Graham Parker has been at it for a little over 35 years, releasing album after album filled with three minute soulful storytelling rock songs. He never released a live DVD until now, which is odd for an performer who can captivate an audience with his performance, not to mention his totally-at-ease banter between tracks, explaining the song's background and cracking jokes. The show at the intimate Stage One of the FTC in Fairfield, CT was filmed, a no-thrills document of the proceedings on stage on Friday April 23, 2010. Backed by The Figgs, a band that he has been working with on and off with since the late Nineties.
On Live at The FTC Parker showcases six songs from his latest studio album Imaginary Television, a collection of songs for TV shows that never happened. With a huge back catalog such as his, he cherry picks gems from the past such as White Honey from his 1976 debut album Howlin' Wind, and Blue Highways the under appreciated Eighties highlight of his career, from The Mona Lisa's Sister album. He may not sound as angry as he did in his early work, but he isn't slowing down. Songs like Beancounter (of his 1997 album Acid Bubblegum and the new 1st Responder, (the story about a dad who has to get his son out of a jam, because he nicked a car, hasn't got a car himself, so he has to steal one himself to save his kid) all draw from the same well: stories about people getting into trouble and trying to deal with the ensuing mess.
On Live at The FTC is released as DVD/CD combo. The DVD has the show in full, with all the banter, tuning, giving the view a front row seat in this intimate club. Two songs were left out on the CD to make it fit on a single disc. Apart from being able to watch the whole thing, the DVD also has an interview with Parker made a few hours before the show, detailing his career from the humble beginnings of in Deep Cut, a small town 35 miles South of London, a gas station attendant who got a record deal, whose career got a lift when punk rock happened. Few musicians can talk as entertaining about his work as Parker does. The only odd thing that he goes on a bit about Don't Ask Me Questions, the song that gave him first shot at fame in the UK, but wasn't performed during the concert. Maybe he is saving that for the documentary that Michael Gramaglia is putting together.
Graham Parker & The Figgs:
Graham Parker: guitar, vocals
Mike Gent: guitar
Pete Donnelly: bass
Scott Janovitz: keyboards
Pete Hayes: drums
Live at The FTC is released on Primary Wave Music.
Tracks:- Chloroform
- Turn It Into Hate
- It's My Party (But I Won't Cry)
- England's Latest Clown
- Hole In The World
- Life Gets Better *
- Weather Report
- Broken Skin
- You Hit The Spot
- My Love's Strong
- Black Lincoln Continental
- Blue Highways
- Bring Me A Heart Again
- More Questions Than Answers
- Beancounter
- Local Boys
- Local Girls
- White Honey
- Snowgun *
- Mercury Poisoning
- 1st Responder
- Soul Shoes
- Interview *
* DVD only
Video: Graham Parker & The Figgs - "Live at The FTC" trailer
Graham Parker solo- 02/26 The Sanctuary Concerts, Chatham, NJ (co-headline with Garland Jeffreys)
- 03/02 Salt Gastropub, Bryam, NJ
- 03/04 The Record Collector, Bordentown, NJ
- 03/05 Rosendale Cafe, Rosendale, NY
- 03/06 Turning Point, Piermont, NJ
- 03/25 Infinity Hall, Norfolk, CT *
- 04/02 City Winery, New York, NY
- 04/03 Coffee Works Roastery and Cafe, Voorhes, NJ *
* Mike Gent opening
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