Search - Brian Doser, Ellis Paul, Jim Infantino :: End Construction: Resume Speed

Boston's first folk supergroup?

11/11/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was a DJ on 88.9-FM WERS in Boston from 1988-1991. While I mostly worked on the Jazz Fusion program "Fusebox", I frequently hosted the morning folk show, "Coffeehouse". Brian Doser was a audio production professor at Emerson College at the time and frequented the studio. Ellis Paul, pretty much unknown at the time, also came in often to perform. Brian Doser, Ellis Paul along with Jon Svetky and Jim Infantino, mixed (and I believe did some recording) "End Construction" in WERS' music studio, Boston's first all digital recording studio. This also happens to be where Ellis Paul recorded his "Am I Home" album -- another historical recording in Boston folk history.All of us who worked at the station knew something special was happening in Boston's folk scene and this record was about to show us how. The result really opened the doors for many artists in the scene and Rounder Records was about to listen. Less than two years later, Ellis Paul was signed and touring nationally. It was a pretty neat time.While the record is not perfect -- it lacks some professional mixing polish. It's a terrific time capsule recording -- taking folks back to when contemporary folk in Boston was a diverse mix of influences. It was also when folk was just "folk" in small coffeehouses that were meeting places to share ideas and music and NOT yuppified hangouts like Starbucks. If you're a Boston folk fan, this is a must have. The songs are diverse in styles -- some funny, some sad. But mostly, it's just great music by four guys who kickstarted Boston's blossoming folk scene. Guess you could call them Boston folk's version of Clapton and Cream. Okay...too many metaphors."