Ellis Paul at Home, 4-30-20 Concert Review

As we make our way through this pandemic, and the more moronic states begin softening restrictions on social distancing prematurely, one thing that eases our anxiety and helps us feel connected and human is music. Several artists are performing online, and these concerts help the musicians as much as they help those of us who are listening. Ellis Paul has been putting on shows from his home nearly every day. Most of them are on Facebook, but Thursdays are for those who have signed up for his Patreon page. Today’s show was made up of all requests. Because he’s been playing so often, we’ve been treated to a wider range of material than usual. Ellis has been digging more deeply into his catalogue on a regular basis, and that means that an all-request show is going to contain nuggets you likely haven’t heard in a while.

However, he opened today’s show with the song we’ve heard probably more than any other Ellis Paul song, “3,000 Miles.” Still, I was happy to hear it, for there is a joy to this song, and hearing it immediately takes us to a better place, mixed with memories of many earlier concerts. By the way, the first few songs on Thursdays are also broadcast on Facebook. Ellis said that not being able to go on the road to play shows makes him feel “like a pilot who can’t fly.” He followed “3,000 Miles” with “How You Say Goodbye,” a cover song included on The Storyteller’s Suitcase. This one too has a bright sound. Plus, it uses plenty of baseball imagery, which I appreciate. Will we get to see any Red Sox games this summer? Who knows? Then, with “Rattle My Cage,” Ellis got bluesy. It was so bloody good to hear this one again. This song was my brother’s request.

Ellis then switched off the Facebook feed and continued on Patreon. It’s odd that the sound wasn’t quite as good there as on Facebook, a bit of an issue with compression. But the song choices were excellent, thanks to the requests of fans. He played “Changing Your Name,” another I hadn’t heard in quite a while. After that song he mentioned that when the pandemic is over and he returns to touring, it won’t be the same sort of schedule that he’d been doing in the past, that he’ll continue to do some online shows and remain home more than before. He followed “Changing Your Name” with “New Orleans,” a beautiful song that has a late-night vibe. People certainly put in some good requests. And Ellis was dressed up for the occasion, sporting a suit. “This is a tie,” he said. “I usually only wear this when I’m getting divorced. This is a special night.”

“Never Lived At All” is a song that has always spoken to me, and one that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, as I’ve been smacking myself for not more actively sending out my short stories and whatnot. Ellis seems to have worked up a different guitar part for this one, but it’s been a while, and my memory isn’t always to be trusted. “Better to have lived in hope than to never have lived at all.” He then turned the camera around to show us some of the music awards he has won. Quite a few! He played “Seize The Day,” a song that thematically seems to follow “Never Lived At All” quite well. And, yes, it is another song I hadn’t heard in a long while. He then wrapped up the show with “Did Galileo Pray?” Before saying goodbye, he mentioned that he might do a question and answer session next week, if people have questions regarding specific songs. The show ended at 8:25 p.m. eastern time. Tomorrow night he will be back on Facebook, playing traveling songs, and Saturday night will be a night of romantic songs. See you all then.

Set List

1. 3,000 Miles
2. How You Say Goodbye
3. Rattle My Cage
4. Changing Your Name
5. New Orleans
6. Never Lived At All
7. Seize The Day
8. Did Galileo Pray?