Graham Slams

Graham Parker cuts deeply on a new album inspired by his youth in East London.

Details

With the Figgs
9 p.m. Wednesday, January 16,, $27
303-320-9200

Lion's Lair, 2022 East Colfax Avenue

Related Content

• Graham Parker and the Rumour: April 16, 1979, Rainbow Music Hall
  July 15, 2011
• Jux County celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the Lions Lair's first show tonight
  November 25, 2011
• Westword.com blog shortcut, September 18 edition
  September 18, 2008
• The end of KCUV
  September 2, 2008
• Vampire Weekend
  December 6, 2007

More About

• Graham Parker
• Garbage (Musical Group)
• Dave Robinson
• Steve Goulding
• Concerts and Tour Dates

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Music Newsletter: Keep your thumb on the local music scene with music features, additional online music listings and show picks. We'll also send special ticket offers and music promotions available only to our Music Newsletter subscribers.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

This opinion was reaffirmed after Parker recently got an opportunity to relive his days near the top of the heap. He was driving to a gig in Baltimore "when the phone rings and my agent says, 'Can you get to the arena as soon as possible? U2 needs somebody to open for them, because the singer in Garbage is sick. That's the opening act, and he's too sick to play.'" (Parker and his agent obviously aren't Garbage aficionados; the combo's singer, Shirley Manson, is female.) In response, Parker raced to the city, meeting his backing band, the Figgs, at the venue approximately thirty minutes prior to show time. "But we got there," Parker says, "and when we walked on stage and hit the first chord, I thought, "This is the way music should sound.' It sounded incredible, and the audience loved it. We went down great. We killed." After the set, though, Parker and the Figgs still had to play the club date -- and the next night, they wound up at a joint "with a stage the size of the desk I'm leaning on. There's nothing good about clubs. Let's be honest: To play an arena is awesome."

Upon being informed that the club where he's scheduled to perform in Denver has one of those desk-sized stages, Parker says, "I know -- and I can't wait. Really. In fact, make sure you say that what I was just talking about was said with the laughing intent that's there -- a sort of tragicomic intent." He cackles before adding, "Don't let anyone think I was angry."