{"id":493,"date":"2020-09-03T00:38:12","date_gmt":"2020-09-03T00:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=493"},"modified":"2023-08-19T21:26:31","modified_gmt":"2023-08-19T21:26:31","slug":"the-magic-of-martin-zellar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=493","title":{"rendered":"The Magic of Martin Zellar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"The-Magic-of-Martin-Zellar\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cMusic has healing power.
It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a little while.\u201d
\u2013 Elton John<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Truly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, like the past several, was supposed to be filled with an abundance of live music. My concert calendar was already starting to fill up as 2020 got underway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A friend and I had tickets to see Martin Zellar\u2019s NEIL! Tribute on Valentine\u2019s Day and were all set to rock out to Hall & Oates from the nosebleed section at Xcel Energy Center in July. I bought A TICKET \u2013 singular \u2013 to go solo to another Zellar show in March. My (now ex-) husband and I had seats for Barenaked Ladies, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and Gin Blossoms in June. I was looking forward to another Gear Daddies<\/a> show at First Avenue in early May\u2026 .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But at that February 14 show at the Parkway Theater, I remember hearing people starting to talk about a virus that was wreaking havoc halfway around the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then the entire world turned on its head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the blink of an eye, everything changed. Those concert plans were gone, taking with them all hope for any musical enjoyment this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But by far the biggest and most significant question mark on my live music schedule was the Martin Zellar<\/a> house concert we had booked earlier in the year. The date was three days after the now-canceled Hall & Oates show, and I was absolutely crushed by the thought that this event, too, would suffer the same fate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A BIG DAMN DEAL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why was this house concert such a big deal? If you know me, you already know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve been a fan since college<\/a> and have made a habit of catching at least half a dozen Zellar and Gear Daddies shows every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excessive? No way. Necessary?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Totally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a songwriter, Zellar is altogether honest. And purposeful. And brilliant. His expressive lyrics craft each tune into its own melodic powerhouse that can bring out a smile or deliver the most intense gut punch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And his gentle-calm, low-growl voice provides the most profound delivery of this harmonic poetry. Listening to Zellar\u2019s music is medicinal; it\u2019s therapeutic. His tunes help right the ship when things seem painfully off course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Y\u2019know, like this dumpster fire year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s also one of the most gracious and likable people I\u2019ve ever met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, yeah. For me? This was a big deal. This was a big damn deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GREEN LIGHT<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We needed to adjust the date for the show \u2013 and again later, because Mother Nature is a big \u2019ol bitch sometimes \u2013 and attendance would have to be extremely limited (thanks a lot, COVID), but I received confirmation that the house concert was a go.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Martin-Zellar-Social-Distance-Tour-2020-House-Concert-Series-guitar\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Holy shit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was overjoyed to FINALLY have something to be excited about, since excitement wasn\u2019t really a thing anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I prepared and planned, and I mapped out the performance area and spots for guests, allowing plenty of space for social distance seating. We set up tents and stocked the coolers and purchased way too many snacks. We bought extra masks and hand sanitizer and caution tape \u2013 because who even knows what\u2019s real anymore?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I vacuumed the patio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I VACUUMED. The PATIO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when the day came and Martin pulled into the driveway, I was stoked. So. Unbelievably. Stoked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He met the dogs almost immediately, because dogs. I mean, they had no idea who he was but were just thrilled to see and sniff another person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We showed Martin where he\u2019d be setting up and gave him a tour of the house. He met the cats, talked trains with my then-husband, and commented on my collection of Daniel Craig-era 007<\/a> posters lining the basement hallway.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Which led to an awesome back and forth about Daniel Craig being the best James Bond<\/a>. Ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Side note: My dad likes Martin \u201ceven more now\u201d after learning of his Double-O preference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With his sound system ready to go \u2013 thanks to a little help from our pooch, Chet the Roadie \u2013 and the undersized but enthusiastic crowd trickling in, we were set to safely get this Martin Zellar: Social Distance Tour 2020 House Concert Series\u2122 show started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I almost wrote up a set list \u2013 as a joke, only because I know he never uses them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

STRUMMIN\u2019 AND HUMMIN\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Martin opened this 2-set, backyard show with Gear Daddies<\/a> staple \u201cStatue of Jesus\u201d and then kicked up the tempo with \u201cGoodbye Marie.\u201d After encouraging requests he cranked out \u201cTen Year Coin<\/a>,\u201d which I would have asked for anyway, because I love that tune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then he belted out my favorite, \u201cBlown Kisses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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