Eric Cottrell - bass player, Polly live shows

LanaLou's, June 2015

Gosh, where do I start?
…
I guess I have to start with my coming of age in the 80s and seeing No Fun play in Victoria.
Seeing No Fun was a kind of dawning for me; a mix of clever lyrics and melodies combined with Paul’s harmonies, songs and guitar breaks that just stunned me.
…
You know, I don’t have many guitar heroes… if any?
But Paul has always been a kind of hero to me.
I always loved the way Paul could pull a killer melody out of any song.
Damn!
He just slayed me with the way he stood there, with eyes clinched and back arched, arpeggio-ed and dampened perfection; just commanding such glorious music from his guitar.
And it was always a kind of gift.
It was always, like, where is this going to go?… Oh, My God! This Is Perfection!

And I love his lyrics and and his delivery.
The way he enunciates his Rs.
I love the way he kisses off his lyrics; “togeth-ah!” “shyow” “ah-ho-oh!” “glahm”…
Always with that divine vibrato and conviction.
The funny turns of phrase he’d write…
He created a different world and it was beautiful.

I guess I just got a glimpse of that back in the No Fun days, but after being in Polly, it all came
to the fore.

Being in Polly was… well, really, it was a dream for me.

I love Paul.
I love the world he creates with music.
He sings beautifully — just the right amount of femme flourish and glam vibrato — with understatement that can bowl you down.
I am listening to Put A Little English On It right now, and it really is an incredible testament to Paul’s mastery of the craft.
Sublime harmonies.
Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma Ma-Ma…?
Amazing!
Fucking solid and fulsome guitar…
Fantastic lyrics; Put A Little English On It? — come on!!!
That’s so cool!!!
And that guitar?
Man.
Perfection.

The Wilted Flower Child?
Come on!!!
Damn…
So good.

His songs bring so much joy to my life and I can’t believe I got to play with him.

When I practiced Polly songs on my own I would sing along with them and try to embody them like Paul…
“We will be death’s lov-ah-ha…”
…
I don’t know if that is an appropriate reference… but it’s a very fond memory that I had.

Anyway, I am rambling.

Getting to know Paul was a gift.
Getting to play with Paul was an honour.
He has given me such joy and inspiration.
Such incredible joy. 

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