Last night’s show was awesome! It was held in the Sidebar at FitzGerald's. It was a pretty small setting - probably about 80 people.
As you know, today is Ellis’ birthday (Happy Birthday EPaul!). Well yesterday’s show was fantastic. Karen flew in from Pittsburgh for an 18 hour whirlwind trip to Chicago, several of my colleagues from work and their spouses attended their first EP show (trying to make devotees whenever possible), and they were not disappointed.
Ellis did three – count them – three sets! How cool is that? 28 Songs!
Ellis received a few gifts, including guitar picks and a radio-controlled dragonfly for his birthday. We had a temporary (the one that was not the gift) dragonfly charged and ready for his use before the second set. There were only a few mishaps before the second set started – ‘Dusty’ flew into a woman’s hair and got trapped there and almost required emergency surgery (I’m kidding). He also nosedived into a glass of Chardonnay which spilled all over another woman’s lap. After that, Drunken Dusty passed out until the show was over. Thankfully the woman who got soaked with wine was totally understanding – I guess that’s the hazards of seating in the front row, although it could have happened to anyone.
Ellis also received a big ol’ monster birthday cookie from Pittsburgh, 48 cupcakes to share with the audience, with 43 candles, and a really nice ice cream cake from his manager Ralph and assistant Rachel. The treats were brought in on his final song (The World Ain’t Slowing Down) and he was really surprised. We all sang Happy Birthday to him immediately following the show. Thanks for everyone who participated!
Home by 12:15 am and up early to take Karen back to the airport. Thanks Karen for coming out. We’re so glad you could make it!
Here is the setlist from the show:
1. Maria’s Beautiful Mess
2. Walking After Midnight/Change (cover from Sam Baker) Medley
3. Alice’s Champagne Palace
4. 3,000 Miles
5. Take All the Sky You Need
6. Jukebox On My Grave
7. Wabi-Sabi
8. Calendar Man
9. Rollaway Bed
10. Martyr’s Lounge
11. Little Wood Guitar
12. Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key
13. Because It’s There
14. She’s History
Intermission I
15. Snow In Austin
16. Blacktop Train (Acoustic in the audience)
17. The Cat Came Back
18. Road Trip
19. Speed of Trees (Acoustic in the audience)
20. Sweet Mistakes (Acoustic in the audience)
21. God’s Promise
22. The Ballad of Chris McCandless (Acoustic in the audience)
Intermission II
23. Cotton’s Burning
24. If I Could Catch the Rain (Piano)
25. Once Upon a Summertime (Piano)
26. Home (Piano)
27. Did Galileo Pray?
28. The World Ain’t Slowing Down
It really was another fun Ellis Paul experience
. Thank you Ellis for making it so much fun! And thanks to all the staff at Fitzgerald's! Bill, Abby and the rest. Ya'll made it a blast and were so helpful with all of the coordination that needed to be done.
Dean
