Search - Graham Parker :: The Last Rock 'N' Roll Tour

Fast paced return to form for this British rocker

Robert Whyte | Australia | 07/12/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"GRAHAM PARKERREVIEW: The Last Rock 'n' Roll Tour GRAHAM PARKER AND THE FIGGSRecorded live at Bogies, Albany NY, November 26 1996.TRACK 1 - The pace is cracking right from the first song -- "Turn it into hate". Mike Gent in the left ear and Guy Lyons in the right build a wall of riffs and Graham, in fine voice, snarls through it -- a window onto his landscape of cynicism. It's a short sharp taste to start a hard rocking set of songs. Graham says "Breakdown!" to bring in the solos, one in the middle, and one to finish the song, as he sings "H.A.T.E.""Weeping Statues" is next, an obscure track off "Struck by Lightning," even though it contains the phrase which gave that record its name. This version rocks -- a solid, aggressive number, that gives a bit more penetration to Graham's strange surreal lyrics than the studio recording did -- the guitars have settled and the solos are assured, fast and scathing."Fools Gold" we associate with the Rumour so it's obvious that Graham is happy to be back with a band that can do some of his harder rocking numbers.TRACK 6 - A great version of "Local Girls". The best version of this song so far (to my ears). The song suits the band. There is a fine section where Mike plays arpeggiated chords (rapidly sounding the single notes). By this time you get the idea you're not going to hear any of the haunting, acoustic, wry and plaintive songs that Graham has written and performed in recent times. But then you didn't expect that did you, not with an album called "The Last Rock 'n' Roll Tour" slathered with garish pink and cut out letters recalling the Sex pistol's ransom note of the 70s. It's a rock 'n' roll night, no quarter given.The band charges into another obscure song, "Daddy's a Postman" (from Human Soul). The song blisters with fast guitars, crazy rhythms and wonderful lyrics "Impenetrable", one of the standout songs from "Acid Bubblegum". The bass drives the song, with the kind of wailing guitar from "Hey Lord" weaving through the groove. Then "Sharpening Axes", another strong number from "Acid Bubblegum" which is about as slow tempo as we're going to get on this record. TRACK 12 - A few shrieks from the audience and then that great intro from "Obsessed with Aretha". Hey ey ey.... This is one of the songs that has aged well for me. The sentiments are caustic and irreverent, just the way I like them and the chord progression insistent, chasing its tail and laying down a resilient bed for the leads to play through.The pace goes up a notch with "Take Everything" from "Steady Nerves". This live version really makes this song for me, which I had completely ignored up to now. It has all the hallmarks of the "new wave" when Graham Parker, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, The Clash and The Damned (among countless others) doubled the prevailing time signatures and really pumped.To sum up, if you look at it in three parts, the first third is strong, fast and energetic. The second third soars, and the final third closes out the set with a collection of strays, some fine tracks, and a couple of curiosities. If it's true that Graham played "Girl at the end of the Pier" I would have preferred that to either of the two covers, but I guess it just wasn't rock 'n' roll.The songs from Acid Bubblegum generally shine, especially "Impenetrable" and "Obsessed with Aretha". Other highlights are "Weeping statues", "Local girls", "Daddy's a postman", "Take everything" and "Saturday night is dead".© 1977 Robert WhyteThis review was sent the Graham Parker mailing list, the members of which helped with some of the information.For more information of Graham Parker, visit Squeezing Out Sparks (unofficial Graham Parker Home Page). "

Only GP....

Brian Bullock | London, Ontario Canada | 12/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great live GP disc with the Figgs doing a great job
backing up. Good mix of songs spanning his career.
If you're a GP fan it's a must have, track it down if you can. Only GP could make a cheezy prince song rock!!"