solo, then he had 2 women, I don’t remember their names join him on stage.  One of them sang and harmonized with them, the other played a huge bass.  Their songs were beautifully performed, raw and real, no muss, no fuss.  Just artists feeling the music and going with the flow.  He then had Planes on Paper as well as another friend join him for a few more songs.  Again, just artists and friends together on stage, just vibing with the music and the energy of the room.  It was so quiet in the room, other than the music.  There was no ambient noise, just people respecting what they were witnessing.  Beautiful music in its purest form.

There was a short break and then Planes on Paper  took the stage.  Navid Eliot and Jen Borst, 2 core members of Planes on Paper, introduced themselves and told us a little about each song before they played it.  This is my favorite format for any kind of live music.  It shares an intimacy with the audience that really lets you hear the song for what it’s meant to be.  How that artist put those thoughts into their thoughts and words and made it into a song. Jen shared a song about her Grandmother, they shared a song about a hermit in the woods of Maine, as well as their most well known song, Television, about our current political state and the divisions that have come with that.  The show was simple, no bells and whistles, but it was so beautiful in its raw and realness, just letting the artists and songs speak for themselves. If you haven’t heard of these guys, check them out! Planes on Paper, and The Head and The Heart.  I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes and ears out for more from them, as well as more intimate shows like this one.