The late show was another packed house at Tin Angel. Ellis and Antje again revealed the nature of the "final show" of them touring together the better part of a year, and it all started right here at the Tin Angel when Antje knocked on Ellis' "Green Room" door to ask if she could borrow his tuner. She said Ellis found her "weird" , and thus the interest to catch her opening set on that fateful night. Ellis disagreed with her, saying he used the word "interesting." Either way, a great "meet cute" story. I'm saying this in the "late show post", even though I think Antje told the story during the early show. Sorry about that guys....it's late and all.
Antje's late show setlist:
I'll start with a happy song.
Pearls
Hold On w/ Ellis
Sex Bandaid
I Was Lost
She started and stopped this song, saying the capo needed to be higher, and George Bush was worth it.
Christian Boys
She sang the first verse of this song, and just before she got to the chorus added "this is not about Ellis, so you know."
Hero
Ellis's late show setlist:
Ellis took a seat at the piano and told the crowd at the late show straight up: I have a cold, but we'll get through this. I need you to sing when you know the words.
Summertime - on piano
Ellis told the gravesites story - joked that it should have been called "IPOD On My Grave" - because "you'd get more songs and digital quality."
Jukebox on My Grave
The story of Sophie Rose's planned arrival this Thursday and how he was wanting to be there for his wife, hold her hand, as long as he did not have to watch.
Alice's Champagne Palace w/Antje
Ellis spoke of separation anxiety since Antje was going out on her own. HE looked over at Antje and said with a touch of feigned stress in his voice:
I'm having a baby.
Don't leave me.
Come in for the surgery.
Sing to us.
Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key - Woody Guthrie Cover - w/Antje
Again, Ellis told of staying out late drinking with John Gorka til 4:30 in the morning, but failed to tell his then girlfriend about it. He wrote this song from her point of view.
Last Call w/Antje
The story of driving from Austin to Houston and amazed he made it safely, since he remembers little of the 4 hour drive having spent the whole drive down the long straight stretch of road writing the words to this song. Oh, and noticing the countless armadillos on the side of the road.
A Texas Roadkill Christmas song:
Snow In Austin w/ Antje
Home w/ Antje
This next song was an audience request that Ellis of course was happy to do. It was slightly interrupted by technical issues with the half inch cable going into Ellis' guitar....he said we have to stop, talk amongst yourselves. Once the sound guy had a different cable for him, Ellis said, " okay, I won't repeat the first part, but you get the jist, Maria's a mess."
Maria's Beautiful Mess
Ellis voice was truly put to the test towards the middle and end of MBM, and he sensed it was near time to end the show. I'm going to do a couple more songs.
It was here that Ellis said : " having one of those weeks where I wish the world would slow down."
The World Ain't Slowing Down
A request came for Angel in Manhattan, Ellis said he could not sing that one, that it needed to be in the low range and kind of short. The woman across the table from me suggested a song. Ellis immediately said Okay. I'll try this one. He introduced the song's original title of Dream In New Orleans, a song about a falling dream he had had, whereby he lands in New Orleans, nothing bad about that, he could have landed in Cleveland.
Ellis then proceeded to play and nail the final song of the night, a request, my wife's request, a song she so wanted to see appear on Ellis' Essentials release, back when the call for fans to help decide which songs outta go on the 2 disc, 34 song collection of hits. It did not make the cut. Talk about the next best thing!!!
New Orleans - encore
And that wrapped the showS at Tin Angel in Philadelphia for Ellis Paul and Antje Duvekot this time around. And it seems we have come full circle. Ellis is off to help bring his new baby, Sophie Rose, into the world. It's an exciting time for Ellis and we wish him and his wife and family all the best.
Antje is off to new and exciting places as well. Hec, she told the crowd tonight that just last night she was a houseguest of Dave Marsh. You know, the Dave Marsh, not only editor of Rolling Stone Magazine , but also
manager of Bruce Springsteen. She just knew that she was staying overrnight in a house that Bruce had slept in. Exciting times for Antje indeed. Her new songs sound great, she had new found confidence, a huge smile on her face, even a new boyfriend, who was in the house tonight. I happened to have a chance encounter with him earlier in the evening, and you know something.....nice guy....and funny too!
Thanks again Ellis....and....Antje. Great showS tonight. Somehow I knew I needed to be in the audience at Tin Angel tonight.
Talk about.......worth the wait.
