Parry Adams

Praised for her raw honesty and pure simplicity, Parry Adams may prove a force to be reckoned with against musical trends highlighting complex collaborations and varying technological effects.

Though there is a definite appreciation for the talent, dedication and creativity that goes into this type of music, it is clear from the undying popularity of singer/songwriters that society still places value on the honesty of lyrics and straightfoward melodies.

Cue Adams and her new EP, “Puzzle Piece” featuring a collection of beautifully written and easily accessible tunes addressing a variety of common concerns, life experiences and clear thoughts derived from “my life (past tense and the present that’s being lived right now) and the observations I’ve made of those living along side me.”

Now available on iTunes and CDBaby, Adams’ tracks are composed of a classic combination of instruments (drums, piano and guitar), and her heart and soul is clearly captured here without the cloak of metaphors or imagery. “Puzzle Piece” is unadulterated truth through her experience and centers around her voice as it naturally flows, sans technology.

Adams finished her first tour late last year and has spent a significant amount of time composing and recording her album. Though she’s no longer on the road, Adams is still performing and hoping to get back to Philadelphia and her native Pittsburgh soon.

In addition to her daily dose of encouraging tunage on her Positivity Project site, Adams is scheduled to grace Sullivan Hall with her optimistic influence and delightful voicebox this Thursday, July 12 at 8:30 p.m. A perfect addition to Thirsty Thursday or remedy for a long pre-weekend workday, Adams’ performance promises to offer the respite necessary to soldier through until the blessed weekend. - NY Social Status

When trying to decide what to say after seeing Parry Adams open for Lucy Woodward at the Studio at Webster Hall, it was hard to form complete sentences. Words definitely came to mind, even full phrases, but I couldn’t string them together into sentences that flowed together into anything that would give you an idea of what this show was like and make you immediately plan to attend her next event. Maybe a little mystery is good, though. Maybe it will make you even more intrigued, make you want to go even more.

So where to begin?

Maybe with the crowd. It was silent and attentive. It only spoke when appropriate. It clearly loved her. True, some of them were likely friends, but others were friends and fans for the other two performers. They still respected her, still gave her the attention she deserved, and some even went to speak to her after the show and share just how much they enjoyed her set.

And how about that set?

I’ve seen Parry both solo and with a band. Both are different experiences. One thing that always stands out is her voice. It’s strong and amazing. She might have been charmingly nervous in between sets, but her singing was always strong and confident. (And if she rambled any on stage, like I said, it came off as charming).

I’ll have to admit, I haven’t listened to the album yet, but I plan to after tonight’s performance. Might even write a review for that too. Who knows? And I will definitely be going to another show, if the opportunity presents itself. I recommend that you plan to as well.

(Parry Adams does ocassional uStream concerts, where you can get the live experience from the comfort of your own home. Her next one is March 22nd.) - News on Shuffle

“I decided, what can I give up? And I absolutely cannot give up singing.”

When Irwin native Parry Adams made that decision, she was going through a process familiar to most young Americans (especially those involved in the arts.) With clear career paths and easy job placement a thing of the past, more and more talented college grads find themselves doing a little bit of everything for a long while.

That was certainly the case for Adams. After graduating from Point Park University with a degree in Musical Theater, she bounced around the country, from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati to New York to Atlanta. She danced professionally for several years, she acted, she sang in bars. She made coffee, inevitably. She started to get some poems published.

That turned out to be the catalyst. Again, a lot of young people know what I mean: The thing that leads to the thing that leads to the thing that leads to finding your calling and making it work.

“I had a poem chosen for a compilation called A Sea of Treasures, and that evolved into songwriting. And then I became friends with [musician] Bryan Fenkart, who I’ve been backing up for six years—he really encouraged my songwriting. I took up the guitar and went back to playing the piano.”

After years of honing her style, Adams has completed a five-song E.P., Puzzle Piece. Her songs are sweet, simple melodies, starkly arranged but beautifully performed. Her careful songwriting and soulful voice lead the way on tracks refreshingly free of over-production and digitized revisions.

“I’m a singer. I want people to know that this is my voice. It’s not dressed up with auto-tune or a ridiculous amount of reverb. When you go to the theater, you expect to hear as close to perfection as you would hear on an album. That’s where I want to stand from. When you come out to see me, my voice shouldn’t sound like it needs more help.”

This weekend marks Adams’ first homecoming as a solo performer. While growing up in Irwin, she did the musicals at Norwin High School and Greensburg Civic Theater. She could be seen on the Pittsburgh Playhouse stage during her days at Point Park. So to return to the area not as a face in the Playbill, but on her own tour, with her name on the marquee—that’s a big homecoming.

She’ll be joined by guitarist Joe Stile in a late-night set at South Side’s Club Cafe this Friday night. There may be no more appropriate venue for Adams; her emotive and sincere performances are boosted by the intimacy that a venue like Club Cafe provides. Get there early, though; it looks like you’ll have to fight some loved ones off to find room in the club. Parry has a lot of proud folks at home gearing up for this one.

“With the release of the EP, I’ve really tried to get in contact with everybody to let them know. I’m really, really excited for this show. A lot of my family hasn’t seen me perform. It’s really exciting for me.” - Pittsburgh Magazine.com

We like to be nice hosts. Parry Adams, as an artist, defies geography. She might not live down the street from PRECINCT in Somerville, but she’s making it one of her stops tomorrow night as part of the Hear Now Live Presents series. Here’s hoping she likes it there and comes back. It is up to you, dear friends, to represent and make her feel like she’s doing the right thing. Why should you want her to come back? Oh, just listen on.

Let’s try something here: don’t think about elephants. Do you see what happened there, Ellen Page*? The dissonance you are now experiencing demonstrates just how special this track from Parry Adams actually is. For someone who is “performing” – i.e. meaning to be heard – Parry Adams has an amazingly natural sound. Like we just sort of happened on her and she didn’t plan to be heard. Adams’ all-natural vocal delivery is what drives “Puzzle Pieces” on its easy, breezy journey ’round your ears. And it leaves something there for you.

There are some sweet vocal overdubs on “Puzzle Piece” that add tiers of sound to its already-impressive sound. Adams clearly has a keen ear for both melody and harmony – and the subtle interplay between the two. We wouldn’t just call her singer – she is a soothsayer. The vocals are crafted of languid stretches and slides, creating plenty of cozy-looking curves to hang your hat on or simply settle down upon. The vocals are firmly in place yet softly comfortable. Hearing this track for the first time is akin to entering a new room that is set up exactly how *you* would have done it – although you can appreciate the window treatments in sort of a “I hadn’t thought of that, but I bet I woulda,” sort of way.

With such a spotlight on the vocals, the arrangement needs to take care to not only stay out of her way, but to match the essence of the track’s core. In this, it succeeds – the sounds in “Puzzle Piece” are smooth and sonorous in very much the same way the vocals are. The track isn’t too smooth, however – Adams injects dynamics in both energy and melody to keep things interesting and engaging. “Puzzle Pieces” is an honest piece in that it doesn’t need to do anything other than stay honest to sound good.

*Of course Ellen Page is a Boston Band Crush reader, duh. - Boston Band Crush