Lucius Parr Band — Blues And Me
Singer-songwriter and musician Lucius Parr was born in the small country town of Yoakum, Texas and went from playing trombone in fifth grade to majoring in music at college and then being deployed to the Vietnam War after being drafted into the United States Army.
In 2020, Parr has released his new album Blues And Me. Opener ‘Going To Texas’ is a punchy track with a real Blues Brothers film vibe as he sings “‘I’m going to Texas, sorry I can’t take you” and features a fluid keyboard courtesy of Miss Cubase (Teira Doom) making it the perfect introduction to Parr.
The guitar on ‘Hot Outside’ is technically well done but sticks with the tried and tested blues shuffle. ‘I’m Through With You’ has a real Stevie Wonder groove with the bassline and is a highlight on this record for this scribe. Interestingly, Parr is the cousin of Albert Collins and you can hear that he has soaked up Collins’ knowledge and feel on ‘Meet Me Halfway’ whilst the synth sounding ‘It’s Friday Night’ seems to be more Cameo then Collins!
Calling out a cheating woman on ‘This I Know’, I’m reminded of fellow bluesman Bobby Blackmon and his song ‘I’m Callin’ 911’ which is full of fiery lyrics and crisp electric guitar. The vocal on ‘Play My Blues’ is smooth and heartfelt and ‘Lock My Doors’ has a driving beat as Lucius Parr wants to keep a woman out of his house.
‘You Were Drunk’ sounds very Eighties and puts a spring in your step. I am slightly confused as after locking the doors previously he proclaims “Welcome Into My House” and as the guitar purrs, I can only assume he was able to obtain the services of a locksmith during the pandemic!
Closing track ‘Play My Guitar’ is a song for 2020 as he admits “I wanna take my lady out, just to have some fun” and explains everything he would rather do than be locked down. Parr’s friend James Tobin provides a funky Bobby Keys-Esque saxophone solo that just compliments Lucius’ voice.
In conclusion, this self-produced album mixes blues with electronic pop as Lucius Parr uses relatable lyrics which deal with everything from relationships, travelling and Covid-19. Fans of Robert Cray’s guitar tone check this record out.
Lucius Parr Bands’ new album ‘Blues And Me’ is out now. For more information visit www.luciusparrband.com
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