How Parlor Greens pre-drop became a memorable experience

The second album by hammond organ soul trio Parlor Greens is out. TheNewFunky attended the pre-drop listening party and that turned out to be a unique session. After that, Hammond player Adam Scone was so kind to elaborate on a couple of topics one-on-one with us.

Vinyl Junkie Radio broadcasts from the very hip Twitch platform. Disk Jockey Sam is from Montreal Canada. He gave up his work as a financial advisor to devote himself entirely to good music from real vinyl. For a select group he played Parlor Greens' new album Emeralds in its entirety. Colemine record label founder Terry Cole together with all three distinguished band members showed up at the party. Drummer Tim Carman is known for playing in blues group GA-20. And guitarist Jimmy 'Scratch' James is already legendary in life because of his work with the True Loves and Delvon Lamarr. Hammond organist Adam Scone toured for years with Daptone legends such as The Sugarman 3 and Lee Fields. Adam was so kind add some more flavour to the below story exclusively for us.

The opening track Eat Your Greens is clearly inspired by Booker T. Mustard Sauce has a groove reminiscent of the Meters. At Drop Top, Tim reveals: " We don’t remember writing and recording this. Super early in the AM. Heard it back days later and said, what the hell!" .

On the track Parlor change, Jimmy adds: “This tune was influenced by a barbecue joint in Austin called Sam’s BBQ and the line said you don’t need no teeth to eat my beef. We started singing in the melody and this became the tune.”

Jimmy continues about the album title track: “Emeralds was originally called Dragon Fighter after the Fire Station in Chinatown NYC.” 

About Letter to Brother Ben, Adam says: “This one’s for Ben Dixon, I was in his band for some years. He is the drummer on a lot of the Grant Green, Lou Donaldson, Big John Patton

and Blue Note Records”.

Before we let Vinyl Junkie Sam flip the record to side B, let us fill you in on some details we were able to ask to Adam, waiting for his plane to go back home after Parlor Greens concerts in Vancouver, Seattle and Portland OR.

About the album title Emeralds, Adam explains: "Something about that title was resonating with us.  We worked very hard on the album and it fit the music and the time. I just looked it up and it makes even more sense: Natural emeralds are formed deep within the Earth's crust over millions of years through intense heat and pressure, creating their green color." 

TNF:  Do you want to share what you would write in the letter to Ben Dixon?

Adam: "Brother Ben as he liked to be called was always my favorite drummer on my favorite records.  It was after I met him that I understood more about the real importance of this music I love so much.  He brought us into his family and it became way beyond notes.  We would spend long afternoons at his house in Brooklyn and he taught me about how music is really created.  He was a prolific composer and would present us with scores of music.  It was all so thoughtful and he really cared about us and showed us how to be professionals.  So in brief I would say thank you and I’m still learning from the time he blessed us with." 

Time to listen to Side B.

Jimmy: “Adam and I were staying at a hotel in San Francisco and the bed had ants and the sheets were unclean and you didn’t need a black light to figure out what was on it and at the same time the walls were thin and there was a couple doing it in the room above and they were making sounds so that’s the reason why we call this Francisco smack.”

Sam nearly falls off his chair when he realizes after the intro of Jolene that this is a signature cover of the song that Dolly Parton wrote and released in the seventies.

Adam explains that Lion’s Mane is inspired by both Hammond organist Carles Earland, also known as the The Mighty Burner and blues guitarist Albert Collins aka the Ice Man!

In Red Dog the influence of Buddy Guy can be heard. Jimmy: "Guy is one of my biggest influences."  Tim adds that he got inspired by Chess records studio drummer Fred Below.

At the end of the listening session, the listening session takes on deeper emotional charge: Jimmy: “The last song, Queen of my heart was written in tribute to my late mother, and I wrote it at her grave and actually had a dream about her before we recorded this and in the track you’ll hear her speak for a few seconds, and she calls me by my pet name. The song always brings tears to me every time I hear it then it’s hard to listen to.”

Vinyl Junkie Sam senses the special moment and gives us all the time to feel what is happening while arriving at the end of the record. Afterwards, he gives a heartfelt plea why only real music from real vinyl can deliver these beautiful experiences. And he is right!

As part of their release tour, Parlor Greens will also visit Europe in the coming month. We asked Adam about it.

TNF: How is touring with your own band playing your own songs differ from performing in the bands accompanying JJ Grey and Lee Fields?

Adam: "I’ve been lucky to work many years of my life with Lee Fields  and JJ Grey. Two of the very best singers and band leaders to ever do it.  I’m in constant awe of their ability to bring 100% to the stage every single time. Never once sing one off note.  It’s a deep feeling and to witness that every night is profound. My band…. You don’t want to hear me sing."

TNF: Is there anything else you want to share to the buyers of your album or the people who will come to your shows in Europe in April and May?

Adam: "I’m so thankful for the support from the audience and friends I have made over the past nearly 30 years of touring. And playing the Hammond allowing me to go off and have a truly unique experience is a gift.  I hope to give back an emotional take on music and convey that somehow through the organ."  

We have included songs of the album in TheNewFunky Spotify playlists and the vinyl album will soon be available in our record store where more titles from Colemine Records can be found.