Événement

Ellis Paul and Steve Poltz on a double bill at the Playhouse

East coast meets west coast as Boston singer-songwriter Ellis Paul shares the stage at the Arcata Playhouse with San Diego based Steve Poltz. Both are known for their unique take on the world through their music.
Some artists document their lives through their music. Others chronicle their times. It's a rare artist who can do both, telling their own story through songs that also encapsulate the essence of people and places who have helped define their era overall. Woody Guthrie comes to mind, and so does Bob Dylan. Bruce Springsteen certainly as well. Ellis Paul is one of those gifted singer/songwriters. Though some may refer to him as a folksinger, he is more, for lack of a better word, a singular storyteller, a musician whose words reach out from inside and yet also express the feelings, thoughts and sensibilities that most people can relate to in one way or another, regardless of age or upbringing. The exhilaration of the open road. A celebration of heroes. The hope for redemption. Descriptions of those things that are both near and dear. The sharing of love, intimate, passionate and enduring.

These are the scenarios that emerge from Ellis Paul's music and are a continuation of tales Paul has told for more than a quarter century, over the expanse of nineteen albums, numerous critical kudos (15 Boston Music Awards alone), inclusion in several movie soundtracks, and stages he's headlined both near and far. "I've got a car with over 475,000 miles on it, and it's my third road vehicle," Paul declares. "I've been doing 200 shows a year for over twenty years. There isn't a town in the country where I won't find a friend. I'm a nomad. And I'm gonna write and play until I'm gone."

Steve Poltz was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) but has lived most of his life in Southern California. He is a dual citizen - Canada/USA - but has often said that, "should a hostage situation arise, I become conveniently Canadian."

Over the course of his life he's met Elvis Presley (who hugged his sister for far too long), trick or treated at Liberace's house (each finger had a diamond ring), was Bob Hope's favorite altar boy (according to him), bravely traveled the world busking before he knew how to do it, famously co-wrote "You Were Meant For Me" with Jewel, pissed off David Cassidy and can count some of the world's coolest people as fans. Steve doesn't just love life, he rides it bareback, naked, at a full gallop with one hand clenched deep in its mane and the other waving to anyone watching as he flies by. Time is ticking and he has work to do...

Check out both of these gentleman do their work at the Playhouse in a special double bill night with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. and the show at 8 p.m.