BrainStream: I went to bed early

[bkdelong]

I went to bed early last night because I was feeling drained. I had a job interview for a gig I'm really looking forward to (I'll reveal all soon, whether I have the pleasure of working there or not) and it went real well - I really enjoyed the people I'd be working with; very down-to-earth, activists at heart. Plus trying to stay caught-up with all the fallout (read: email) from the Web Standards Project relaunch and nervously keeping an eye out for the full Harry Potter trailer instead of the 30-second teaser of a full teaser trailer - Damn Warner Brothers. I refuse to go see "Scooby Doo" just to catch a glimpse of a trailer.

Anyway, as I was saying- I went to bed early which means one of two things: I had to get up really early to catch a plane or early meeting, or I was just emotionally drained and had a headache. The latter was the case and so I got ready for bed and curled up with a great new book by, of all people, one of my favorite singer-songwriter folk artists Ellis Paul. I've mentioned Ellis a couple of times on this site but not enough to truly do him justice. The book, titled "Notes from the Road", proves that not only is he a master of prose in the songs he writes and performs but he carries the same talent through to his journal writings and letter-musings. I was disappointed that his diary-style entries were so few but it was nice in that context to read through his various poems and song lyrics from throughout the years.

I had the great pleasure of first hearing Ellis in January 1995 at the Iron Horse Music Hall. I was just beginning my foray into Web development on a professional level and hooked up with the guy who ran the sound board at the Iron Horse and a few other local Northampton live music establishments (we were going to setup a Web site called NOPAN - the Noho Performing Artists Network, where people could book local talent for their venue. They could see and listen to the bands before choosing, and we'd come in and do everything for the show - lights, publicity, sound etc.) Part of my "pay" for working with this startup was I got to play assistant and help setup the stage, listen to sound checks, get free food and ultimately, watch the show. I got to interview Jonatha Brooke for my "American Popular Music" class and sit in the green room with the masterful Bo Diddley. But none of that seemed to compare with a back-to-back night of two of the best Maine-transplant, Boston-based artists I've ever heard: Catie Curtis and, of course, Ellis Paul.

I don't quite know how to explain the effect Ellis' music has one me. In one respect it's the same as many folk artists but in another, he evokes raw emotions reminicent of the more poingent experiences in my life - the awkward and innocent tenderness of a first love, the sadness of loss and pain of rejection. I like to listen to him when I'm feeling particular emotionally vulnerable or mentally drained - it grounds me. Of course, my wife calls such music depressing - where I listen to certain artists for their voice, lyrics and evocative, emotional content, she listens to her happy, bouncy music for entertainment and an uplifting experience. Gotta love her.

Grab the book if you're looking for some liquid poetry and a behind the scenes look at one of the better, down-to-earth folk artists out there. It's a fun read.
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