LIVE: Graham Parker @ Caffe Lena, 8/1/09

Back in the day, you’d probably never guess that you’d ever find the volatile Mr. Parker in a tiny, intimate coffeehouse in Saratoga Springs.

Back then, Parker was lumped in the British New Wave of Angry Young Men along with a pair of singer-songwriter-rockers who followed in his footsteps – Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson.

Of course, all of that was way back in the ’70s, long before Parker jettisoned the Rumor. In the past decade, Parker has recorded a batch of crack solo albums, teamed up with former Saratogians the Figgs for some equally crackling rock ‘n’ roll and published a collection of short stories as well as a novel.

Parker hasn’t lost his caustic wit, however, or his knack for superior songsmithing for that matter. And all were in evidence at Caffe Lena on Saturday, August 1.