Charlie Parr

In the past fifteen years or so, increasing numbers of people have tried their hand at re-creating the sounds of traditional American music, to mostly mixed results. So when someone as talented and proficient as Charlie Parr does Americana so convincingly, you can't help but stand up and take note...

By Tom Murphy

January 25, 2007

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In the past fifteen years or so, increasing numbers of people have tried their hand at re-creating the sounds of traditional American music, to mostly mixed results. So when someone as talented and proficient as Charlie Parr does Americana so convincingly, you can't help but stand up and take note. Blending traditional folk and blues numbers with his own material, which sounds every bit as authentic, his music has a resonant, pastoral sound. Parr plays Piedmont-style blues, weaving deceptively simple tapestries of melody and atmosphere with resonator and twelve-string guitars and a banjo. Fans of Ry Cooder's work from the film Paris, TX will take a shine to it. Touring in support of his most recent effort, 2006's majestic Backslider, Parr will be joined at the hi-dive this Monday by Reverend Dead Eye and Oblio Duo.

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Tom Murphy is a writer, visual artist and musician from Aurora, Colorado. He was a prolific music writer for Westword and a documenter of the Denver music scene.

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