Topic: Ian Parker - Hamburg
Ian Parker. What can I say that I didn’t say last year when I caught him at the Downtown Blues Club in Hamburg. The man has ultimate ‘feel’. In his voice, in his playing. The songs are often biographical and therefore the music has this ‘lived’ edge to it.
Last night Ian proved again that superstars don’t always play stadiums. There weren’t too many of us sadly, about 60 or 70, but what we lacked in quantity we made up in spades in enthusiasm.
Ian was playing as a duo with his drummer/producer Wayne Proctor on percussion and rhythm acoustic guitar. Ian told me afterwards that he was actually a bit apprehensive at first having played this venue always with a bigger outfit, but after the first song and reaction any apprehension was dispelled. So it should. The man has a confidence in his songs and his live performances always resonate at a very human level.
There was lots of introductory patter between songs which helped understand where the music has come from. Humour too, as displayed when all their effects pedals died and some frantic on stage unplugging and rejigging ensued . In the best ‘the show must go on tradition’ Ian took the view that, when all else fails ‘play a Hendrix song’, and gave us his classy but understated version of ‘Little Wing’.
Class act. I guess that sums up Ian Parker. Too much of a gentleman to tell 3 utterly stupid women to shut up, that consistently chattered through the later stages of his performance at a point next to the stage. I don’t like to be sexist but just how dumb and ignorant do blondes really have to be? Quite a bit based on last night.
Do take the chance to see him if he ever comes to a club or venue near you. You will not be disappointed.
Perfect. 