MUSIC LEGEND Graham Parker is performing in Saddleworth next month and Saddleworth Independent reporter Trevor Baxter caught up with him to get his thoughts ahead of the date…
THE EMAIL was short and to the point: ‘Graham Parker, Uppermill Civic Centre, r u going?’
What? Double take. Graham Parker-genius, legend, musical royalty appearing in Saddleworth? At the Civic Centre?
It’s a bit like Man United playing a home game at Churchill Playing Fields; Wigan Warriors bringing Super League to Saddleworth Rangers. Only better.
Seeing Dr Feelgood at Friezland Church Hall was pretty neat even without Wilko Johnson and the sadly departed Lee Brilleaux.
Missing Glenn Tilbrook play the Railway at Greenfield due to a snow storm was a major disappointment.
But not since The Jam, supported by pop perfect The Records in 1979, will Saddleworth have hosted a musical event of such magnitude as Parker’s one night stand in Uppermill on April 16, with long-standing friend and Rumour band mate, Brinsley Schwarz.
So, no trekking across the ‘hill’ to the Holmfirth Picturedrome – a venue that has cornered the market in gigs that could well be prefaced by the word ‘niche.’
Besides, the man himself, whose works ranks alongside and often surpasses fellow seventies singer-song writers Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Joe Jackson and Dave Edmunds, is relishing his trip into the unknown.
“My input into this was I wanted to do a duo tour in different venues, not smack in the middle of major cities,” he told the Saddleworth Independent.
“I am not going back to the old days of solid three month tours, up and down the M6 and the M1, playing universities and theatres.
“I have never done something like this in England before and it was places like Saddleworth I wanted to get to. I am very happy to be coming and I am looking forward to it.”
Guitarist Schwarz, a friend since the summer of 1975, needed to be convinced about the stripped back Parker back catalogue and the promise for fans of new material from a soon to be released, second Rumour comeback album on a major American label.
“I have only ever worked with a drum kit. How can you even do this?,” he said to me. “I just replied‘trust me’, just think of my guitar as the drum kit.
“We tried it out in Spain and then did a small tour of Norway. And after the first gig in Spain, Brinsley was amazed.
“Why have all these people come to see this?” he asked. But he got the message. It is a very good way of playing music and opens up the songs into a whole different perspective.
“Now, he can’t wait to do this little jaunt, especially as it is in the UK.”
Parker, 64, was never glam, punk or new romantic. He just wrote classic tunes, made the odd cover sound better than the original and delivered a live performance few bands or solo artists could match.
He was good enough to support Bob Dylan, have Bruce Springsteen sing backing vocals on one of his tracks and for Rod Stewart to cover the acclaimed ‘Hotel Chambermaid.’
Saddleworth roll out the red carpet for Graham Parker. With support from up and coming singer-song writer, Tristan Mackay.
Graham Parker will perform with Brinsley Schwarz at the Civic Hall in Uppermill on Thursday, April 16. Get tickets from www.gigcartel.com or Greenfield or Uppermill Post Offices.
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