Parish Hall was a Bay Area power trio featuring Gary Wagner on guitar, piano, and vocals, John Haden on bass, and Steve Adams on drums. Their sound blended hard rock and blues rock, and their self‑titled album was first released in late 1970 on a small independent California label. Although the band never reached mainstream fame, their music drew comparisons to other high‑energy trios of the era, including the Jimi Hendrix Experience. By the late 1990s, original pressings of the album had become sought‑after items among European collectors, often selling for notable prices. All of the material on the record was written by Wagner, and the songs stand up well alongside other hard‑driving rock acts of the period. Reissues have since appeared on the Akarma label, complete with the original artwork. This lone Parish Hall album delivers ten tracks of gritty, soulful blues‑rock. Songs like “My Eyes Are Getting Heavy,” “Skid Row Runner,” and “Lucanna” showcase the band’s heavier side, with Wagner’s guitar work taking center stage. Despite the introspective look of the album cover — which might suggest folk rock or singer‑songwriter material — the music itself is powerful, guitar‑driven rock with a dark blues edge.
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My Eyes Are Getting Heavy
How Can You Win
Ain’t Feeling Too Bad
Silver Ghost
Dynaflow
Somebody Got The Blues
Parish Hall 1970 Full Album