End Construction Productions Reunion: A Show of Support for Stuart Ferguson (Preview) Club Passim, Cambridge, MA. February 24th 2013

Those who know me or read my reviews will be used to seeing me write up my impressions of live shows attended. You will also be aware that I travel quite some distance to see my favourite musicians perform. The musician that I’ve clocked up the most air miles for is Ellis Paul. He’s reuniting with his former band mates in End Construction Productions to play two benefit shows at Club Passim on 24^th February for Stuart Ferguson, a friend who has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. I can’t be there so won’t be writing a review however I can write a preview…

I first heard Paul’s voice on a sampler album FOLLOW THAT ROAD put out by Philo in 1994 and was smitten immediately – the song was King of Seventh Avenue which to this day remains a favourite. What I didn’t know then (but do now) is that Paul’s early foray into the music business saw him join forces with three other songwriters Jim Infantino, Brian Doser and Jon Svetkey in the collective End Construction Productions. Formed in 1989, the unknown youngsters saw this as a way of helping each other move their careers forward and for the next three years they played countless open mics, they played coffeehouses and performed on a myriad of college radio shows. These collaborative performances along with the release of their seminal album RESUME SPEED: A NEW ARTIST COMPILATION in 1990 helped to jumpstart their careers and became the catalyst for a revival in the national folk music scene. The collective disbanded in 1992 but each has continued to enjoy life with music at its heart…

Paul has become one of America’s most lauded, beloved singer songwriters, winning numerous awards for his music as well as having songs in films and TV shows. He is currently recording his new album tentatively titled CHASING BEAUTY and having heard a few cuts I can’t wait for its release later this year. Infantino is an award winning songwriter and producer whose band Jim’s Big Ego is recognised as ‘the greatest band in the history of recorded music’ – I kid you not!!! Doser is a popular children’s entertainer, a successful recording engineer with his own studio. He too has won awards for his production work. Svetkey’s band The Loomers has raised thousands of dollars for charity and had their songs featured on network TV. A career highlight was an invitation to perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Twenty-one years after embarking upon their individual paths, the End Construction quartet is reuniting for ‘A Show of Support for Stuart Ferguson’. Ferguson became (and has remained) a close friend since meeting during their early days on the open mic circuit. He and Infantino were at college together. Ferguson travelled the country as Paul’s road manager and sideman for several tours. Ferguson’s first album was produced by Doser. The connections are long and deep. By reuniting to raise money for Ferguson and his family as he battles with cancer End Construction are supporting a dear friend. They will perform songs from their 1990 album, some of Ferguson’s songs and some of their own – the two shows will be heartfelt and will be recorded for future digital release.

I would love to be there, the small matter of being 3000 miles away is preventing me from attending but at least I know that I can contribute in a small way by previewing the shows and making a donation at http://www.endconstruction.org/

Tickets are available at: http://passim.org/calendar

I wish I could say ‘see you there’ but I hope that someone will post a review so that I can at least live vicariously. Jela Webb