Love the pictures – and the commentary - what a festival! Thank you so much for taking the time and for posting so quickly! Looking forward to more!

I’ve had a chance to really listen to the recording this weekend. Yes, I agree with the consensus – he was tailoring the music to this show.

“Mellow Down Easy” is a Willie Dixon song (aka the man Led Zep ripped off) – and notice how Paolo threw in “29 Ways” at the end, another great tune. “Pencil Full of Lead” may have been a tribute to the Johnny Temple song “Lead in My Pencil”, another blues legend. Paolo surely learned a lot at that Ertegun tribute concert last winter!

The album will be completely different. I just hope it is not too over-produced. Atlantic has its own ideas, I’m sure. My guess is at this point it’s finished and the first remix has been done by Mark Ronson – you can’t get any more mainstream than that! Anybody who heard the clip of “Rainbows” that leaked from the Atlantic preview reel knows that it was a polished, cleaned-up sound. Atlantic makes more money on ringtones than anything else, and Paolo is signed to a major label whether we like it or not. (I wonder how many albums he owes Atlantic during his 5-year contract?)

I remember seeing Paolo in-store in San Francisco; first he performed live, and then the “These Streets” CD was played over the sound system as he signed. And all around me people were asking, ”is that his CD???” Paolo live had sounded so different to everyone, it bore no absolutely no resemblance to the record. (Also people were trying to find “Funky Cigarette” on the CD of course!)

To me, that is the beauty of Paolo and the reason to see him live. He is versatile, he is unpredictable. Those qualities will give him longevity and keep things interesting. He can release catchy pop songs and sell ringtones but play ancient blues at Montreux and long-hair festivals and that’s fine with me – that is what I love about him.

quote:

Originally posted by sambista:
Oh..I forgot to mention that i love "Sleepwalkin"..it's such a bloody crazy speedy-fast pogo-style song,very energetic...reminds me at the Flogging Molly gig...just crazy and funny.

Gee....sort of makes me want to go back and edit my post where I said I don't like "Sleepwalking". Well, I don't like it yet...it may just take a few more listens before I change my mind. I really didn't like "High Hopes" the first time I heard it but now I love it!

quote:

Originally posted by Won't be Hasty:
To me, that is the beauty of Paolo and the reason to see him live. He is versatile, he is unpredictable. Those qualities will give him longevity and keep things interesting. He can release catchy pop songs and sell ringtones but play ancient blues at Montreux and long-hair festivals and that’s fine with me – that is what I love about him.

I agree 1,000%!

quote:

Originally posted by SHARONA:
Hope that I am not being redundant here...but I see only fifteen hits on this video @ youtube from Telluride....just posted and hour ago....an oldie but always a GOODIE

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=1e-c10jaehA

And don't miss part 1...only 5 hits so far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGVdBBRWPLY

quote:

Originally posted by SHARONA:
Hope that I am not being redundant here...but I see only fifteen hits on this video @ youtube from Telluride....just posted and hour ago....an oldie but always a GOODIE

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=1e-c10jaehA

Great find, Sharon, but that was way too short. More video would be nice. Kat? Ready with those videos yet?
(Yes, I did see part 1 as well.)

patricia, I have not seen this vid before. this is sooo AWESOME! i luv it!

quote:

Originally posted by patricia:
i hope the new album isn't full on country aswell, the songs would all be great if he just sung in his previous better soulful voice u can see here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=fCJOuWFKciA

i miss it so much

quote:

Originally posted by Michelle (loves music):

quote:

Originally posted by SHARONA:
Hope that I am not being redundant here...but I see only fifteen hits on this video @ youtube from Telluride....just posted and hour ago....an oldie but always a GOODIE

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=1e-c10jaehA

Great find, Sharon, but that was way too short. More video would be nice. Kat? Ready with those videos yet?
(Yes, I did see part 1 as well.)

I've seen small children do that dance. It's usually followed by the announcement, "I have to go potty!"

quote:

Originally posted by Won't be Hasty:
(I wonder how many albums he owes Atlantic during his 5-year contract?)

I believe it is 5 albums... not 5 years....

Kat,
Do you have video from Telluride? Sounds like a great time. I'm so jealous. Thanks for the pictures and the reviews.
Ld

thanks kat/kimpy.... i can't wait for the vids.
thanks sharon for sharing the youtube vids.

two of my favorites are Candy and the Worried Song(I was worried with my homework at the time). I like swing dance so I definitely go for the Pencil full of lead (maybe Dancing with the stars will use this song for next season). Honestly I didn't know what to say when I first heard the new songs - but after listening to it a couple of times now I just can't wait for the new album. I am more fond of the original version of New Shoes compared to the Telluride version - it was nice to hear a new version though. Whatever the album is, I am in full support indeed!

I completely appreciate hearing the festival, seeing the pictures and videos. It's a much needed Paolo fix. Thanks to everybody who posted this stuff.

However, I'll wait to hear the album before I make up my mind about it. It's likely that the songs were presented in the way they were because of the nature of the festival. There's a chance that the finished product will sound NOT more mainstream, but less bluegrass. There's a difference.
I don't think anybody expects him to record a "These Streets II" next. He's not the same teenager he was when he wrote those songs. He's gained a wealth of new experiences in these last couple of years. Important, formative years. He's still Paolo, of course, but he's a few years farther down the road. The songs he writes now will surely reflect who he is now with all these new experiences under his belt. As it were.
I don't expect a "These Streets II." I'd be disappointed if it were. However, I'd be much more disappointed if our boy went pure country. I don't care for the genre. Never have, never will. I think it's admirable for musicians to grow and expand their horizons, but I think it's pure folly for one to jump genres.
Just my .02 cents.
I'll wait and see.

I skimmed through all these comments, Kat, thanks for the pix and review. You rock! Paolo will always have an audience in us, or everywhere regardless of what type of music he is going to play. He never once admitted to having a type of genre anyway. He plays the kind of songs he likes to share, and if somebody listens, he's happy to play them. He can play to me anytime, he can sing the phone book in a phone booth and I will go see him, and no I AM NOT A FANATIC!! Nice to see everyone! Cheers!

quote:

he can sing the phone book in a phone booth and I will go see him,

Ok, but how does he get the rest of the band and their instruments in the phone booth with him?

quote:

Originally posted by bibliomaniac:

quote:

he can sing the phone book in a phone booth and I will go see him,

Ok, but how does he get the rest of the band and their instruments in the phone booth with him?

Great question, Bib!!! I need to take Ritalin, I wasn't thinking straight.....

quote:

Originally posted by Webchic00:

quote:

Originally posted by bibliomaniac:

quote:

he can sing the phone book in a phone booth and I will go see him,

Ok, but how does he get the rest of the band and their instruments in the phone booth with him?

Great question, Bib!!! I need to take Ritalin, I wasn't thinking straight.....

Well, maybe it would work if it were Dr. Who's call box.