Eli Paperboy Reed - "Like We Used To"

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Photo by Rosie Cohe

I'm old enough to remember when Eli Paperboy Reed first appeared in the Boston music scene, the general reaction was "Who is this kid singing soul music?" to "This kid is really great!" Now, that "kid" just released a single called "Like We Used To," with the line "Let's make love like we used to," which makes me feel downright ancient. The new song from Reed's upcoming Swamp Dogg produced album, is a fantastic example of neo-soul. It's one of those songs that sounds like it could have been released any time in the past six or so decades while still sounding like 2026. Reed is at his best when he's both vintage and modern, and "Like We Used To" easily stands up with our favorite songs from Reed. 

Eli Paperboy Reed says of working with Swamp Dogg:

“I knew Swamp had been focusing on his own material for quite some time and probably hadn’t produced another artist in thirty years, but when I came up with this batch of songs, he was the first person I thought of. If anybody knows how to make grown folks music, how to weave all these genres together, how to be serious but also tongue in cheek at the same time, it’s Swamp Dogg.”

You can watch the video for "Like We Used To" below. Getting There is due out September 11 on Yep Roc Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Eli Paperboy Reed, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video and include September 27 at Jimmy's Jazz and Blues in Portsmouth, NH October 2 at Regattabar in Boston, MA, and October 2 at Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, MA.


9/15 - Chattanooga, TN - WUTC / NPR

9/17 -  Nashville, TN - City Winery - AMERICANAFEST Official Showcase

9/18 - Nashville, TN - The Grand Ole Opry

9/25 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl

9/27 - Portsmouth, NH - Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues

10/2 - Boston, MA - Regattabar

10/3 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts

10/9 - The Listening Room - Lewes, DE

10/29 - Sevilla, Spain - Sala X

10/30 - Madrid, Spain - Changó Club

10/31 - Murcia, Spain - Teatro Circo

11/2 - Valencia, Spain - Loco Club

11/3 - San Sebastian, Spain - Dabadaba

11/4 - Barcelona, Spain - The Wolf

11/5 - Alacant, Spain - Sala Stereo

11/6 - Sittard NL - Volt

11/7 - Groningen NL - TakeRoot Festival

11/8 - Breda NL – Mezz

3/9/27 - Leeds, England - Brudenell Social Club

3/10/27 - Nottingham, England - Metronome

3/11/27 - Bristol, England - The Fleece

3/12/27 - London, England - 229

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