He gotta move

Music | August 24th, 2016

“We parked right in front of the camera and someone walked right up and busted the window, got in, drove it away, and they found it like three or four days later, the window was busted out, the gear was all gone, but our merch was still in it. I guess they didn’t want to take the merch to the pawn shop.” Laughs 23 year old Americana singer songwriter Parker Millsap on the theft of their tour van in Minneapolis last May.

He elaborated, “It’s a rite of passage--every other band I know has had their van stolen and now it’s happened to us--we’re here, we’re a real band now.”

A real band whose album was recently nominated for the American Music Awards (AMA) album of the year, who was also nominated for emerging artist of the year in 2014. A real band who has also made a profound impact upon NPR Music, Spin Magazine, has toured with Old Crow Medicine Show, and recently appeared on Conan--and Millsap still remains humble.

They’ve been on a few tours together, through the UK, Amsterdam, and the Pacific Northwest, but Millsap’s favorite stop thus far? “My favorite spot so far is Missoula Montana, but I haven’t been to Fargo yet.” Millsap says. I could almost hear a smile on the other end of the phone--if it were possible.

He continued, “It’s [Missoula’s] kinda wild--the second time we played there we pulled up behind the venue at about three in the afternoon, and three big cowboy guys came tumbling out of the back of the bar--beating each other all to hell, really in a bar fight. They all had spurs and cowboy hats on and I was thinking--this is my kind of place!”

He attributes his interest in music to growing up in a home with plenty of it. “Early on I listened to a lot of blues, singer songwriters, and guitar players,” my dad was into guitar players and listened to a lot of Lyle Lovett, Robert Okeene, Ry Cooder, Stevie Ray Vaughan and a plethora of cool music.”

In listening to the music of Parker Millsap one can hear where his blues influences stem from. His raw soulful voice has a bluesy gritty quality to it reminiscent of the early acoustic rock and roll sound, the lyrics are saturated with Southern Gothic storytelling,and his band simultaneously shares and adds to that grit--creating the perfect complement.

Growing up Pentecostal he also cites playing in church as support to his musical backbone, and made mention of the parallels between gospel and the blues. He attributes learning the folk music methodology via playing hymns in church. “Both phonically and historically, blues, slave chants, hymnals, and gospel songs, all come from the same place.” Millsap says.

Most importantly, Millsap added that his real favorite part about touring is the show itself. “I like playing music with my buddies. That’s basically what the show is--three dudes playin’ tunes and that’s what we like to do.”

IF YOU GO:

Parker Millsap with Boots

Tuesday, August 30, 9pm

The Aquarium above Dempsey’s 226 Broadway, Fargo

21+ $10 advance $12 at the door

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