A Few Words About Skyway to Hell
Skyway to Hell is a show I have created that chronicles my 3 decades in the MN Music scene. It will feature songs (both old and new), stories, and special guests. While it is impossible to cover all of the ground that a 6,000 gigs has entailed, I want to highlight some of the people I have been honored to have met along the way, some the places I have enjoyed playing, and tell you how these things have inspired my songs and life. And I will tell a cautionary tale or two about what not to do, because as the great Mel Torme put it so aptly in his autobiography “It Wasn’t All Velvet.” In the end, I want to express what a life in music entails, and in spite of the hard times, the blessings that do arise in darkness and in light.
I have some of the best musicians in the world to help me celebrate: These include my first real band and compadres Cats Under the Stars and features the 3 original members, Tim O’Keefe, Jack Pasternacki, and yours truly. Willie Murphy, the musical godfather of the West Bank, and I will play a tune or two together. Sherwin Linton is going to join us. Sherwin has played over 14,000 gigs, and unless he hires me as his rhythm guitar player, I will never catch up to him. Curtiss A is the BEST rock and roll singer in the world, and a most interesting cat. I have no idea what we will do, and I can’t wait to find out. I met Mary Cutrufello in Texas (she was playing guitar with our friend Jimmie Dale Gilmore) and now lives in Mpls. and we are going to do a little guitar dueling and singing together.
I have some other special guests that will be joining us, but I want to surprise you so, as of now, I am not naming names.
This night will also see the debut of No Money Down, an EP-CD/DVD that I recorded with my great partner and friend, Sonny Earl. This project features two wonderful videos that we did in conjunction with my old friend and world class photographer Howard Christopherson. He introduced me to Video Director Margo Cavis, who is a name you need to keep your eye on. The videos we did include No Money Down, and Whiskey or the Rain. These will be debuted during this show, the world premiere as it were, on the big screen at the Parkway Theater.
I am also pleased to be releasing on CD my first LP Paper Tigers that came out 25 years ago in October of 1984. I hadn’t listened to it in years, and I must say, I think it holds up well (maybe even better than I have.) I recorded it at Carriage House Studios in South Minneapolis, under the guidance of my friend Kenny Jacob, and it was recorded on the same mixing board that was used at Sound 80 for Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks. Ghosts in the machine, as they say.
I am working with some great folks on this event. It has been great fun working with my old buddy, and great comic, Joe Minjares who is hosting the event at his theater. My friend Scott Herold, and his group Rock The Cause, are helping with street teams. Scott has helped me partner with the MN Food Shelf Network. A portion of ticket and merchandise sales are going to this organization. The Parkway is also putting barrels, in their lobby starting Nov. 25th for anyone wanting to donate non-perishable food items before, and on the night of the show.
In advance, I want to thank my good friends Doug Webb (web guru), Todd Anderson, Sonny Earl, Steve Wiese and Miles Hanson at Creation Audio, Mike Goebel, Deborah Burke, Howard Chrisopherson, Margo Cavis, and all of the musicians who are honoring me by joining me on stage. I am really looking forward to this night. There will be more to thank in the coming days. In the meantime, tip your bartenders and waitresses. God bless you all.
Paul Metsa, bLackiE, and mS. kitty