By Danny Coleman
originally published: 09/11/2014

"Really, I don't have any personal connection to anyone with epilepsy but I'm hoping to do some good for the cause."

Those are the words of Grammy winner and seven time Grammy nominee Paula Cole on her upcoming appearance in the Candlelight Concert for Epilepsy Awareness Series on September 20 in Ewing, NJ.

This talented songstress, whom "Rolling Stone" once called "An extraordinary songwriter with a gorgeous voice," is far removed from the days of her mega hit "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone," preferring the less travelled road of teaching at Berklee College of Music in her home state of Massachusetts and carefully choosing her performance dates.

"I was raised in Rockport, Massachusetts," explained the soft spoken Cole. "I wanted out desperately, wanted more, wanted to make it; so I wound up spending most of my adult life in New York City. It's funny how things come full circle isn't it? I'm back home now so that I can raise my daughter near family and grandma and grandpa," she said with a little laugh.

Cole's young daughter may be the reason she's back to her roots but one gets the impression that there's more beneath the surface of this seemingly relaxed artist. When questioned on her Grammy Award victory and nominations; Cole seemed slightly uncomfortable, even somewhat un-phased by it all. "My Grammy? It's resting on a high shelf, it gets little notice but it does make a good bookend," she said with that little laugh turning into a hearty roar. "Seriously though, it blew my mind at the moment. I mean it's a great thing to be recognized but I look at things differently now. I need to be true to my muse, my music, keeping the purity of art; I figured out that I can't get too depressed if I'm not liked. There were times before the accolades started coming my way that I wanted to give up but as a woman that's hard to do; so I kept trying. Now that there are no record company execs., nobody hovering over my shoulder in the booth: I can be true to myself even if it means I'm unsuccessful commercially for a while, I'm willing to accept that."

Cole has worked with some of the industries heavyweights. Peter Gabriel, Dolly Parton, Herbie Hancock and Annie Lennox have all either covered or asked her to perform with them. "That came out of the blue like a lightning bolt," she explained, referring to Lennox contacting her. "I was totally humbled. I adored Annie Lennox, she was a huge influence. I'm a Gen-X-er and I grew up essentially listening to her; when she contacted me it flipped my lid! I studied jazz, meeting Herbie and working with him, he's got such an innocence, a child like attitude; he's a hero of mine and it's all pretty incredible."

Cole is a methodic producer of material, releasing only six full length albums in just over 18 years; she doesn't rush things. "In 2006 I released "Raven," that was my first indie release. Major labels, well let's just say I wanted autonomy. As a matter of fact, I'm in the studio at the moment with my original band and I'm also using an upright bass player as I experiment a bit. I don't want to say too much but there will be some new music coming from me. Being in the studio again is nice but between teaching and being a mom things are moving at a much slower pace these days and that's good; I like it. Recording with these guys, they're dear friends and bad ass musicians so I can't ask for more."

Paula seems in no hurry to return to the touring life of a rock musician anytime soon. Preferring a take it slow and an as it comes approach; one can tell she's at a crux in her career. "I feel like time will tell. I had an abrupt assent, hits came fast, I was young and I didn't like the attention; it was really tough on my psyche. Emmy Lou Harris said to me, "Paula, it happened too fast." As I said earlier, I'd get too depressed if I wasn't well liked or received and I'd let that get to me; not so much anymore. I think moving forward, there will be more dialogue, more meaningful work, maybe less live shows so I can concentrate on more things."

"Less Live shows....," a quote that signals perhaps an extended break or possibly being selective about where and when she performs. One thing is for sure, Paula Cole will be performing at the Trinity United Methodist Church located at 1985 Pennington Rd. in Ewing, NJ. Opening for Cole will be Jersey shore resident, the amazing Emily Grove. Emily has two CD's to her credit and has shared stages with some of the largest names in rock music, along the coast line and beyond. Show Time is 7 p.m. and tickets are a scant $30 in advance. To purchase tickets or discover more about the series, please go to www.candlelightconcert.org. To find out more about Paula Cole, log onto www.paulacole.com. Emily Grove can be found at www.ourstage.com/profile/emilygrove.

That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!

THIS WEEKS CALENDAR LISTINGS

Alchemist & Barrister

28 Witherspoon Street Princeton
(609) 924-5555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Harry Nagy & The Dusty Rivers Band

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Sun. 9 p.m. Ed Wilson

Wed. 10 p.m. Open mic. night

All shows 21+
Amalfi's Restaurant

146 Lawrenceville Pennington Rd. Lawrenceville

(609) 912-1599
Fri. 8:30 p.m. Kindred Spirit
Amarones Windsor Inn

29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Scott Gager & Debbie

Fri. 8 p.m. Just Us

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Sat. 8 p.m. Larry D

Tues. 7:30 p.m. Texas Hold'em

Wed. 7 p.m. FREE Salsa Lessons
Big Shots Bar and Grill/Hebe Music Lounge

835 E Rte. 130 South, Burlington

(609) 267-1200
Thurs. 7 p.m. Aly Cat, The Racket Boys, Hey Lady

Fri. 7 p.m. Joint Session, Knuckle Puck Time, (TBA)

Sat. 7 p.m. Siravo, Godshed Eyes, Allora Mis, The Wailing Kids

Wed. 7 p.m. Open Mic.
Blend Bar & Bistro

911 Highway 33, Hamilton

(609) 245-8887
Fri. 8 p.m. Jim Gaven

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Sat. 9 p.m. Barry Wasserman, Daniel Satz, Daniel Buglio

Tues. 8 p.m. Triviajam
Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612

Sat. 3 p.m. Bob Smith Jazz and Blues (No cover-$10 minimum)
Chambers Walk Cafe
2667 Main St. Lawrenceville
(609) 896-5995

Fri./Sat. 6 p.m. Dick Gratton

The Backstage at Championship Bar
931 Chambers St. Trenton
Fri. 4 p.m. Monuments, Polyphia, Villains, Lionfight, Proletariat, Inventure, That Of A Lion, Extractus, Earthbound Immortal. All ages, $12/$14

Sat. 5 p.m. Sicada, Apatheist, Godless A.D., Road To Violence, Midnite Hellion, Fiakra, Seax. All ages, $8/$10

Wed. 4 p.m. Suffokate, Dark Sermon, Blood Of the Martyrs, Colossus, Impulses, Winchester, Circuit Of Suns. All ages, $12/$14
Chickie's & Pete's

183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown

(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night feat. The Dawgs
Dubh Linn Square
167 Rte. 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-7100
Sun. 4 p.m.Billy O'neal

Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night hosted by Shaun Ruymen

Wed. Half Way To St. Patrick's Day
Fran's Pub

116 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.

(215)862-5539
Sat. 7 p.m. Duane Chez Band

Sun. 3 p.m. Mayflies

Mon. 8 p.m. Open Mic Blues Jam hosted by Jimmy Pritchard

All shows 21+
Havana New Hope
105 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897

Thurs. Beat the Clock College Night DJ Dance Party

Fri. 9 p.m. An Evening with Rusted Root. Doors at 7 p.m., $35

Sat. 8:30 p.m. Fish Out of Water

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Sun. 3 p.m. Ladies 2000

Mon. 10 p.m. Karaoke in the Bar w/ DJ Ron Sherr and Bridget

Wed. 8 p.m. Pat Foran w/ JB Kline, Gregg Cagno

All shows 21+
Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Fri. 10 p.m. Tangled

Sat. 10 p.m. The Dawgs
All shows 21+

John & Peter's
96 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981

Thurs. 9 p.m. The Danny B. Harvey Rockers

Fri. 9 p.m. Corkscrew

Sat. (3 p.m.) Chowder (9:30 p.m.) The Burgeoning

Sun. 3 p.m. Jamie Salvatore

Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night w/ Lauren

Tues. 9 p.m. The Silks

Wed. The Invitational (Featuring John & Peter's House Band)
All shows 21+
JoJo's Tavern

2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton

(609) 586-2678
Sat. 10 p.m. Kindred Spirit

Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke
Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979

Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke

All shows 21+
Patriot's Crossing

1339 River Rd. Titusville

(609) 737-2780

Sat. 7:30 p.m. Dan Zimmerman & The Torquebillies
Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008

Fri. 9:30 p.m. Crosswick

Sat. 9:30 p.m.Jeff Palmer & Friends
RHO Waterfront

50 Riverview Plaza Trenton

(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 9 p.m. College Night "Welcome Back Rider and TCNJ w/ DJ Paul Desisto

Fri. (4:30 p.m.) DJ Wes/Buffet (8:30 p.m.) The Eddie Testa Band

All Shows 21+
Sunsets at Cream Ridge

181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge

(609) 208-2500
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Deb & Mike

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Jumbo and The Flatleaver Band

Tavern On The Lake

101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345

Fri. 9 p.m. Jam Lab

Sat. 9 p.m. Alter Ego

Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The Cool Cricket

216 4th St. Fieldsboro

(609) 291-9110
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke

Sat. 9 p.m. New Dawn

Sun. 3 p.m. Bikes, Beers, Burgers, Bands w/ Polish Nannies
The Ivy Inn

248 Nassau St. Princeton

(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr

Fri. 10 p.m. DJ Darius

Sat. 10 p.m. All For Bette

Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv

Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr
The Record Collector

358 Farnsworth Ave. Bordentown

(609) 324-0880
Fri. 8 p.m. Iain Matthews / Joe Orlando & Friends. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $20 (advance)

Sat. 8 p.m. Exotica a Night of Exotic Percussion. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $15 (advance)
The Sticky Wicket
2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. War Machine

Sat. 9 p.m. DJ Aero

All shows 21+
The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check web site for upcoming events
Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554

Fri. 9 p.m. Galway Guild

Sat. 9 p.m. Mike Barniskis

Tues. 9 p.m.Bill Shannon

Wed. 9 p.m. Ed Wilson

All shows 21+
Trenton Social

449 South Broad Street Trenton

(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 8 p.m. Cinema Thursdays Presents: "For No Good Reason"

Fri. 10 p.m. Friday night w/ Jay Kountree & Jaxx

Mon. 10 p.m. Service Industry Night w/ DJ-Jay Kountree
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300

Thurs. 10 p.m. DJ Trubblemaker

Fri. (5 p.m.) JD Eicher w/ Charlie Oxford, Christian Lopez. (10 p.m.) Dragon Fly. $5 (cover charge)

Sat. 10 p.m. Mustered Courage. $5 (cover charge)

Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night

Tues. 9 p.m. Acoustic Grateful Dead w/ members of Splintered Sunlight

Wed. 9 p.m.

All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn

2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington

Sat. 9 p.m. Live Acoustic Rock
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke

All shows 21+

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Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled 'Rock On Radio' airing Sunday evenings at 7:00pm EST on ThePenguinRocks.com where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.

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