Joseph Parsons European Tour - Köln

To move from Terry Lee Hale to Joseph Parsons it only takes a little step. Not geographically - Terry Lee played in Paris last Saturday and Joseph in Cologne last night, so you need the Thalys train to go from one city to the other - but musically because the two musicians share together the same interest in the songwriting and guitar playing. They had both been once members of the “supergroup” call Hardpan formed in September 2001 with songwriters Todd Thibaud - who opened last night for Joseph Parsons - and Chris Burroughs. Both have played solo for years and have a number of albums released since more than a decade. They also have been leaders of their own bands for years. But most of all, they are true friends.

Yesterday evening at the Yard, Cologne, The Joseph Parsons Band launch a new European Tour that will bring them throughout Germany and part of France until late November. The band assembled for this tour includes Joseph Parsons on guitar and vocals, Tom Gillam (lead guitar/vocals), Scott Bricklin (bass/vocals) and Matt Muir (drums/vocals). The band amplify the strong sing-along melodies with bright vocal harmonies that are reminiscent of Parsons' work with 4 Way Street (Sanctuary Records).

I hope you will have a chance to see them live during this tour. Don’t hesitate to buy a ticket. The show was solid and the band had much fun playing at last together on stage songs they recorded for The Fleury Sessions CD (Blue Rose Records). “A much happier album” said Joseph Parsons while playing solo two songs sitting on a stool with his acoustic guitar. They finished the show with their new hit call Sun Gonna Shine and a beautiful rendition of Steve Earl song’s Jerusalem.

Website: Joseph Parsons

Tour dates: myspace.com/josephparsons

Joseph Parsons - Sun Gonna Shine .mp3