British pub rock graduate and original angry guy Graham Parker has found
a way to bring his music to younger fans. He hired Albany, N.Y.'s favorite new wavers, the Figgs,
to back him on his upcoming tour, which kicks off Oct. 11 in Providence, Rhode Island.
Having been around since the mid-'70s with an array of outstanding albums to
his credit, Parker hopes the Figgs will inject material from his new album,
Acid Bubblegum on Razor & Tie Records, with the attitude and enthusiasm it
deserves.
"To know that they're not seasoned pros from New York City is just a whole buzz in
itself," says Parker from his home in the Catskills. "They love to play, you know, and I just
don't meet people like that anymore. People who play for pay don't take you to the same level."
Parker met the Figgs at an Atlanta club, where both bands played on an
early show/late show bill. Mike Gent, singer/songwriter of the Figgs and
a huge fan of Parker's, approached his idol for some guitar-playing
advice. "He was very into my old stuff," says Parker, "and he was trying
to work out chords [of a few songs] I had completely forgotten about."
The Parker/Figgs union makes perfect sense, considering the spitfire,
early '80s approach of which the Figgs are so fond. The band already
includes the Parker tune "Soul Shoes" in their live set and they
contributed a cover of the Parker classic "Passion Is No Ordinary Word"
to the upcoming Graham Parker tribute album, Piss And Vinegar: The
Songs Of Graham Parker, due Nov. 1 via New Jersey-based Buy Or Die.
Frank Black, Pat DiNizio of the Smithereens, Health And Happiness Show,
22 Brides, and Neal Casal are among the artists on the 20-song tribute.
On the road, Parker plans to take full advantage of the Figgs' youthful
exuberance. "Finally, I can put down my guitar and concentrate on
singing," he says. "I don't intend to do too many sort of 'Jaggerisms,'
but I won't have to do much moving either. I'll just be nailed to the
spot looking evil."