A favorite night spot in Manchester is Strange Brew Tavern located just off Elm St. This local hotspot has been voted best of, well, just about anything to do with a bar - NH Magazine’s Best Beer Selection; multiple categories from the Hippo press including “Bar for Live Music” and many more. One of the reasons for the “Best Live Music” nod can be attributed to the quality of artists they have playing on a regular basis. One of those artists is Peter Parcek.
Parcek, a self taught guitar player, has a history that takes him through the some of the same venues in London that had the likes of Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck playing. His resume also includes opening for Room Full of Blues, Grateful Dead, and scores of other “A” listers.
Steve Scully, the percussionist, is not without an impressive resume that evens includes a gig with James Taylor. Scully’s drum taps complement the guitars and keep everything in perfect time. What band would be complete without a Bass? This three piece band is completed by Mark Hickox, the band’s brilliant Bass player who also has a long history and hails from Ontario, Canada.
Parcek and fellow band members have been a regular performers at “The Brew” for quite some time now, years in fact. Parcek can be found on the tavern’s stage every other Tuesday night playing an array of soulful blues tunes on his Stratocaster.
To truly enjoy the experience you’ll have to get there early and get a table. There’s plenty of standing room, but as busy as Strange Brew gets on a Tuesday nights it’s probably safer to be seated as you’re taken to a higher plane with the emotion you can feel through the notes these guys produce.
While the tavern door kept swinging, it was obvious there were patrons coming in just to enjoy a drink and listen to a few of the tunes the band was playing.
Speaking with one of those patrons, they said they enjoyed what they were hearing and while they had to cut night short, they looked forward to seeing them again in future.
In 2010 The Parcek 3 put together an album titled “The Mathematics of Love” that captures some of that rich soulful sound you can hear at Strange Brew. The album raised eyebrows and brought a nomination from the Blues Foundation for the 2011 Best new Artist Debut.
Parcek and the band will be at The Strange Brew again in two weeks. In the mean time you can find them at Redstar Union in Cambridge on January 17th.
For musical happenings around the area, check in with my personal calendar.
Have a future event that you would like to see covered? Please send email to m.brooks.photo@gmail.com
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