WAMC Performing Arts Studio
News and Reviews
| Still sharp, Graham Parker pleases WAMC crowd By Dave Singer (First published in the Daily Gazette of Schenectady, NY: Saturday, April 9, 2005) Ten years ago Graham Parker first sang that he would "keep on sharpening axes ’til I’ve got the sharpest tools." Friday night at WAMC’s Performing Arts Center, the Brit, who now makes his home in Woodstock, often flashed the edge of his blade for the sold-out crowd, though he didn’t take any full swings. Alone on acoustic and electric guitars with a harmonica, the 54-year-old Parker opened with "Watch the Moon Come Down," from his 1977 "Stick to Me" recording. Still all attitude and edge, he let other softer feelings slip into his songs occasionally through the night, starting with the opener. He followed with a few from his first record, "Howlin’ Wolf," to the delight of the crowd, including "Nothin’s Gonna Pull us Apart" and "Between You and Me." He played "White Honey" later on, which he credited Van Morrison for inspiring. From "Squeezing Out Sparks," which he called his "alleged classic," he sang the satirical "Waiting for the UFOs." Early on he sampled a few from his upcoming release in June called "Songs of No Consequence." The first title was the misleading "She Swallows It." He followed with the humorous and already-released "A Brand New Book." "I’m not accustomed to playing such a classy joint," he told the crowd, adding that he played to a drunken crowd in Long Island the previous night. The comment explained his stiffness for the first few tunes. His first let-loose song came midway through his 90-minute set, a newer dark tune called "I’ll Never Play Jacksonville Again," which he introduced with the story that led him to write the song. Mike Gent of the Figgs opened the show solo, and closed the show in a duet with Parker. The Figgs have played with Parker for the past nine years, and the Saratoga Springs native sounds like he could’ve come from the Brit-pack of ’70s new wave rockers — Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, etc. — that Parker is forever lumped with. Parker said some reverential words for Van Morrison, said he’s never played a Van Morrison song for an audience, and played a somewhat rushed, reggae/ new-wavish version of "Have I Told You Lately." The pair performed really well together, Gent taking the highharmony with the first one, the sad "If it Ever Stops Rainin’." Next came "Evil," from the upcoming album which the Figgs play on. Gent’s 30-minute solo set more than loosened the crowd. He played several of his tunes, all quality songs. But his best moment was the Buffalo Springfield cover, an emotional "Down to the Wire." Parker will be back on tour with all the Figgs to promote the upcoming album. Based on the Friday night show, Parker’s going to be someone to see for years to come. The axe is still sharp, and perhaps next show he’ll take a few big chops. Back to News and Reviews |
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