We're back at Off Broadway in the Cherokee-Lemp historic district of Saint Louis for Parker Millsap's return on June 2, 2023. I'm with Dave and Linda Shogren and Tom (filling in for Smoking Joe).
Parker is amazing. He takes the stage and plays with an intensity that touches me as I reflect on this venue, The Rock House, The Pageant, Delmar Hall and Parker's continuing evolution as a performing artist. This time he's with a new configuration of bandmates on drums, keyboards and base. Parker teases the audience with hints of tunes from a new album but delivers a retrospective of Parker Millsap favorites as well. It was a full show, Parker never stopped, Even as he invited his band mates to take a break, Parker went solo so the audience was never left wanting.
Put Your Hands Up, Pining, Heaven Sent, The Very Last Day, and more, Electric Strato-caster, soft and loud, tender, sweet and powerful. Curtain Call is a new song that served as an encore that wrapped up a remarkable performance that left the standing room crowd with smiles and good feelings as they ambled out into this warm nearly full moonlit Saint Louis night.
Back stage, I managed to get past security assuring them that the guy dressed in all black like Johnny Cash (me) is, in fact, Parker's uncle (and Parker's wife Meg's "favorite" uncle). We laughed about Meg's contention that all of Parker's songs about relationships are about her after all. Thank You Parker. I left inspired and envigorated. You are amazing.
