{"id":8155,"date":"2012-05-02T21:45:46","date_gmt":"2012-05-03T02:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bostonsurvivalguide.net\/wordpress\/?p=8155"},"modified":"2012-09-10T20:27:26","modified_gmt":"2012-09-11T01:27:26","slug":"music-for-the-soul-an-evening-with-christopher-paul-stelling-and-julia-christgau-at-precinct-in-somerville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bostonsurvivalguide.net\/wordpress\/2012\/05\/music-for-the-soul-an-evening-with-christopher-paul-stelling-and-julia-christgau-at-precinct-in-somerville\/","title":{"rendered":"Music for the Soul: An Evening with Christopher Paul Stelling and Julia Christgau (at Precinct in Somerville)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It’s a testament to this fine performer that eleven days after Christopher Paul Stelling’s<\/a> mid-evening set at Precinct, I still have a vivid memory of it. I’d written about him a few times here, marveling at his lightening-fast finger picking style and impossibly warm and soulful vocals, but wasn’t able to get out to see him the last time he was in town (also at Precinct).<\/p>\n

CP’s music and his live performance has this religious fervor that’s both deeply moving and overpowering. It’s in his eyes – wide and piercing, as if remembering some especially vivid night horror. I was instantly drawn in and fascinated by this solitary figure standing on a piece of plywood, stamping out a beat with his boots, fingers flying fluidly across his beat-up acoustic guitar, and vocals compelling like a hellfire-and-brimstone revivalist but without the preaching and damnation. <\/p>\n

He performed songs from his gorgeous new album, Songs of Praise and Scorn, and brought along his bandmate and girlfriend Julia Christgau (who is also on the album) to add backing vocals and shaker to a few songs. She has a beautiful voice as well, sweet country and like a warm breeze, and did a stunning job handling the lead for one song. Their mesmerizing set unexpectedly included a hilarious ‘road story,’ providing some great comic relief amidst the heart-pounding intensity.<\/p>\n