• From: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
  • Registered: 2011-08-12
  • Posts: 4,667

Topic: Ian Parker -solo @ The Cluny 27/10/11

Caught my first Ian Parker solo gig last night, and what a great experience it was. Ian, with four acoustic guitars, stomp box and loop machine played a great, moving set to a "small, but perfectly formed" Cluny audience who sat rapt from the start of "Your Basket Has Never Been So Full" through the next 90 minutes. Several old songs were culled from the Where I Am album: "Told My Girl To Go Away", the upbeat "In The Morning" and mixed with several new cuts from what's going to be a very tasty acoustic, solo, studio album. "Halfway Home" has been around a couple of years, but looks like it's going to join "The Light", "Turning To Dark" and "The Silent Void" on the album. Already these new songs are sounding like Ippy classics. Ian did a couple of covers, his take on "Hallelujah" which rivals/echoes Jeff Buckley's and a superb take on Bob Dylan's "Lovesick".

This is far removed from the usual rockin' blues I listen to, but for those times you just want to sit back and take it easy, you'd be hard pushed to find a better songwriter, emotive singer and techincally awsome guitarist in one body. Listening to this kind of show, you feel like you're listening to lyrical conversations, he really connects with his audience.

Mike

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...
  • From: Norddeutschland
  • Registered: 2008-12-03
  • Posts: 1,458

Re: Ian Parker -solo @ The Cluny 27/10/11

Just to let you know Ian has fans on here.

I've seen him several times here in D. There is a thread already here about him somewhere, but it doesn't hurt to have something fresh with news of his current gigs.

I was lucky to get to spend some time with him and his producer/percussionist Wayne in Celle last year. Good company both, and I'm delighted he has chosen to follow his current path expressing himself through his acoustic music.

Thats not to say Ian's 'old' full blues band performances lacked anything - far from it. He is a stunning guitarist but so vocally expressive that his current output demands that the music is uncluttered as possible.

I'm looking forward to catching up with him again. Soon I hope.

MikeH

No Hits, No Hype.......................Classic Rock Jan 2012