A day out in Coney Island with Brooklyn-based musician, Curtis Eller. | Watch on vimeo
Documentary short film by Joshua van Praag | Client: Coca-Cola
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The songs themselves are rock-n-roll songs. They just happen to be describing dead silent film stars and things like that. [...] I want to write songs as if it is 1923. I want to write songs about what it’s like to be here thinking about 1923.
Husband and wife team, unconventional musician Curtis Eller and poster artist Jamie B. Wolcott, are a creative duo based in New York City. Their talents serve to complement each other well. Curtis describes himself as ‘New York City’s angriest yodeling banjo player.’
In the film documentary above by award-winning director Joshua van Praag, Curtis sings and strums brilliantly through his well crafted tune, ‘Sugar in My Coffin.’ And what an ace bit as Curtis reflects on the 1957 book by John and Alice Durant—Pictorial History of the American Circus, a book gifted to him by his father—and how this book’s spare captions inform his music lyrics.
Old Weird Americana Night, Pittsburgh | Poster
©Jamie B. Wolcott
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More about Curtis…
He started his show-business career at the age of seven as a juggler and acrobat in the Hiller Olde Tyme Circus in Detroit, but has since turned to the banjo because that’s where the money is. His biggest musical influences are Buster Keaton, Elvis Presley and Abraham Lincoln.
Mr. Eller and his band, The American Circus, stubbornly perform and record in New York City. They have appeared at funerals, horse races, burlesque revues and punk rock dumps. Haunted by the ghosts of silent film and wearing a dead man’s clothes, Mr. Eller and the band have staggered their way into the hearts of audiences from London and Amsterdam to Los Angeles and Montreal.
The Bad Things Cabaret 2009, Seattle | Poster
©Jamie B. Wolcott
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Curtis’ wife, Jamie, works in ink and watercolor and is inspired by turn of the century ephemera including antique circus posters and vintage family photos in addition to old musty aromas. After wandering the country and meeting her mate, she decided to get formal in furthering her already initiated creative endeavors and attend the School of Visual Arts (SVA). There she graduated with a BFA with Honors in 1999. In addition to her illustration work, she has a knack for crafting stories. Jamie currently resides in New York City with Curtis and their daughter, Daisy Josephine.
I have quite an affinity for black and white, old and new, and selected the first poster above from Jamie’s archives. She incorporates spirited hand lettering throughout all her work. Jamie tells me that she and Curtis are planning work on an illustrated lyric book to accompany his next record. I look forward to seeing it.
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>> See/learn/hear more at the couple’s respective websites: Jamie B. Wolcott + Curtis Eller
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Psst… if you are in or close to the NYC area this weekend, you can catch Curtis’ next show on Saturday, August 21st at 9:00pm at 68 Jay Street Bar in Brooklyn. For more details and a complete tour schedule visit the tour page.
AND for my readers in Norway, you’re in luck as Curtis is setting out on a 3 week tour of Norwegian high schools (really) on September 20th. He will be accompanied by Norwegian blues guitarist Daniel Eriksen. Also, a few regular club dates in Norway will be announced shortly per the website.
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