Holy s$&t time flies!
I’m re-enacting my past here, standing outside of what was once my favorite place to perform, the Canal Street Tavern in Dayton, OH.
It was run by a guy named Mick Montgomery, who had a pony tail dangling and the slightest smell of herb attached to his aura. Like a cloud. He’d bring you back into his closet of an office and count out your pay in $20 bills. Under a dangling lightbulb that painted everything yellow. Talking, smiling, counting. Licking his fingers as he went.
“$780 Ellis, just enough for the beers until the next one.”
It’s a deli now. Mick is gone.
The older photo below is me and the End Construction guys, (Jon Svetkey, Brian Doser, Jim Infantino). We were out on our very first tour outside of Boston. It was 1992. 33 years ago. It was my first time touring and a ride of firsts as well. First time in Ohio, Nashville, Pittsburgh. The Alleghenys the South.
There was a poster of Woody Guthrie in this place, 6 feet high. I sat staring at after a show one night. Drinking whiskey: The bartender Jaimee was covered in tattoos. I drew him into my sketchbook standing in front of the poster. Later on I had it tattooed to my arm.
Now I’ve had 6,000 shows in Nashvilles, Pittsburghs, and Daytons all over the planet. And more coming! I’ve been to Ohio countless times, and have a show here next week in Columbus! New friends still coming along. Radoslav Lorkovic and Sadie Gustafson-Zook.
I miss old Mick. He was one of the kindest people you could meet on the road. I had a run of great shows in here at Canal Street and adventures that spilled from these doors at midnight. And more that await me.
Indiana tonight. A private show in a livingroom in Bloomington where I will play Scrabble afterwards and drink bourbon with the coolest people alive.
See if you’re close to these exotic places. Or you may have friends and family near them. Call them. Tell them they’ve been cooped up too long. They need to get out and hear some songs.
Go to
www.ellispaul.com/calendar for details ind tickets.
MIDWEST
Apr 22 CSPS Hall Cedar Rapids, IA
Apr 23 SPACE Evanston, Illinois,
Apr24, The ARK Ann Arbor, MI
Apr 25 Southgate House Newport, KY
Apr 26, Natalie‘s Columbus, OH
NORTHWEST/CALIFORNIA
May 1 Victoria Listening Room Victoria BC
May 2 The Rabbit Box Seattle, WA
May 3 Showdown Saloon Portland, OR
May 4 The Hybrid Gallery, Eugene, OR
May 5 Live Music HC Ranier, OR
May 8 House Concert Lowell, OR
May 9 House Concert Roseburg, OR
May 11 Hopmonk Tavern Novato, CA ***3pm Matinee
May 17 Homegrown Coffeehous Needham, MA.
May 18 The Stone Church Brattleboro, VT
