Reviews
Greg Lewis chatting with Ian about The Bare Bones on his 'Rock-it Science' programme on WNTI in New Jersey, USA on Thu 07 Apr 2011 (about 12 minutes)
Ian Parker, Crosby Civic Hall. Gig Review. Sept 2nd 2010
When somebody of Ian Parker’s ability and stature comes to town, it would be foolish to miss whatever event he has planned. Whether it’s the full band experience or just him and a couple of friendly musicians in tow, you are guaranteed a night of sheer bliss, a definite moment of aural exquisiteness.
With a range of styles to his arsenal, including blues, Ian kicked off the hour and half set with Gates of Hell and the sensual Winding River to an audience that adored his effortless playing and general put upon Midlands humour and self deprecating appreciation.
It’s a rare treat for the Civic Hall in Crosby to get musicians of note but when they do come it’s always a grand night for the audience. Ian Parker’s short stop in Merseyside was no different as he continued to play songs from his back catalogue including a fantastic medley, which as Ian remarked is the modern musical faux pas and not done anymore, but as it included a version of Peter Green’s Green Manalishi in between his own creation of Told My Girl To Go Away everybody was more than willing to forgive him for thinking it would be wrong thing to do.
Ian was joined on stage by two fine musicians from his full electric band, the wonderful Chris Eaton on slide guitars and double bass player Steve Amedeo. These two men complemented Ian’s style and matched his desire to get the very best out of the instruments perfectly.
Other songs played by the guys on a top night were Humanity Blues, the uplifting Your Basket Has Never Been So Full and the lament People Come, People Go.
Ian and his band finished a fantastic night of entertainment with a U2 favourite but with his own personal twist and take to it. For those that were there the sight of Ian performing One in a style that harked back to the Man in Black himself, the late and dearly missed Johnny Cash, will be one that will live forever within them.
An astonishing and yet terrific night of music and hopefully it won’t be too long before he is back in the Liverpool area again.
Ian D. Hall
This review appears on the Liverpool Student Media website
Review and Interview by Greg Lewis on his 'Rock-it Science' programme on WNTI in New Jersey, USA on Thu 19 Nov 2009 (about 21 minutes)
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Many thanks to Greg for permission to use the interview on this website.
Please listen to Rock-it Science on WNTI
Demons & Doubters EP
Reviewer: Andy Snipper
To those of us who have been long term fans of Ian Parker this EP does not come as a massive departure from his usual style but rather it is where he has been heading for some time – and it really is quite superb too.
On paper Parker is a Blues guitarist, one of the new breed alongside Danny Bryant and Jay Tamkin and insofar as he was mentored in part by Walter Trout and Tomas Ruf that isn’t a big surprise; however, he was always a soulful performer and often looking deep inside himself his best numbers were more catharsis and explorations of the soul than simple rock n roll. This EP has all of the new Ian Parker and even though we don’t get the gut-wrenching guitar work what we gain is the untrammelled songwriting and easy presentation of a man who has found the sound he wants.
His voice has a pleading quality to it and he opens with ’Winding River’, a string-laden elegy to relationships with a delightfully gentle feel and some fine guitar playing.
'Grow’ is a piece of songwriting mastery that seems to describe the travails of being one thing while you are trying to be something else – one of the songs of the year as far as this writer is concerned and almost anthemic in its swelling and ebbing delivery.
'Lovers and Friends’ features his guitar at its best and 'Lost’ has a haunting Americana feel to it while 'Keep Me Walking’ is a jaunty love song in a country vein.
Ian Parker is beginning to emerge from the British Blues Guitarist role that he has been fulfilling for a while and as a first step this EP is evidence that there is a real star in the making. I can’t wait for the album!
Rating: 4 out of 5 by Andy Snipper
Review published on music-news.com and used with permission.
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