[FM] Ellis Paul/Flynn in Haverhill MA: 1/18/03

[Roberta Schwartz]

Ellis Paul
w/Flynn opening
New Moon Coffeehouse
Haverhill, MA
http://www.newmooncoffeehouse.org
Saturday, January 18, 2003
8 p.m.

On a bitter cold night in the northeastern Massachusetts town of 
Haverhill, Flynn and Ellis Paul heated up the sanctuary of the town's 
Unitarian Church in an unforgettable evening of music.

Flynn, by way of Ireland and now Boston's own, is a force to be 
reckoned with. New to me, but not to many others in the audience, he 
took to the stage with an acoustic guitar in hand and a powerful 
musical presence.  With a sound not too far from the softer side of 
U2, Flynn rocked the house with a driving guitar that sounded like a 
full band.  It's not often that I get blown away by an opening act, 
but this was one of those moments.  This guy has something special - 
the "X" factor, "It," whatever you want to call it.  The guitar 
playing is forceful and mesmerizing, and the vocals are strong, with 
a rock edge, but can also be sweet and hypnotic.  I'm not usually at 
a loss for words, but Flynn's sound has me looking for a new 
vocabulary.  Songs in his opening set ranged from traditional Irish 
tunes with a very contemporary sound - done the "Flynn way" as he 
calls it, to Flynn's own original songs.  I hear echoes of Bono, but 
there is so much more to this performer.  He's got a unique sound 
that won't be a secret known only to a lucky few for much longer.

Local and national favorite, Ellis Paul, followed Flynn to the stage 
of the packed house full of longtime fans.  Ellis Paul, the wordsmith 
and crafter of elegantly written tunes, has become a household name 
in these parts and in many others across the country.  And he didn't 
disappoint.  Opening with one of his best songs, "Words," he sang to 
the audience about the importance of words and how sometimes you are 
at a loss to describe how you feel when love overtakes you.  It was a 
musical journey of a night through the Paul catalog, with highlights 
from the new CD, THE SPEED OF TREES, and old gems as well.
"Give In, Give Up," not only has a rich melody with some great guitar 
work, but has Paul hitting some of the highest notes in his songbook. 
"If You Break Down,"
a lovely song of support and commitment, was recently featured on the 
t.v. show ED, which shows that some of the Hollywood folk are taking 
note of Ellis Paul's music.  Other songs like "The World Ain't 
Slowing Down" were featured in a Farrelly Brothers' film.  Paul is 
not just New England's favorite singer anymore.

Something special about this show: Paul unplugged his guitar twice to 
walk out into the center of the Church to direct his expressive tenor 
to the vaulted ceiling where it rang down clear as a bell on all of 
the audience members.  He did this on an original interpretation of 
the Beatles' "Let It Be" with Flynn joining him on harmony vocals - 
just beautifully done.  And he came out to do a couple of encores, 
unplugged once again.  The first was a perfect take on the song "I 
Can't Make You Love Me," made famous by Bonnie Raitt.  But Paul's 
right on target when he sings the songs of his hero Woody Guthrie, 
whose image he has permanently afixed to his upper arm.  "Way Over 
Yonder in the Minor Key" and "God's Promise," which he scored to a 
set of Guthrie's lyrics that have lost their music over the years, 
were his choices from Woody's songbook.

At times funny, at other times poignant (he did a reading from his 
recently published journal on an interview with a severely 
handicapped radio interviewer), and at all times a consummate 
performer, Ellis Paul puts on one of the best shows on the acoustic 
scene these days.  This one was no exception.

 From a longtime EP fan and a new Flynn one,
Roberta Schwartz