Postby paddyinthepub » Sun Jul 11, 2010 6:59 pm
When these shows were announced getting tickets was a no brainer for us as we have long missed many of the songs that were resurrected for these special full length album shows. As the shows drew ever closer I began to doubt that Ellis could pull this off in a way that would leave fans believing they had just experienced something special. To be honest, I was thinking it would be near impossible to pull off. I was aware Ellis seemed to have a two week break from performing, all the better to prepare for the marathon. With a bit of a scare recently with his voice strain I was afraid he might have trouble there, too. Then we learned he stayed out in the sun a bit too long with his daughters. My first thought was that he would sacrifice a few layers to the sun gods to put off practicing what was monumental by any measure.
We landed at Logan Intl and heAded straight for Patti's Dalton's in Seekonk, Mass. where she and her husband Tim were hosting Don Conoscenti in a warm and intimate Patti's Place house concert setting. It was my first DonCon solo show and as expected beyond amazing. The only thing that scared me was hearing that Don also seemed to be *cough* putting off practicing for the marathon that awaited him, too.
There's a good reason we're all fans of Ellis Paul.
He was as singularly focused and intense as the first time we ever saw him play out in Kerrville the year after he won new folk. Don Con was onstage with him that night, too. I can recall the hair on the back of my neck standing up moments before Ellis took the stage. Rod Kennedy was going on about him and it was about to happen. Mind you, we travelled to Kerrville specifically to see Ellis Paul. The song Oh My God comes to mind.
That was 1995.
Stories had just been reissued. We got it the day it dropped. We had mail ordered Say Something about a week earlier. We were in musical heaven. And then we were road tripping to see him play. Who knew the years would roll by as fast as they have. Listening to Ellis play these songs in album order over 4 shows was like a trip in a time machine. A few sweet mistakes, sure, but overall, Ellis delived me, and Pam, and the rest of the Passim crowd to a musical place you hope still exists. It does.....
Thanks to Ellis and Don and all the players that helped make this happen. Special thanks to all the friends we've made here for warm welcomes. It was great to see you all.....leavin on a jet plane.
Seeya on down the road, thanks again!
On The Late Show with David Letterman Dave does a segment with Paul Schaefer called "Is That Something?" The curtain opens to reveal some form of activity leading Dave to ask Paul the obvious question.
In closing:
That was something!
"once we're inside, it's a carnival ride" ~ ellis paul
paddy