Peter Parcek - NewsReview: New Hampshire Union LeaderGuitar player's blues turn up heat at Strange Brew But there is nothing ordinary or regular about this man and his ability on the guitar. His name is Peter Parcek, and if you've been lucky enough to catch him at the Strange Brew, you understand what I'm talking about. He is thin, with a goatee framed at the bottom with a flash of white. On select Tuesdays, he and his band, the Boston based Peter Parcek 3, take the small stage at the go-to home of blues and brews in Manchester. The band, with bassist Joe Klompus and drummer Steve Sculley is tight and well rehearsed. They have a sound that is bigger than the sum of their parts. Parcek plucks away at an old sunburst Fender Telecaster, while a roaring sound comes from his tiny Tophat amp, filling the room, and then some, with music. Patrons are mixed. Some are there for the drink special, some to catch up with old friends, but more and more, they are there to see Peter and listen to his take on blues, gypsy jazz, rockabilly and just about every other American innovation of guitar driven music. There are shades of Jeff Beck and Django Reinhardt, but even mentioning these names makes the modest Parcek blush with pride and quiet yankee humility. The crowd at the Strange Brew gets into the set, and I'm not sure if they entirely feel his modern take on blues, jazz and all of its derivatives, but I get the sense they see something special. There is a big, loud, dirty sound to the small band, thanks in part to Parcek's obsession with effects pedals, which line the stage near his feet like ornaments on a fallen Christmas tree. Still, there is an absolute precision to the sound. He doesn't appear to make a mistake, every note, every tone is filled with purpose and emotion, and he's carried over that ambition and sound to his new CD, The Mathematics of Love, that came out last month to a great reception. "I wanted to have that feeling that people are freely interacting," Parcek said, referring to the recording. The songs sound as organic as any night at the Brew, and caught the notice of some music media heavyweights, including Guitar Player magazine, which said "...the killer tones, idiosyncratic phrasing, deft slide work...bear witness to the guitarist's own inner authenticity." High praise from a high place. The night fades, drinks are slung across the copper bar, while Parcek and his band create an impromptu soundtrack to the evening. Parcek dreams of bigger things, like touring the United States and Europe. In a totally selfish sense, a part of me hopes he doesn't. That way we can keep him right here. The Peter Parcek 3 will play this coming Tuesday, July 6th at the Strange Brew Tavern.
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