Discovering an amazing new band is always energizing; finding one that is Canadian but has gone unnoticed is shameful – especially one that’s been around since the 1990s. Which brings us to The Paperboys, a decidedly under-the-radar outfit, except perhaps to residents of the west coast or folk festival afficionados further afield, even in Europe.

I must admit, my first encounter with the band – sometimes known as Tom Landa and the Paperboys – had me thinking that it was a Spirit of the West song I had somehow inexplicably missed over the years. Such sentiment was not surprising given that Landa has stated that SOTW and its wonderful Canadian Celtic brand of folk was a major inspiration to his Vancouver-based outfit. Moreover, one of Spirit’s key members, Geoffrey Kelly, had produced the first ‘Boys album, later joining as a player and doing double duty with both bands.

But as much as The Paperboys conjure images of SOTW (not a bad thing!), the influences go further, including bluegrass and notably occasionally incorporating the Spanish music of Landa’s roots.

There are also other global influences, from African to Zydeco, often in the same song – like the unusual but spectacular pairing of Mexican Son Jarocho and Irish jigs and reels – though never without a relatable pop hook that brings Landa’s songs into the mainstream, if not necessarily onto the radio.

Fortunately, the band has not gone wholly unnoticed: they sell out nearly every performance and scored three Juno nominations in 1996, ’98 and 2001, winning in the middle frame for best roots and traditional album, Molinos, which was released earlier this year in a remastered format.

Over 25 years of making music provides a lot of songs to sample, but for familiar fare, check out breathtaking covers of McCartney’s “I’ve Just Seen a Face,” and a Celtic-infused treatment of Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower,” which gives the rock and roll favourite a welcome new life.

Notable other songs include “California,” “Fall Down With You,” the latter featuring another lesser-known Canadian gem and fiddler extraordinaire, Kendel Carson, and this (which may or may not be about Vancouver): “City of Chains.”

Lyrics
Wrecking ball tears through the heart of this town
Brick by brick, stone by stone
With new open spaces they push to the sky
Boxes on boxes we can’t afford to buy

City of no colour
City of constant change
City of money
City of chains

The sky is shattered with scaffolds and cranes
Loose another landmark for capital gain
The stage has gone dark in this old music hall
As we come together to watch as the last curtain falls

City of indifference
City of rain