Half the reason this interview was so good was because of the interviewer. He was emotionally invested in the story, didn't fidget or get distracted and asked really great questions. Many other interviewers could take a leaf out of his book.
Just came across this and just heard of Charlie Parr through Folkways....how come I’d never heard of him until now? It’s 2021! Love his music and lyrics.
I had the extreme pleasure to attend a concert inside an old railroad car in Dunsmuir, CA with my daughter a few years back. True story! Charlie was amazing and such a great guy.
Only just came across Charlie in 2021 thanks to one of Tony's shows and I'm spellbound by his music. Now looking back at this and loving it. Thank you Tony
Good to see that Charlie Parr keeps climbing! Used to see him play around Duluth a lot in the early 2000's. Super nice guy and genuine to the bone. That cooking on the car reference is probably real too.
This interview brought several important concepts to my mind: Many years ago, I saw a music instruction book titled, "How To Play Piano (In Spite of Years of Lessons)". It was a book helping a player get away from sight reading. Like Charlie, I am completely self taught. The advantage to this is not being tied to reading music. The disadvantage is, like Charlie, I spent many years playing only simple 1-4-5 songs, mostly in G (the easiest to play songs with a G tuned Dobro). A few lessons forcing me to learn the neck would have advanced my playing and saved me years of limitations on what I could play. Yes, learning from old records is a great way to bring obscure music out of the shade but a bit of early formal training is still worth it, as long as you don't get trapped into becoming only a sight reader. I also believe learning to play breaks note for note is another trap. Make up your own solos! Finally, I will say, I am very pleased to discover Charlie. His playing on his Mule Guitar is clean, fresh and very smooth. He helped me decide to buy a Mule for myself.
I concur. Being a self taught folky I often feel limited to a handful of minor chords but as I learned more about the circle of fifths I began to incorporate that into my playing and it opened up new doors without learning me up to the point of that schooled rigidity which I feel can be detrimental to the feeling and atmosphere surrounding the bluegrass & punk-folk roots of what I do. Which is : write shocking tunes about the dope fiends, hustlers, and prostitutes crowding my literary world.
Toni Polecasto...I made a random purchase at Chicago Music Exchange...and this very guitar Charlie Parr guitar showed up. He has been my reso guitar 'youtube hero' since I started learning it, to Awesome...
I know what Charlie means about his hand issues. I’m 63 and having to learn to deal with losing efficiency in my hands that comes with age. Like Charlie much of the enjoyment I have in life is my guitar playing. I remind my myself to just keep moving forward which is really what we must do in life. Now and again I’ll surprise myself. That would make a great video I think to address issues that come with age and especially guitar playing.
Charlie's Dad had good musical tastes. When I hear Charlie do "1922 Blues" I think Dave Van Ronk doing "Cocaine Blues" or "Green Green Rocky Road," or John Hurt doing "Avalon Blues" or "Stack O Lee." He is a musical treasure, and someday I will get to see him. Charlie, come to Florida some winter or Maine some summer!
great interview man, love charlie mah boy! I would love to own both of those beautiful pieces of instruments as well, ooh lord! beautiful guitars. oh you should really listen to this guys verson of "rocky raccoon", its lit af :-)
I swear that there are some arschlochs who live on the Death Star as it travels through the Black Holes in the Dark Web that just cruise YT to rage with thumbs down on anything that others like. I could just spit!
Someone needs to tell the interviewer he doesn’t need to say anything when the guest is talking... “yeah, YEAH. That’s Awesome. Sure. For Sure. Yeah for sure. Right? Yeah. Right right. For sure, for sure. Yeah. Uh huh. Yeah yeah. Woah. Yeah. Yeah yeah. Sure. Right. Ok. Yeah.” Shut upppp
