Graham Parker & Brinsley Schwartz
Graham Parker has worked with guitarist Brinsley Schwarz since 1975 when they first met and rehearsed together in a band that became known as Graham Parker and The Rumour. Since then, Schwarz has often accompanied Parker on post-Rumour records and tours and recently joined him onstage as a duo playing songs from all areas of Parker’s career. Expect songs from early albums with the Rumour, his solo career and the present day with tunes from the two latest Rumour reunion albums, “Three Chords Good” and “Mystery Glue.”
In Spain, Norway and the UK, where a recent triumphant tour ended in a sold out Union Chapel show to 900 enthusiastic fans, the music the duo performed was varied, creative and exciting in equal measure, along with a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of humor from Parker as – with the aid of Brinsley’s virtuoso musicianship – he reinvents his prodigious catalog.
Stereotyped early in his career as the quintessential angry young man, Graham Parker was one of the most successful singer/songwriters to emerge from England's pub rock scene of the early '70s. Formed in the summer of 1975, GP and The Rumour released their first album, "Howlin' Wind," in 1976 to worldwide critical acclaim. Their second album, "Heat Treatment," followed six months later, garnering similar critical reaction and propelled Parker to international recognition.Drawing from Van Morrison and The Rolling Stones, Parker developed a sinewy fusion of driving rock & roll and confessional folk-rock, highlighted by his indignant passion, biting sarcasm, and bristling anger. At the outset of his career, his albums crackled with pub rock energy, snide witticisms, and gentle insights, earning him a devoted following of fans and critics. Mainstream radio hits like ,"Local Girls" and "Passion is no Ordinary Word", brought him an even wider audience. The bands' classic 1979 release, "Squeezing Out Sparks," cemented their position as one of Britain's top live acts and ensured sell out concerts on their seemingly endless world tours. His 2007 album, "Don't Tell Columbus", was hailed by critics as his best album since "Squeezing Out Sparks". He continues to write songs of struggle, compassion, and defiance. Like many of his peers, Graham has adapted to the instability of the music industry by working with independent labels.