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... by Joanne Corsano ... joanne@picturelake.com

The Chairman
click thumbnail to see a photo gallery
of the concert

Graham Parker, vocals, Gibson acoustic guitar, Fender electric guitar, harmonica; Mike Gent, electric guitar on two songs.

Gibson acoustic: Force of Nature - Stop Crying About the Rain - Success - Silly Thing - Cruel Stage - harmonica: Last Stretch of the Road - It Mattered To Me - harmonica: Socks 'n' Sandals - Fender electric:Between You and Me - Lady Doctor - You Hit the Spot - Stick To Me - Protection - Back To School Days ... encore ... Gibson acoustic: Hold Back the Night {The Trammps} - Fender electric: Not If It Pleases Me - Gibson acoustic: [Mike Gent joins on guitar]: Local Girls - Soul Shoes

Scroll to below videos for a review of the show.

Force Of Nature

Socks 'n' Sandals

You Hit the Spot

Local Girls - with Mike Gent

It's been just about a year since the last time Concert Going Partner and I ventured some distance for a concert by the one and only Graham Parker. He lives in England nowadays but it's evident he still enjoys coming over to the colonies to perform live, and the audience is very much still there to appreciate his music and his wit.

The location was the Bull Run in Shirley, MA, where I've seen him play seven times before, three times as a solo performer, once with the Figgs, once with the Latest Clowns, and once with Brinsley Schwarz as a duo. He played eighteen songs, alternating between the Gibson acoustic and Fender electric that he always brings along to the solo shows. He played harmonica on two songs, but didn't use the kazoo, which has become a bit of a gimmick over the last number of years. He opened with "Force Of Nature," something of an obscurity from one of my favorite mid period albums, 12 Haunted Episodes.

He started with a generous acoustic set of eight songs. They included two harmonica songs. These were the laugh-out-loud funny "Socks 'n' Sandals," that sweet song about settling in to a comfortable but not particularly fashionable lifestyle as a certain age approaches; and "Last Stretch of the Road" from the latest album (that one with the ropes tied around his face on the album cover), in which he joked about wanting to change keys on the harmonica while playing the song.

One of the best things about the Geep solo shows has always been the in-between-songs banter. Today he shared great news and not so great news with the audience. The great news is that there is a book in production all about the recording of Geep's first album, the beloved Howling Wind. Although a specific release date was not available, it should be soon, and there will be some good stories that go beyond what Geep likes to share on stage. To promote the book, GP played six songs from Howling Wind during the course of the show.

The not so great news was evident as soon as he came on stage and picked up the acoustic Gibson. His right wrist was decorated by a wrist brace. He told a gruesome story that as a result of taking a fall some time ago, he injured both hands. The brace is needed to support the wrist and his left hand is suffering a type of neuropathy that has left him with a feeling of finger numbness. It's clear there are some songs he's not able to play, but he soldiers on, choosing songs that he can play. The good thing is that his singing and his wit are as good as ever, and he used this injury as a source of jokes at his own expense, commenting on how the aging process is getting to him. He's also toying with the idea of joining some obscure Japanese sect and becoming an assassin; this sect requires that they cut off a piece of your finger, but that won't matter since he can't feel those fingers anyway (eek!). Another funny story he told was an apparently true story about when a very pregnant woman offered to give him her seat on the London tube! Other than the wrist, he looked as good as ever, wearing various neutral shades of grey trousers, shirt, and jacket.

After the acoustic set, he switched over to the Fender electric, and started the electric set with a couple of songs from Howling Wind and continued the rest of the show with songs from the earlier parts of his career. After "Back to School Days" he put down his guitar, went to the back of the stage, and hid behind the curtain at the back of the stage while the appreciative crowd hooted and hollered. Came back out and played a couple of songs, then announced he was about to be joined by a special guest and (I couldn't help myself) I said out loud "Mike Gent!" (because I'd run into Mike downstairs) and Graham shushed me (good naturedly) and Mike came out on stage and joined Geep for "Local Girls" and "Soul Shoes."

After the show GP's daughter Natalie at the merch table told me that some thought had been given to cancelling the tour because of the injury, but GP would have nothing of it. It is obvious that GP loves performing, and that it's important to him to honor his commitment to his audience even in the face of an obstacle like this.

The Bull Run, despite its wedding reception ambiance with the tablecloths and window shades, remains one of the best places to see the one and only Graham Parker. Lots of parking, actually easy to find, a very historic building, the food is good. The lighting is better for pictures than many other venues, the sound is good, the staff are good to the patrons, nobody hustled us out after the show. Despite the fact that I've driven here so many times, this is the first time I've noticed that if you're driving up to the Bull Run from the Rte. 2 direction, the last road you're on before making the turn onto Great Road, Shirley is Parker Road.