Levi Parham
McAlester, Oklahoma, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | SELF
Music
Press
"To borrow a phrase from one of his songs, Levi Parham comes out swinging like a heavyweight with his new release An Okie Opera. Parham is a major talent. He has a soulful, ballsy voice. His songwriting is filled with infectious hooks, and easy rolling rhythms. These are all love songs, evoking the full range of emotions that go along with it.
The opening track, "Two Cookies", reminds one of The Band of Heathens' song "Cornbread", with its double-entendre praise of his woman's culinary skills.
"Devil's Got a Sweettooth" is a jealous man's warning to his too-good-looking lover, with a dark-edged electric guitar solo in the middle.
"Two Stoned Doves" is a tender, acoustic-guitar and harmonica driven heart-to-heart invitation.
An Okie Opera is a one-man affair: Parham played all the instruments, sang all the vocals, and produced and arranged the whole album. Most of the songs are acoustic-guitar driven, accompanied by occasional mandolin and harmonica. He's a good enough musician to pull it off in style, but one can't help wondering how he'd sound backed by some of Oklahoma's finest.
The vocals and vocal arrangements are spot-on. Whether the song calls for a soul-satisfying gospel call-and-response, or a bare-bones, Townes van Zandt treatment, Parham gets it right.
Parham was raised in Southeast Oklahoma, but, according to his website, he currently resides in Austin. He's been playing dates in Oklahoma recently. If you want to catch a star on the rise, go catch his show. And buy this album."
-Richard Higgs, Currentland - Currentland Magazine www.currentland.com
"To borrow a phrase from one of his songs, Levi Parham comes out swinging like a heavyweight with his new release An Okie Opera. Parham is a major talent. He has a soulful, ballsy voice. His songwriting is filled with infectious hooks, and easy rolling rhythms. These are all love songs, evoking the full range of emotions that go along with it.
The opening track, "Two Cookies", reminds one of The Band of Heathens' song "Cornbread", with its double-entendre praise of his woman's culinary skills.
"Devil's Got a Sweettooth" is a jealous man's warning to his too-good-looking lover, with a dark-edged electric guitar solo in the middle.
"Two Stoned Doves" is a tender, acoustic-guitar and harmonica driven heart-to-heart invitation.
An Okie Opera is a one-man affair: Parham played all the instruments, sang all the vocals, and produced and arranged the whole album. Most of the songs are acoustic-guitar driven, accompanied by occasional mandolin and harmonica. He's a good enough musician to pull it off in style, but one can't help wondering how he'd sound backed by some of Oklahoma's finest.
The vocals and vocal arrangements are spot-on. Whether the song calls for a soul-satisfying gospel call-and-response, or a bare-bones, Townes van Zandt treatment, Parham gets it right.
Parham was raised in Southeast Oklahoma, but, according to his website, he currently resides in Austin. He's been playing dates in Oklahoma recently. If you want to catch a star on the rise, go catch his show. And buy this album."
-Richard Higgs, Currentland - Currentland Magazine www.currentland.com
“Give Levi Parham one listen and you’ll feel right at home regardless of where you find yourself. For the past 10 years the Oklahoma-based singer-songwriter has fashioned an impressive style and sound that hinges on the spirits of musical greats like Muddy Waters, Skip James and Townes Van Zandt. On his newest album, An Okie Opera, Parham fully harnesses those old-school Delta blues, folk-soul and alt-country sounds, pairing them with his skillful guitar playing and soulful voice to offer up a complete and thought-out laid back, down-home vibe from song one to the last. It’s also worth mentioning he recorded the entire album himself in his tiny home studio over the course of six months, playing ever single instrument recorded. One spin through and we must say, he’s definitely worth checking out.”
– Andy Wisniewski, Flagstaff Live - Flaglive Entertainment Magazine, www.flaglive.com
“Give Levi Parham one listen and you’ll feel right at home regardless of where you find yourself. For the past 10 years the Oklahoma-based singer-songwriter has fashioned an impressive style and sound that hinges on the spirits of musical greats like Muddy Waters, Skip James and Townes Van Zandt. On his newest album, An Okie Opera, Parham fully harnesses those old-school Delta blues, folk-soul and alt-country sounds, pairing them with his skillful guitar playing and soulful voice to offer up a complete and thought-out laid back, down-home vibe from song one to the last. It’s also worth mentioning he recorded the entire album himself in his tiny home studio over the course of six months, playing ever single instrument recorded. One spin through and we must say, he’s definitely worth checking out.”
– Andy Wisniewski, Flagstaff Live - Flaglive Entertainment Magazine, www.flaglive.com
“An Okie Opera, released in May, was entirely recorded and produced by Parham at home. Every single instrument was also performed by the multifaceted musician whose Delta blues and gospel influences have informed a heartfelt piece of recorded Americana, raw and honest, showing off an up-and-coming songwriter molding a distinct and beautiful style.”
– Ryan Heinsius, Flagstaff Live - Flaglive Entertainment Magazine, www.flaglive.com
“An Okie Opera, released in May, was entirely recorded and produced by Parham at home. Every single instrument was also performed by the multifaceted musician whose Delta blues and gospel influences have informed a heartfelt piece of recorded Americana, raw and honest, showing off an up-and-coming songwriter molding a distinct and beautiful style.”
– Ryan Heinsius, Flagstaff Live - Flaglive Entertainment Magazine, www.flaglive.com
Discography
An Okie Opera, released in May 2013, is a full length folk rock album comprised of 10 original songs written, recorded, and produced by Levi Parham.
I am the ghost, a blues rock EP released in September 2009 is comprised of 8 original songs written, recorded, and produced by Levi Parham, with the help of his friend Jay Everhart on the drums.
Photos
Bio
Levi Parham was born and raised in southeast Oklahoma. His father was an avid music fan, especially of the blues, and would play old Leadbelly, Skip James, and Muddy Waters records for Levi and often take him to Blues Festivals as a kid.
For the past 10 years, Levi has played in a variety of different bands performing in venues all over the southwestern states, sharing stages with the likes of Blues Traveler, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Junior Brown, Jah Roots, Moonshine Still, and many more.
His newest venture is a solo effort, with Levi releasing a folk inspired singer/songwriter album titled An Okie Opera. The album was released May 2013 and Levi has been steadily spreading copies around the U.S. for the past 6 months.
Band Members
Links
