Graham Parker, one of the most celebrated singer/songwriters to emerge from England’s pub rock scene of the early 1970s, will wrap up his solo U.S. tour at Miners Foundry in Nevada City on Saturday, May 11.
Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Nevada City-based singer/ songwriter Brett Shady opens the show with his unique personal form of Americana blends, waltzing country, folk strumming, pop melodies, ‘50s balladry, and indie-pop.
This is the second time Graham Parker has performed in Nevada City, coincidentally the same day, May 11.
“It’s a new venue and area to me, but the audience I had last time was obviously knowledgeable and came along for the ride. Looking forward to my second gig there!” said Parker in an email to the Foundry from the road.
Since the 1970s, when he burst onto the London scene, Graham Parker has been slinging his signature sound across continents and airwaves that has rightly earned him a spot in the pantheon of truly original and influential figures in rock and roll.
“Drawing heavily from Van Morrison and the Rolling Stones, Parker developed a sinewy fusion of driving rock & roll and confessional folk-rock, highlighted by his indignant passion, biting sarcasm and bristling anger,” according to his artist bio on Spotify.
Since his early days with his band The Rumour, Parker has coupled punk’s energy with his deeply rooted love of American R&B, country and soul music. Two albums by Graham Parker and The Rumour – “Howlin Wind” (the 1976 debut produced by Nick Lowe) and “Squeezing Out Sparks” were recognized in Rolling Stone’s 1987 “Top 100 Albums of All Time.” With hits like, “Local Girls” the album, “Squeezing Out Sparks” became Parker’s most successful, reaching number 40 on the American charts and selling over 200,000 copies.
In 2012, a new generation of fans was born when at the behest of filmmaker Judd Apatow (“SuperBad,” “Knocked Up,” “The 40 Year Old Virgin”), Parker reunited with The Rumour for the film, “This is 40.”
At the Miners Foundry live show, Parker will bring a fun, intimate community “campfire experience” with anecdotes bordering on stand up comedy and selections from more than five decades of songwriting.
“I’ve released around 26 studio albums in my career so I have plenty to choose from and they can expect songs from my very first album to my current one with a wide variety from various albums mixed in,” said Parker.
His 2023 album, “Last Chance To Learn The Twist” is an eclectic mix of songs with a variety of influences and styles.
“It could be called any number of things, but I hope ‘enjoyable’ is a word that comes to the mind of the listener,” said Parker.
Fans will surely be excited to know that a few teaser tracks from a show recorded last year during a brief U.K. 2023 tour with the musicians who played on “Last Chance To Learn The Twist “is expected to be released later this year and, with luck, a live album in the future, Parker says.
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