The rain postponed Game 3 of the World Series Saturday night allowing fans of baseball and Ellis Paul the chance to see a wonderful night of music inside Tin Angel and see the first pitch shortly after the show ended. We Won!!!
Arrived early enough to chat with Ellis at the bar and at the time it seemed as though the turnout would be affected by The World Series and the Penn State vs. Ohio State college football game. We talked about how the economy might be having it's way with shows all over. Before we knew it, tho, folks began to pour through the door and the crowd grew to a respectacle half house, around 50 by my count.
Ellis introduced me to friend and fellow artist, Marc Brisson, a guy who looks a lot like Elton John back when Elton was younger and better looking. Marc said he gets the "you look like Elton" all the time. He let me know that Ellis sang vocals on 2 songs of his upcoming release.
Chris O'Brien opened the show accompanied by Austin Nevins on electric guitar. Due to time constraints his set was short on songs but long on talent. Heard a couple of already favorites from his myspace songs in
Rosa and
Ocean Stone. Met Chris after the show and picked up the new one which he graciously signed for me. What a nice guy. I happened to tune into wxpn 88.5 fm the next night to hear his radio interview on the folk show with Gene Shay. I was impressed all over again with his music and down to earth style. Towards the end of Ellis' set, Chris and Austin accompanied Ellis onstage. He confessed that he had called out
Yom Kippur when Ellis was asking for holidays!
Ellis was 3 songs into his set when he gave Chris O'Brien a shout out saying "how about the opener?" Big applause, then Ellis let us know that Chris had worked as a waiter at Club Passim and had served him Hummus for ten years adding that now every time he sees Chris his mouth waters!!!
Ellis' fans came through on all singalongs, foot stomps, and hand movements when the songs beckoned them to do so. I was quite impressed all night long. The show had to end by a certain time with another act booked later, so while we may have gotten fewer songs, they were performed as well as I've heard Ellis sing them in a while. He may have forgotten his last show at Tin Angel, but I remember. It was my first time to catch him here. Ellis was battling a cold and could barely talk but somehow managed to sing.
He was great that night for 2 shows and even better this go 'round. It's amazing to me to see how accomplished Ellis is on the piano. Seems to me you give him a keyboard to play that's not moving (think Boston Harbor Booze Cruise
) and he's starting to impress on the player front, too.
Got a copy of Ellis' latest: Live from WERS featuring Ellis Paul in interview and live on air performance. Ellis signed it for us with the inscription: Always great to see you! Right back atcha, sir, as always, a real pleasure.
Tin Angel setlist:1. The Day that the Levee Broke (on piano)
2. Waking Up to Me
3. Maria's Beautiful Mess
4. Alice's Champagne Palace
5. Once Upon a Summertime (on piano)
6. Anna Lee (unplugged in the audience)
7. Jukebox on my Grave
8. It's Wherever You Are (on piano)
9. Calendar Man (request)
10. Walkin After Midnight/Things Change ----- Patsy Cline/Sam Baker cover
11. 3000 Miles
12. Blacktop Train (unplugged in the audience) -- broke string shows he gave it his all
13. Inside of Me too (?) --- poem while changing string
14. Road Trip (request) -- with excellent hand jive instruction and execution
15. The World Ain't Slowing Down -- hopefully a single for country super star Jack Ingram
Encores16. Take Me Out to the Ballgame -- a few notes on piano
17. Home (on piano)
18. Let it Be -- with Chris O'Brien and Austin Nevins
19. If I Could Catch the Rain (on piano)
Ellis thanked the crowd for coming out when they would probably have rather been somewhere else watching the big game on tv. He had mentioned earlier that if the Red Sox were playing in the World Series that he probably would have
cancelled the show!!!
He sent us all out into the cool of the evening with a smile and this heartfelt cheer:
Go Phillies!
