The success of Canadian folk/world hybrid band The Paperboys always comes as a pleasant surprise for the group's co-founder and leader Tom Landa.
"It really is amazing to me," he said of The Paperboys' Juno Awards and cult-like following. "I'm definitely taken aback by our wide following, and really honoured and delighted with the way it has all worked out."
Since the band's formation in Vancouver in 1991, The Paperboys' rich blend of Celtic, folk, bluegrass, Mexican, Eastern European, soul and Zydeco has been a fan and critic favourite. Unfortunately, that hasn't always translated into huge record sales.
Nonetheless, the band continues to tour constantly, becoming a staple act at folk, roots and bluegrass festivals in North America and beyond, and routinely selling out shows at some of the best venues in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and across Europe.
"I guess that says something about the band," Landa said. "It's still very much a labour of love."
It's a love that's lasted for more than 20 years and several lineup changes, but The Paperboys will only celebrate their two-decade anniversary next year, according to Landa.
"Although we formed in 1991, I still consider the real beginning of the band starting from 1994 when we released our first album (Late as Usual)," he said. "It was a different lineup from when we originally started, too."
Change is nothing new to the band.
Landa is the only original member remaining from both 1991 and 1994 incarnations of The Paperboys, and the current lineup consists of Landa, Kalissa Hernandez on fiddle, Brad Gillard on banjo and bass, Geoffrey Kelly on flutes and Sam Esecson on drums. Kelly, incidentally, also plays with Spirit of the West, whose music Landa has often cited as a major influence on The Paperboys' own early musical development.
Who you'll see on stage at a show often depends on the size of the venue, as well. The band performs variously as an eight-, six-, five- or three-piece, or duo, and adds a three-piece horn section - consisting of Kareem Kandi on saxophone, Nick LaRiviere on trombone, and either Miguelito Valdes or Greg Lyons on trumpet - when attending bigger festivals and venues.
"You just approach it differently depending on how many players you have," he said. "We've sometimes had as many as 10 people on stage. Next month, we are doing shows in Washington. For those we are performing as a duo, so it is stripped-down acoustic versions of our songs.
"With those stripped-down songs there are no drums giving that steady beat, so we have to create rhythm with guitar and fiddle," he said, "although we have learned that some songs just don't work as well with just two."
The Paperboys also resist the urge to be rigid when it comes to their albums, too.
"Every record we've ever done has been different from the others," Landa said. "We like to do different things and try different things. That's why the band has continued to exist hard work and fans. They've kept us going."
Fans can check out what's new musically with the band on Saturday (Oct. 26) at 8 p.m. at the Brackendale Art Gallery.
Landa said he hoped former Paperboy bandmate (1994) and Squamolean Cam Salay would join the five- or six-piece formation on stage for a few songs, as well.
After the Brackendale show - the first gig since taking a break from the summer season - The Paperboys head to Washington, then plan to travel to Nashville to complete the writing and recording of a new album for the summer, plus tour North America for the 20th anniversary of the band.
Tickets for the BAG show are $20 and available at Xocolatl and the gallery.
For more on The Paperboys, go to www.paperboys.com.
