User:Psogol/Anders Parker

Anders Parker, (born 1968 in Beacon New York) is an American singer-songwriter, guitar player, singer and multi-instrumentalist with a career spanning two decades. He has performed and recorded as a solo artist and as a key member in bands such as Varnaline and Space Needle. Parker has been involved in various collaborations over the years including Gob Iron with Jay Farrar.

Career overview
Parker released his first record, Man of Sin, in 1996 under the name Varnaline. The record was written and recorded entirely by Parker on a 4-track in his Portland, OR apartment. He went on to build a band around the Varnaline name comprised of Jud Ehrbar on drums and John Parker on bass. The trio released two records under the Varnaline name (Varnaline and Sweet Life) and Parker made two other albums under the same name by himself (A Shot and a Beer EP and Songs in a Northern Key).

Varnaline toured with various acts over its brief career, including Bob Mould, Son Volt, Sparkle Horse, The Verses as well as Lollapallooza 1997.

Parker was also a member of the noise-rock band Space Needle. He was first a touring member and then joined the band as a full member and appeared on the second Space Needle album, The Moray Eels Eat The Space Needle.

Parker met Steve Earle soon after the release of Man of Sin and Earle extended the offer to work together sometime in the future. The result was the release of Varnaline’s [[Songs in a Northern Key] on Earle’s E-Squared/Artemis record label in 2001.

In 2004 Parker released his first solo record under his own name. Entitled 'Tell it to the Dust', the record and following EP, The Wounded Astronaut, featured appearances by Jay Farrar, Joan Wasser, Richard Buckner, Kendall Meade and Jud Ehrbar.

In 2006 Parker released his second full-length record. The self-titled Anders Parker was record in Los Angeles with producer Adam Lasus. The album features musicians Eric Heywood (pedal steel), Jennifer Condos (bass), Ken Coomer (drums), and Kirk Swan (guitar). Sally Timms, Kendall Meade and Kristen Mooney all sang on the record.

Also in 2006 Parker released an album that he recorded with Son Volt founder Jay Farrar under the name Gob Iron. Entitled Death Songs for the Living, the record was series of folk songs reinterpreted by Parker and Farrar. The two played all the instruments, sang and produced the record.

Anders Parker

 * 2010 Cross Latitudes
 * 2009 Skyscraper Crow (double CD)
 * 2007 14th & Division (live)
 * 2006 Anders Parker
 * 2005 The Wounded Astronaut EP
 * 2004 Tell it to the Dust

Gob Iron (with Jay Farrar)

 * 2006 Death Songs for the Living

Varnaline

 * 2001 Songs in a Northern Key
 * 1998 Sweet Life
 * 1997 A Shot and a Beer EP
 * 1997 Varnaline
 * 1996 Man of Sin

As Space Needle

 * 1997 The Moray Eels Eat the Space Needle
 * 2006 Recordings 1994-1997 (collection)