Although living in Plymouth for eight years I had never been to the Spire Center. (Granted Covid wiped out about two of those years.) I had tickets for a Robbie Fulks show that was unfortunately canceled due to poor weather in 2018. Postponed due to Covid, I was finally able to get to a show, and a fantastic one at that, this past February. Bluesman Tinsley Ellis put on an absolutely fantastic show at the Spire.
Tinsley Ellis has been touring for decades, literally. I had heard his name but was not familiar with his music until a friend mentioned that he often tours and that we should check him out. Fast forward to a time when the public was again allowed to gather and I saw his name on the roster for the Spire Center.
Literally within walking distance for me, I purchased tickets on a walk with the dog one day in mid-November. With four tickets, it was to be my wife and I and two Daves. At the last minute, Jackie couldn’t go, so Collin joined the group. As the first evening of February break from work, it was the perfect way to start the vacation week. After a meal of stuffed pretzels at New World Tavern, it was time for the show.
Tinsley Ellis Live!
Promptly at eight, Ellis took the stage with a bass player and a drummer. Beginning with “One Less Reason” from his newest, Devil May Care album, it set the tone for the rest of the evening, with scorching electric guitar-led blues. Playing songs from much of his career, Ellis spent the next two hours entertaining the crowd with his head nodding and foot-stomping tunes. Between songs, he shared stories of his formative years and his years in the music biz that included watching B.B. King at a roadside hotel in Florida or learning Howlin’ Wolf’s “Little Red Rooster” from someone that actually played with Wolf.
Turning down a little bit, in the middle of the set he took out the slide guitar. Ellis played a full set, without stopping for an intermission, with originals such as “The Next Miss Wrong” and “Slow Train to Hell.” Covers included “It Hurts Me Too,” originally by Tampa Red, which has been covered by everyone from the Grateful Dead to G. Love but is associated with Elmore James.
Spire Center
The Spire is a comfortable place to see a show. It’s a converted church, the seats are pews. There is a bar in the back where we all imbibed a few Mayflower IPAs. With seats in the back, folks can loiter back there or take their beverage back to their seats. The acoustics are impressive and it may be cliche, but there is literally no bad seat in the house. I’m excited to go back to the Spire Center for another show soon and will definitely be catching Tinsley Ellis again whenever he’s in town.
For more information, check out Tinsley Ellis online. The Spire Center is located at 25 ½ Court Street in Plymouth, Massachusetts. For more Plymouth attractions, check out these Backyard Road Trips: (Mostly) Free Family Fun in Plymouth, Favorite Take Out Spots in Plymouth, and Farm Animal Destinations.
