Paper Zoo, OK Go & Mae Entertainment Art House of Blues Chicago, IL November 02, 2009

Paper Zoo is comprised of four very talented, young musicians based out of Los Angeles. Taken from a modern perspective their music can be considered almost avant-garde and edgy. All of the tracks on their self-titled EP have a distinct psychedelic flair to them that really make the band stand out in popular music today.

Unfortunately, that was not the case last night. In a room full of Baby Boomers their sound came off as unoriginal and uncreative. From the moment they walked on stage they were judged far too harshly. No one moved or reacted at all during their first two songs. It seemed to take a tremendous amount of effort on the part of anyone over 40 to even clap until they were at least halfway through their set.

It should be noted that this is not the fault of the band at all. Having heard their studio album they are every bit as polished and professional on-stage. They may have been shy at first, but they are new to the music world.

Roger Daltrey, the headliner, sensed their potential and made sure they played on tour with him. It is a tremendous honor for a group of musicians that, it is clear, have a passion for classic rock and early 60s psychedelics.

The playing field simply isn’t level for the band. Baby Boomers are fiercely territorial about their music and were restless for Daltrey. Seeing a band come on stage dressed in vintage 60s psychedelia playing vintage rock must have really thrown them off.

Now that the band has a proper introduction to the music world they need to blaze their own trail with an artist not quite so similar. If Paper Zoo is ever going to be appreciated as the unique band they are, they cannot be in such close proximity to their influences. However big an honor it may be, it will only hurt them in the end.

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