Concert Review: Nik Parr & The Selfless Lovers at Blues on the Green
Review & Photos by Victoria Allen
Nik Parr & The Selfless Lovers opened for day 2 of Blues on the Green with an electric performance.
Do you love rock ‘n’ roll? Are you looking to be entertained? Have you seen a guy play the saxophone while laying on the floor? WELL - You will find all three of those things at a Nik Parr & the Selfless Lovers show. Nik is the lead singer of the band and not only does he perform on sax he also kills it on keys (sometimes at the same time)!
Nik Parr hails all the way from the shores of Corpus Christi, Texas. He formed Nik Parr & the Selfless Lovers during college while he attended the University of Texas in Austin and began touring in 2018. Growing up along the Gulf Coast inspired his previously released single, Gulf Coast, which can also be heard on his EP titled Desire. The song feels very nostalgic and is the perfect tune for a long road trip. You can tell the song is a reflection of Parr's personal experience because of all the charming details he includes in the lyrics. The song is about longing to return to your roots and the people you love. It describes playful memories of "spilling secrets on the sea wall" and "driving like the devil pass refinery lights" which are youthful, relatable moments most can connect to. This song is one of my favorite's just because of how authentic it feels.
The band played "Gimme Time" and "How Far Is Love" which are two very upbeat, engaging tunes that are fantastic to vibe with. The instrumental break during "Gimme Time" is awesome to see live because Nik will fully showcase his piano skills. Most of the music Nik Parr & the Selfless Lovers release includes moments to highlight the mastery of each member's instrumental talents. "How Far Is Love" not only puts the spotlight on each member's skill, but always has fans chanting the lyrics with the band by the end of the song. Both songs can be found on the band's 2022 album, When the Bars Close. The entire album is filled with a ton of catchy hits that are easy to groove to.
Nik Parr & The Selfless Lovers recently released a new single titled "Joanna," which the band encouraged members of the audience to sing along too when they performed it live on stage. It was amazing to hear the majority of the park participate because bringing the music community together is what Blues on the Green is all about! "Joanna" is a fun tune with spontaneous instrumentals which makes it incredible to hear live. If you ever get to see the band perform this one, you'll find Parr going crazy on keys followed by Robert shredding it on guitar.
The band is full of highly skilled musicians. Fun backstory: I first came across one of the band's guitarists, Robert Parker Jr., when he played a quick set at Mozart's, which is a very popular cafe in Austin. Shortly afterwards, Nik discovered my music photography and I discovered his music. After seeing how engaging his performances were I knew this band was set to be the next big face of rock n' roll. Nik is in the middle of his tour across the US. He will be hitting up major cities in several states including two upcoming shows in Oregon along with gigs in Washington, California, Colorado and many others. The tour is currently set to end back in Texas in September, but knowing this band - They go where the people want to hear their music.
With Nik you get 2 types of artists - He's a singer and musician that loves creating art. In fact, Nik draws a majority of his merch. He often posts work in progress sketches on his Instagram along with behind the scenes footage as he tours the country. Equipped with a pen and pencil (sometimes colored pencils), Nik meticulously hand draws many of his album covers and sells them as posters at the venues he plays. Check out his latest album, Gulf Coast, to see his most recent cover art.
Nik Parr writes the perfect music for long road trips and parties. Nik describes his music as "funk rock" because it's a combination of soul, rock, blues and pop. What I really love most about this band and their music is the way it unites everyone that listens. It's hard not to dance and sing along, especially when the band is extremely entertaining. Building connections with fans is something Nik values above all as he goes out of his way to interact and chat with fans after sets. The whole band puts in a lot of work, touring various cities around the country, rehearsing long nights, creating merch, promoting themselves and signing autographs. This band is truly redefining modern rock n' roll and making a name for themselves. I'm sure Nik Parr & The Selfless Lovers will be headlining major festivals in no time... Just give them time and you're sure to fall in love.
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