Much like our newest ninebullets.net contributor, I have been plowing through a list of bands I’ve never heard of or heard in preparation of the Deep Blues Festival. While I haven’t been putting it all together in a neat package like she is, I have been reporting a number of those bands in one fashion or another. One of the bands I am most happy to have discovered is this Minnesotan, Charlie Parr.
Charlie plays a self-taught version of the Piedmont Blues that sounds like it’s hopped right off an Al Lomax field recording and into your living room. With a minimalist approach, Charlie sings about everyday people going through everyday suffering. He has six albums to his name with 2007’s self-released Jubilee being his latest. If the thought of acoustic country-blues that sounds like it could have come off a 1940’s front porch wets your whistle, then charlie Parr is your man. Check out the offerings below.
Charlie Parr – Jesus On The Mainline (from Jubilee)
Charlie Parr – I Wonder How Long Till I Can Change My Clothes (from Criminals & Sinners)
Charlie Parr – Hogkill Blues (from 1922)
Charlie Parr – Miner’s Lament (from King Earl)
Charlie Parr – Lowdown (from Criminals & Sinners)
Charlie Parr – In The Ground (from 1922)
Charlie will be playing the Deep Blues Festival on Saturday Afternoon. I will be front and center.
4 Responses to “TALKING CHARLIE PARR”
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Too bad i didnt come across this blog before. Great stuff you got here. Thanks.
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I love this guy! But have a little trouble making out all the words. Having a real hard time finding lyrics. Found “Bethlehem” on his website, for instance, which I read somewhere is a traditional song. Can’t even find the lyrics to that. I get the gist of it.
Love Grayson Capps too! Thanks for your work. You and Bowhowdy are the best!
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Charlie is the business! Slowly getting more and more recognition. He’s even on a TV ad in Australia! Great that ninebullets are picking up on him too. His new record Roustabout is just out.
If any readers are in the UK, Charlie’ on tour in Feb:
16 & 17 Feb Crane Lane Theatre, Cork City
18 Feb Crawdaddy, Dublin
19 Feb Roisin Dubh (upstairs), Galway
20 Feb Katy Daly’s (early show) Belfast
25 Feb Norwegian Church Art Centre, Cardiff
26 Feb The Cube Cinema w/ My Two Toms, Bristol
27 Feb Engine Room, Brighton
28 Feb The Windmill, London
1 Mar The Packhorse, LeedsLoving your site – keep it up!
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Charlie is playing tomorrow night 12th Feb, in The Yukon Bar,
Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland.Also playing is Robert Blake who is also excellent,
It’s only an hours drive from Dublin.