September 9-15, 2004

musicpicks

Curtis Eller's American Circus

Rock/pop

Last winter, a small but eager audience at Doc Watson's was taken aback by the final performer on an indie-folk Plain Parade bill. A tall, thin, shy stranger with a banjo and big Groucho moustache played us some songs. He leapt from one side of the stage to the other; he prowled his way into the crowd; he yodeled and played kazoo like a man on fire. This is Curtis Eller's American Circus, where the sad, eerie sides of the early 20th century — from snake handlers to Buster Keaton — come back from the grave in perfect waltz time. Eller's new self-released album, Taking Up Serpents Again, features a gorgeous backdrop of harmony vocals, tuba, accordion, etc. At curtiseller.com, you can order the CD and get an MP3 of the album's haunting "Amelia Earhart" ("Like a tombstone worn smooth by the years/ And I wish that I was Amelia Earhart/ 'Cause Charles Lindbergh lived his life in fear"). Catch the show at The Fire, and you'll be ready to run away to join this very different, very wonderful circus.

Tue., Sept. 14, 9 p.m., $5, with John Francis and Sharis, The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 267-671-9298.

—Michael Pelusi