It was hotly anticipated, and it didn’t disappoint. Graham Parker and The Rumour rocked Rock City last night, David Belbin from the Nottingham Post was there to see it.
Graham Parker’s renaissance has been a long time coming. The 63-year-old singer/songwriter reunited his classic 70s band The Rumour for a well received reunion album and tour last year. A documentary showed old rockers such as Springsteen raving about what a great album 1979’s Squeezing Out Sparks is.
I suspect this second, short UK reunion stint has to be fitted into half term, because drummer Steve Goulding is a teacher. Nottingham gets the first date.
“I’m not used to doing a half hour set” he says and, while he’s OK, it shows. We get a mix of solo and Squeeze, the highlight of which is Up The Junction.
Parker takes the stage just after 8. He’d been rehearsing in Nottingham for two days and is in a relaxed, ebullient mood throughout.
The Rumour are in stellar form, as strong in their unique, soulful style as the E Street Band are in theirs.>
They blast through Fool’s Gold, Hotel Chambermaid and White Honey, but the early show highlight is Start A Fire, a Parker solo song that always cried out for the Rumour treatment.
Howling Wind, Watch The Moon Come Down and Lady Doctor all go down well. There are many changes to last year’s setlists, with nine songs dropped (but one new one added).
Stick To Me, Nobody Hurts You, Pouring It All Out and Love Gets You Twisted are highlights of the rapturously received 100 minute, 22 song set.
Squeezing Out Sparks provides the heart of the show’s concluding section, with the brilliant ballad You Can’t Be Too Strong revived for the first encore. I’d waited 35 years to hear him play that song, and it didn’t disappoint.
David Belbin
