There was a lot of emotion at The Extended Play Sessions last week when Ian Fitzgerald and Brian Carroll, Boston-based singer-songwriters, performed although I doubt any of us in attendance had a clue about it.

Ian Fitzgerald

Brian Carroll

Ian and Brian have separate careers but they came together this night to perform both alone and together.

I had no idea what to expect from these musicians; I heard Ian sign one song at someone else’s show last month but had never seen Brian perform. The format was that Brian performed a number of his songs followed by Ian performing a number of his. They then performed as a duo with each taking lead on his songs.

Brian Carroll and Ian Fitzgerald

Both write roots music with an emphasis on strong lyrics.

Most of Brian’s set was taken from his EP Canyon; ‘Wade in the Water’ was probably the song I liked best. It was his own composition, not the spiritual of the same name.

Brian Carroll

Brian arrived with a couple of EPs; he asked us to take one of them to enjoy. Take, not pay for. He wants his music out there, as it deserves to be.

Brian Carroll

Ian had a few hard-core fans in the crowd this night, including one who requested a number of songs. He did play one or two of those, although I have a feeling those songs were already on his setlist! One of those songs was ‘Melinda Down the Line’.

Ian Fitzgerald

I am not sure if ‘The Devil You Know’ was one of the songs he performed, but it contains a stellar example of his fabulous lyricism.  “My memories are smoke-rings, perfect circles like the real thing/But one move false or true and they disperse/Sometimes I can’t remember how many notes I’ve sent her/But forgetting’s just a symptom, not the curse”. Wow.

Ian Fitzgerald

What made this session so memorable is what it did for Brian. He explained during the Q&A period that he was doing some deep soul searching, wondering if the life of a musician is what he wanted to continue to pursue. He came away from the evening feeling that yes, indeed, he would continue on that path and attributed it to the vibe he felt from the audience and the room.

Brian Carroll and Ian Fitzgerald

How incredible to be part of that; words cannot adequately describe it. In general, that’s what makes The Extended Play Sessions worth every bit of time and energy I put into covering the events there. A synergistic relationship develops between the artists and the audience which creates a memorable evening for all involved. Brian is a testament to that.

Brian Carroll

As my regular readers know, The Extended Play Sessions are dear to me. The venue is in the process of relocating to bigger and better space; the size of the audience will not increase, but the vibe will be even better with space to dance when the spirit so moves someone, with room to carry a plate of food without worrying that it will spill on someone, with Justine sitting at the bar instead of in the balcony (if you want to know who Justine is, you’ll have to come to the new studio).

Brian Carroll and Ian Fitzgerald

Moving costs money, however, and the Sessions is in the midst of a fundraiser. Please consider donating by clicking here.