Living in Los Angeles you become inadvertently accustomed to the unusual.  I knew we were all in for something insane solely based on the various tricks and treats peppered across the Bootleg Theater’s stage.  After carefully assembling a large easel, propping up a blank white canvas (that definitely didn’t stay white for long) and scattering various paints and tools on the stage floor Joseph Arthur quickly began to decorate the paper with deliberately drawn black lines.  When the outline had been arranged to his satisfaction he promptly dropped the brush walked back to the mic, and started serenading a room full of eager listeners- the show had begun.

To call it an evening of great music would be a grave understatement- it was more an evening of art with Arthur who floated seamlessly back and forth between acoustic to accompanied songs, swiftly singing while painting, and then he was off reciting poetry often by memory.  With often only himself onstage, Arthur slowly but surely blew the minds of every Bootleg inhabitant.

The soft acoustic rock, heartfelt vocals, in addition to the several onstage surprises that took place, the singer wasn’t there to perform for you- he was most certainly there to perform with you.  Not only did he directly engage with the audience by making the in-between song times a direct chat with the audience, he was eager to involve every participant urging each of us to clap along while he recited poetry (and yes, even stopping us dead in our tracks to tell us we were offbeat.  Then guiding us toward the correct timeslot again!) and singing as if he were hanging out and painting in the comfort of his home rather on stage in front of several of his closest acquaintances.

All in all the residency kicked off with a bang, and I’m already excited to see what onstage shenanigans he’ll pull next week.  To find out more about the artist, feel free to cyberstalk him at www.josepharthur.com!  Is it next Tuesday yet?