This is a press release from James Parsons who appears at Widcombe Social Club soon: Bath guitarist and singer-songwriter James Parsons, also known as Just Parsons, performs at Widcombe Social Club on Friday 26th July. James’s material is often highly personal, often touching, sometimes humorous, occasionally melancholy. He is known for his intimate rapport with the audience.
James says his first instrument was his voice. Growing up in a musical family he was encouraged by his father, and recalls an early public performance aged six or seven of King of the Swingers. His early experience with the guitar went less well. “I was awful to begin with. For my first concert at school my guitar teacher said could I not actually play, just pretend.” His breakthrough came when he acquired a singalong with Robbie Williams book with diagrams of chords. “I learned these and then everything opened up. I taught myself from then on.” Robbie continued to be an inspiration. “Then I progressed to Frank Sinatra, whom I still love.” Another big influence was Conor Oberst from the 90s band Bright Eyes, also Led Zeppelin and the vocals of Radiohead’sThom Yorke: “He was the one who got me comfortable to use my high falsetto”.
“I started writing songs when I was about 13, silly little songs for girls I had a crush on.” His first serious song was written during an emotional teenage period when things were not going well at school. Despite parental pressure to do homework one night he wrote a song instead. “When I played it to my mum we both cried. And she forgot about the homework.”
James later studied music performance at Bath College: “It was a good balance of theory and practical, a great structure for creativity with guidance.” Further inspiration came when he shared a house with a group of musicians and one painter. “It was a house full of creativity”. He claims there was only ever one complaint from neighbours.
Nowadays James plays mainly solo gigs but is also sometimes half of Tea and Biscuits with another local musician, Merlin Smith. On one oddly memorable occasion he played in the managers’ and producers’ enclosure at Glastonbury, entertaining them while they ate breakfast.
James continues to write and sing about his life “and I still write for my crushes – anyone who warms my heart.” His set on 26th promises to include “the upbeat joy of sleeplessness, tales of questionable romance, partying with mice, sugarless tea, and melancholic introspection.”
Just Parsons plays at Widcombe Social Club on Friday 26th July 7-9pm. Free entry. Open tp non-members. Doors 5.30, pizza served from 6pm including gluten-free and vegan options. Widcombe Social Cub is at the bottom of Widcombe Hill. It is an accessible venue.