Courtesy Origami Summer
Audio By Carbonatix
Origami Summer doesn’t just play shows — it throws parties.
“We’ve been doing piñata at our shows, just to remind people that this is supposed to be fun,” guitarist D’Ante Schmitz says. “It’s okay to be angry, here’s a vehicle to do that, but this is also supposed to be fun. It’s really taken off. People love it.”
The Denver band that bills itself as “post-gaze emo-core” simply throws the sacrificial papier-mâché puppet into the crowd, as fans do what they must to crack it open. And what do they find inside?
“Mexican candy, of course,” Schmitz notes. “I even sourced one at a really sketchy house in the ‘hood in Omaha once, but we got it. It’s a way that we could get people involved. Finding a way to include the crowd. People want to be a part of it. They’re there to see you.”
Plus, it’s a nice alternative to the usual violent tactics that bands and fans typically employ.
“I’m sorry. I’m not going to do the Wall of Death. I work tomorrow,” Schmitz continues. “With our demographic, they don’t want to be out too late, either, so we try to get our shows over and done by 11 p.m., for sure.”
That’s a nice sentiment that’s much appreciated by elder emos and thirtysomethings who still go to gigs. Origami Summer, which also hands out sticker packets complete with an origami crane, is cool like that. The four-piece first got together in January 2023, when Schmitz and drummer Daniel Jauregui broke off from a previous muddling band in search of a fresh start.
“I told him, ‘If we don’t do the things I say we’re going to do in a year, I will give you $100,’” Schmitz recalls, adding that the main motivation was playing local shows. “We did everything we said we were going to do in a year, and I didn’t have to pay him $100.”
“I think we’ve definitely surpassed the goals that we initially had,” Jauregui adds.
Courtesy Jordan Altergott
Debut EPYour New Aesthetic came out in 2024, followed by a proper LP, 6 Seasons in Reverse, released last Valentine’s Day. Now, Origami Summer, which includes bassist Andrew Rabideau and vocalist-guitarist Anthony Farris, is working on a third drop behind recent singles “Late Night Infomercial” and “It’s Never a Good Day for a Wedding” — both of which are indicative of its unique tag.
“We created the genre of post-gaze emocore so we could basically play whatever we wanted,” Schmitz says. “Are we emo? Well, we’re too heavy for a lot of Midwest emo stuff, but we still have that feeling there because I use American Football tuning on a seven-string. That’s how we retain a lot of that Midwest emo feel without being directly Midwest emo.
“We love shoegaze, too. I’ve got a pedal board that’s absolutely geared towards effects and shoegaze, but at the same time we also like breakdowns,” he continues, adding that “It’s Never a Good Day for a Wedding” is more screamo than anything they’ve written before.
Origami Summer is the local opener for Capstan’s tenth anniversary of Cultural Divide tour stop on Wednesday, March 4, at Marquis Theater. And there will be no piñata at this show, out of respect for the headliners, Schmitz shares.
At the beginning, playing such a venue felt like a longshot. “We went to a show at the Marquis and we said, ‘How cool would it be to play here at some point?’” Jauregui recalls.
“Yeah, when we first started this, all I really wanted to do is play guitar and eat pizza,” Schmitz quips. “This has really morphed into something more than what he and I even thought that we would be doing. Initially, we thought we’d play once every three months, or something like that.”
In addition to upcoming Colorado dates, Origami Summer is planning a Midwest and East Coast run. There are more singles, too, so keep an eye out for more flying piñatas.
“It’s been a really rewarding and fulfilling experience to be able to be here and even play these types of shows. It’s much bigger than what I ever imagined,” Jauregui concludes. “We’re still exploring, but it’s also very fun.”
Origami Summer, with Capstan, In Her Own Words and Dreamwake, 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer Street. Tickets are $35.
