PAULA KELLEY
T.T. The Bear's
10/23/04

I get to T.T's early with every intention of watching The Rudds and Garvy J, but there's this little thing called the World Series going on, and I find myself in front of the television with plenty of company when Bellhorn blasts one off Pesky's Pole. Minutes after Foulke strikes out the final batter, Paula and co. hit the stage, and the good-sized crowd shifts gears. There's a bittersweet feel in the air, as this is Paula's last Boston show before heading off to Los Angeles, but not enough to kill the considerable energy ricocheting between band and audience. I can't always hear the violinist, but the three-piece horn section is in excellent form, propelling a rocking "My Finest Hour." While it's fun to hear the band play poppier Boy Wonder songs like "Over Your Head", it's the arrangements on the yet-to-be-released numbers that truly impress, particularly the interplay between the keyboard, the horns and the pizzicato violin on "Life for Life." I'm happy to have been there, but like the rest of the crowd, I'm bummed to see L.A. sunshine steal yet another one of my favorites. (Kevin Finn)