Graham Parker ~ 2026 May 15 ~ The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN), Natick, MA Graham Parker, vocals, Gibson acoustic guitar, Fender electric guitar, harmonica, kazoo Set List with Gibson acoustic: Watch the Moon Come Down (with harmonica) - Fools Gold - Ancient Past (with kazoo) - I'm Into Something Good {short bit of the song, in response to the fact that Peter Noone is coming to TCAN} - Silly Thing - I Live In the Past - Short Memories - Waiting For the UFOs - Socks and Sandals (with harmonica) - Heat Treatment with Fender electric: Videos Waiting For the UFOs
Socks 'n' Sandals
Not If It Pleases Me
Review Back to see Graham Parker on this tour that's all about celebrating the 50th anniversary of his debut album, Howlin' Wind, and its follow-up the same year, Heat Treatment. In retrospect, GP might have given this tour a name that emphasized the fact that he's basically living in the past on this set of dates through the eastern seaboard. He's also doing some more shows in the midwest and California, and also playing some UK dates later this year. I'm pleased to report that this was a better show than the show at the Bull Run two weeks ago. His guitar playing was less rusty and he was more entertaining in terms of banter. He was genuinely funny in telling a silly story about learning to play the kazoo under the tutelage of Buddhist monks. When he heard that Peter Noone (of Herman's Hermits) is coming to TCAN, he queried "the real Peter Noone? not a tribute band?" and broke into a few lines of "I'm Into Something Good," a song he recorded on the Art Vandelay Tapes. I appreciated that brief re-appearance of the impulsive GP! Another funny line was in discussing Howlin' Wind. He seemed incredulous at how bad the cover photo is. "I look like I was drowned and pulled up out of the Thames." The set list was similar but not identical to the Bull Run show. A couple of the same-old same-old early Rumour songs were replaced with different same-old same-old. He dropped "High Horse" and replaced it with another brilliant gem from Deepcut to Nowhere, "Socks 'n Sandals," confessing that he is sometimes guilty of that fashion faux pas. The single best improvement to the set list was the addition of "Back In Time," yet another song reminiscing about the past. Where this tour is all about celebrating 50 years of his career, he felt that that really great song was an appropriate addition to the set list. The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN) was close to sold out. This was the second year in a row that they had booked Geep in his spring tour. Last year I was confounded when they announced "no pictures" as they were starting the concert. (I snuck a few anyway.) This year they said "no flash pictures." I'm pretty sure that's what they meant to say last year too. Anyway, Geep with his more or less neutral color trousers, tshirt, and jacket ensemble is becoming less interesting to photograph as he gets older, although in talking to him after the show I observed the tshirt was actually a shade of purple. His daughter Natalie was in attendance, handling the merch sales, and it was delightful to do a little catching up. Geep himself was as cordial as ever in greeting the audience after the show. Before leaving for the show, I rummaged on the CD shelf and brought the most obscure thing I could find for him to scribble something on (5 Loose Screws). I'm afraid this was a not very subtle mockery of the fans who bring a dozen LPs for him to sign (sorry if that's you, but the guy's got neuropathy in his hand and has just strummed a guitar for two hours). He mentioned there are songs the neuropathy in the hand is keeping him from playing (my suggestion, "Brand New Book," since there is a brand new book about him, and unfortunately "Local Girls"). More Chairman Here is a page with a handy list of links to all pages on this website with content relating to Graham Parker.
The Chairman
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of the concert
Nothin's Gonna Pull Us Apart - Lost Track Of Time - Slash and Burn - Back To School Days - Lady Doctor - Howlin' Wind - White Honey - Not If It Pleases Me ... encore ... Back In Time (with harmonica) - with Fender electric: Don't Ask Me Questions