Paper Arrows Shares 'Good News' With Fans This Weekend

By Katie Karpowicz in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 24, 2014 5:15PM

Paper Arrows' songwriter Joe Goodkin. Photo credit: Michael Chu

While the rest of Chicago is groaning at the thought of the weekend and the continued onslaught of snow showers it will bring, Joe Goodkin is excited. This weekend he'll celebrate his fifth release under the moniker Paper Arrows.

Paper Arrows headlines Schubas this Sunday, Jan. 26. The show will serve as a release party for the band's newest EP Good News For Love.

As the name would suggest, Good News continues Paper Arrows' tendency to write romance-filled compositions, "literate love songs" as the band refers to them on its website. Thematically, the six new songs on this release aren't a stretch for Goodkin but musically this EP will make fans do a double take.

Throughout Paper Arrows' existence, their songs have—at times—sounded like an identity crisis set to music. The band struggled to determine its niche, plucky indie rock or hearty Americana roots music. Finally, it seems they've settled. The twang on Good News For Love is more defined, the tempo slowed and the songs warmer and more full-bodied.

We know what you might be thinking. Slow rolling love songs? Sounds sappy.

Not so. These songs are some of the most sophisticated rock tunes we’ve heard from Paper Arrows to date. That's even more reason to catch their live debuts this Sunday at Schubas.

Paper Arrows play Sunday, January 26, at Schubas, 3159 N Southport, 7 p.m., $8 in advance or $10 at the door, all ages