Paul Emery – The Surge

George Rebane

RR reader/debater, musician, producer, KVMR news director, and friend Paul Emery is long known in Nevada County for his many talents and activities which keep us entertained and informed.  This fall Paul is outdoing himself with a bevy of productions that promise to keep the county’s toes a’tappin’.  I am constantly amazed how such a seemingly laid back guy can accomplish all that he does.  This morning he sent out an email that details the various courses of the latest feast he is serving up in the coming weeks.  Take note also that Paul now has a first class website that displays his wares.  Here is how he tells it.

Nevada City Live - Fall 2014

Friends, 

The beat goes on!  This week we have a fantastic line-up at the Nevada Theatre.

Last year, author and poet Molly Fisk brought the house down with her performance during Nevada City Live. Her humor, wit, impeccable timing, astute observations and colorful storytelling is a joy to see in person!  Don't miss her on Friday, October 10.

And don't forget Troubadours: Peter Wilson, Moe Dixon and Mountain John Hilligoss will reunite for a very special concert Saturday, October 11.  

When not touring as Troubadours, Wilson regularly performs at Northern California festivals, concerts and nightclubs.  He's been a featured performer at the California WorldFest, KVMR Celtic Festival and has opened concerts for headliners including The Band, Etta James, Jessie Winchester, and The Smothers Brothers.  Dixon now divides his time between Oregon and Colorado and is considered one of the top solo artists in the country, for his unique finger-style and ragtime guitar.  He's shared the stage with such familiar names as Phil Oches, Pete Seeger, Robben Ford, Buddy Guy, Doc Watson, Maria Muldaur, John Denver, and more.  Mountain John was a fixture in the LA and Nashville music scenes, performing with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris and more, before moving to Pennsylvania to pursue his poetry.  

Shows start at 8pm and tickets are $20.  Tickets are on sale on at BriarPatch Co-Op in Grass Valley and Yabobo in Nevada City. Tickets are for sale for all shows through Vendini.

You can find more information on these shows plus the entire lineup on my new website at www.paulemerymusic.com

We still need volunteers for all shows. You can sign up for a show by sending an email to Robin Karistedt at [email protected] and she'll give you details.

See you at the show,

Paul

Comments

[Paul Emery]

Thanks George

For once I agree with everything you said.

[Gregory]

The list of artists Moe Dixon is said to have played with probably included Phil Ochs, not Oches. One of the greats who died far too young.

[George Rebane]

PaulE 1147pm - See, it's easy for us to find an agreeable middle ground if we're not so picky where the middle is ;-)

[Paul Emery]

Phil Ochs

Yes Gregory. One of his great songs is the Draft Dodger Rag

"Sarge, I'm only eighteen, I got a ruptured spleen
And I always carry a purse
I got eyes like a bat, and my feet are flat
My asthma's getting worse

Consider my career, my sweetheart dear
My poor old invalid aunt
Besides, I ain't no fool, and I'm goin' to school
And I'm workin' in a defense plant

Read more: Phil Ochs - Draft Dodger Rag Lyrics | MetroLyrics

[Gregory]

A sobering fact is that when Ochs was my age he'd been dead for 25 years. Given my Viet Nam era draft status never progressed past 1-H, Draft Dodger Rag didn't quite speak to me. Och's "Outside of a Small Circle of Friends" (I think I quoted the MJ stanza in a Measure S thread) was my introduction and while I was never drawn into folk I did wear out my copy of Ochs' "Pleasures of the Harbor" which had the haunting, prophetic and depressive "I've Had Her" following the manic "Outside" track... being unable to make a solid emotional connection to a mate was apparently his doom.

Put me down among those who think Ochs should have had Dylan's career success.

Anyway, back to the present... nice set of concerts you're presenting, Paul; they should all be well attended.

[Bill Tozer]

Paul, you need volunteers? Once upon a moon, I was a freshman at a tiny 4 year college with a student body of 1,200 comprising of 2 girls for every guy. That's 4 breasts for each male student, but I digress per normal.
Being the typical starving student on scholarship at the private college, I found out that I could see free concerts merely by helping out ushering people to their seats, then I was allowed to take a seat when the show started. Think it was 5 or maybe 6 bucks at the door. The first concert was kind of boring with a couple of guy on stools with so-so voices singing about a hummingbird and, frankly, it was quite the yawner to me. That duo was called Seals and Croft.

The next show was a group called Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks. Again, mostly a yawner to the polite crowd, although I was more into it than my roommate who I reserved front row seats for him and his high school sweetheart.

The 3rd concert (and the last concert I volunteered at) was just a solo act. This man came in, sat on the stool, opened his guitar case and started singing and strumming. He was ok, but not really rock and roll nor country, nor folk. Nice enough fellow though. Get this. Just last week I heard on the ray-dee-o that that solo act was induced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or some Hall of Fame. His name was Bill Whithers.
He was a lot nicer than the lead singer in a band that played at my high school I can assure you. That lead singer in the band playing at the ole high school had some anger issues. He was playing too loud and used profanity. The principle charged the stage and pulled his mike. The singer got all upset and proceeded to trash the high school audio video equipment and smashed the amps. After he left, it was apparent that he also vented his anger backstage as he had carved profanities into a chair. After paying for the equipment and a new chair, the school lost money on the concert. Good thing that band quit playing high schools cause it was not a good fit for all concerned. BTW, that singer in the tie and red sweater and long hair was named Jim and the band was called The Doors, but should have been called The Woodcarvers. :)
Think I will pass on volunteering and plunk down the cash.