Emmett Sheehan sat outside - not because of the beautiful weather or because the musician enjoys the rumble of Clinton Street traffic. No, this was a call made by Phil, Sheehan's 10-month-old Shih Tzu, who also answers to "Philly Cheese." He's cute enough to catch the attention of passersby, and Sheehan occupies himself during his interview with watching his dearest roam a small enclosure outside of Starbucks.
"I wanted something to kind of ground me," Sheehan said, picking up the dog to cuddle him close to his chest. "I was going out a lot of nights, partying and whatever. Now, I gotta stay home and make sure he's all right.
" And the dog is just the first step. Sheehan, who will play a set before the first installment of the Saturday Night Free Movie Series this weekend ("I am deeply honored to open up for In Out," he said with a smile), is right in the middle of moving into adulthood. The 26-year-old frontman of longtime Iowa City staple The Jensen Connection is expecting a daughter in a month, will soon move to Des Moines to take a steady job waiting tables, and emits the contented air of a happily settled person.
"I have had to yield a little bit to the real world," he said in regard to his musical dreams. "You gotta really enjoy the fact that someone is listening to you, because you're probably only gonna get $10 out of it." The lack of monetary compensation aside, the guitarist and singer said he plans to continue performing solo after transitioning to the state capital.
Sheehan hopes to put out an album of solo performances within the next year with help from old Iowa City friends in such bands as Public Property and Euforquestra. The move also marks a return to Sheehan's home turf, where his interest in music began when his pianist mother gave him his first guitar at age 12. He taught himself without sheet music and still remains steadfast in doing without it.
"Anything that's school-related to me is a no-go. When you try to start equating my music with homework, I just can't do that," he said. Emmett Sheehan sat outside - not because of the beautiful weather or because the musician enjoys the rumble of Clinton Street traffic.
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