It’s a warm August night in North London as we make our way to my favourite small venue in London for what promises to be a treat of country blues. It’s been three years since we as Parr last with about twenty souls at the Slaughtered Lamb. Tonight though the venue is full with a considerably younger audience.
It’s a low key affair with just Charlie and his 12 string National steel resonator. I say 12 string but the reality is it’s a six string and at one point five string as he wasn’t happy with the sound with all 12 strings and systematically removed strings until he found the sound he wanted. However many strings it sounds amazing.
It’s a set of standards and original songs and he fills in with amusing stories in a very self-deprecating way including a funny story about bifocal glasses. Both his vocals and guitar impress and he holds the audience in rapt silence during the songs.
It’s difficult to pick a highlight but he did do a great version of Cheap Wine for the album of the same name. A master class in steel guitar tonight for an artists whose following is obviously growing.
Keep on rockin y’all.