Nashville-based, Southern Rockers Parker Barrow returned to the UK this month to perform five intimate club shows, plus a special appearance at the Maid of Stone Festival in Maidstone, Kent, plus a highly anticipated performance at Ebbw Vale's Steelhouse Festival in Wales on Friday 24th July. To celebrate their UK return, on Friday 17th July the band released their brand-new full-length sophomore album ‘Hold the Mash’. The band were originally formed by husband-and-wife duo Megan Kane (lead vocals) and Dylan Turner (drums) in 2019. In 2023 they expanded the lineup with the full-time inclusion of guitarist and musical director Alex Bender. Further additions to the current touring line up include Will Tipton (guitar), Kyle Priber (bass) and Eric Safka (keyboards). The name of the band is a homage to Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow - the infamous American bank robbers during the early 1930’s Great Depression.

Parker Barrow’s vintage Rock vibe features elements of Rock, Southern Rock, Blues and Soul; but their distinctive sound is unmistakably their own. There’s an impressive mix of old and new influences threaded throughout the band’s repertoire, including The Rolling Stones, Free, Blackberry Smoke, Allman Brothers Band, Aerosmith, Tedeschi Trucks, The Black Crowes and traces of Led Zeppelin. The band released their debut album ‘Jukebox Gypsies’ in 2023 followed by the EP ‘Hold the Mash’ in 2025, featuring the singles ‘Make It,’ ‘Novocaine’ and ‘The Healer'. They toured the UK supporting the Damn Truth later that same year winning over new fans with their breathtaking performances.

With tickets selling well for these hotly anticipated headline gigs, a further eight UK dates have just been added for November and December. On the third date of the tour, the band landed north of the border at Audio in Glasgow on Tuesday 21st July. A small intimate grass roots venue hidden under the South side arches of Glasgow Central train station.

The support for this tour was up and coming UK based Country Blues artist Georgia Nevada. Having just released her debut album 'Backfire', she has been making waves on the scene having supported established bands such as When Rivers Meet and Brave Rival. With her powerhouse voice Georgia delivered an entertaining thirty-minute set of material from her first EP and debut album.

There was a seismic buzz of anticipation floating around a packed-out Audio on this balmy Tuesday night, and with a prompt eight-thirty start the band wasted no time and got down to business by kicking things off in a rip-roaring high gear with a trio of bangers from their new 'Hold the Mash' album. The turbo charged 'Nothin' Left to Save' set the tone with its fervent catchy riffing and soaring vocals convincing us in no uncertain terms to take note. Matching that sentiment the high-octane 'Blinded' cranked it up putting us in a hypnotic spin before the enticing 'Novocaine' crackled with delectable sparkle. The band were clearly well rehearsed, meshed tight and in sync with their combined energies almost telepathic. Megan's vocal style draws inspiration from all the great Soul and Blues singers combining into one almighty sensory smash, but her delivery has subtle unique inflections which make them distinctively her own.

Taking it back to the 2023 debut album 'Jukebox Gypsies' the band delivered a couple of juicy tracks in the form of the sassy 'Good Times Gone Away' with its unremittingly strutting groove and an exuberantly spirited bounce kept us on our toes. The banging 'Throwin' Stones' quivered and quaked with total abandon leaving us dripping in sweat but desperate for more. Fervently prowling the stage and relentlessly bouncing as though her feet had in-built springs, Megan's magnetically contagious on-stage energy was hypnotically captivating. Much tambourine shaking also ensued!

The time seemed right to return to the new album for another trio of tantalisingly tasty tracks commencing with the medicinal 'The Healer'. A sparky number bolstered by meaty hooks and delectable slices of sweet Soul vibes intermingling with insistent choppy riffs and slinky licks. The interplay between each band member was sublimely slick and well-oiled, a joy to witness. Taking to their seats and slowing proceedings down came the dreamy 'Olivia Lane'. With a delicate acoustic and atmospherically introspective start the track gradually built up in intensity before elevating with superb stratospherically resonant vocals from Megan. Remaining seated it was over to the smouldering 'Ruby's Reckoning', the paired down accompaniment allowed Megan's scorching vocals to fill the room.

A change in mood then descended as the opening swirling echoey Fender Rhodes style synthesizer phrases of the haunting Led Zeppelin classic 'No Quarter' permeated the room. They dared to take it on but conquered it with ease. Stretching beyond ten minutes this behemoth galvanised into a showstopping musical work-out full of crunching guitar solos and rumbling Synth runs. A sublime performance.

Taking us into the final furlong of the set the band hit the ground running with the ferociously invigorating 'Count Your Dollars' from the 'Jukebox Gypsies' album before steaming headlong into the electrifying 'Make It' from the 'Hold the Mash' album, with its insistent hard-hitting delivery set heads bopping and fists pumping. The sold-out Glasgow crowd showed their appreciation with screams for more!

Bringing it on home with one final rock out came the epic chugging and weaving groove laden cover of The Black Crowes 'My Morning Song' from the 'Hold the Mash' album. This monstrous song slinks and slides with swaggering menace gradually building to an almighty fizzing frenzy! Screaming guitar solos battled it out snaking between pounding keyboard stabs cajoling for prominence. Megan ripped it up and bared her soul as though her life depended on it. An impressive mind-blowing performance brought the evening’s entertainment to a triumphant conclusion.

The music of Parker Barrow is less about reinventing the wheel, more like fresh air in the tyres! Despite a familiar formula the band manage to inject a freshness that feels new and exciting, executing it with unbridled youthful zeal and outright driving passion clearly rooted deep within their DNA. Blindingly infectious, unequivocally irresistible and stupendously magnificent. With all elements set in motion and all parts in the right place, they surely are ready to take this to the next level.

Review: Steven C. Gilbert
Photos: Scott Anderson