Can you name a musician Rolling Stone magazine puts five ahead of Tom Petty in their "Most Important Artists of All Time" list and who died almost four decades ago?

Now in its fourth year, Gram InterNational, an annual concert celebration devoted to honoring the late great Gram Parsons by presenting local bands influenced by him, is coming to Boston, October 8 at 8pm, at Johnny D's Uptown Music Club. The bands chosen to honor Gram include The Brooklyns, The Molenes, Gilded Splinters, The Weisstronauts, Whiskey Kill, and Twang 'em High.

Begun four years ago in Nashville, it's the festival's second year in Boston, coming here last year to commemorate 45 years since Parsons began his seminal country rock band the International Submarine Band while briefly attending Harvard. To commemorate Gram's 65th birthday, the event has gone global, in seven cities in four countries.

There are not many country music or rock artists whose influence continues to grow four decades after they die; Gram Parsons is one of them. To answer the opening question, Rolling Stone ranks him as No. 87 in their Top 100 Most Important Artists of All Time (and one of only 11 eligible not inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame). Many claim that his influence on Keith Richards and the Rolling Stones changed the direction of their music.

Many others just claim Parsons as their gateway into the world of true country music, the kind which was being played by the likes of Cash, Haggard, Buck Owens, the Louvin Brothers and many more. Gram’s protégé, Emmylou Harris, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame a few years ago; former Byrd, Burrito and Fallen Angel Parsons has so far not been considered.

Will James, founding director of Gram InterNational and the Petition to Induct Parsons into the Country Music Hall of Fame (gramparsonspetition.com), says that bands play their own music with a nod to Gram. “We don’t call them ‘tribute’ concerts, as folks get the impression that the bands will just play Gram songs,” Will states. “You will hear plenty of Gram, but I select bands that have a deep respect for, and are influenced by, Gram’s music. I want to hear them play their own stuff.” He has the same disdain for labels that Parsons did, who disliked the term “country rock,” for which Parsons is often credited as founding. Will quotes Gram, "I think pure country music includes rock and roll. I've never been able to get into the further label of country-rock.”

“Many find that Nashville’s product doesn’t sound much like country anymore,” Will says. “So you have this plethora of labels – alt country, Americana, outlaw country, cowpunk – that just becomes overwhelming. While Parsons is credited as being the genesis behind all these movements -- many of which our bands incorporate -- my feeling is that he was a great songwriter and performer who was trying to introduce country music, the real thang as we say, to a whole new audience in a very divisive time.”

“We are scheduling six exciting bands into five hours with only 10-minute breaks." By the way, you'll be hearing the real Gram Parsons played during those short breaks.

Come early for some good eats and get a seat besides. The door is just $10 for all that music. Be sure to be there by 8:00 so as not to miss any of this great local talent.

Gram InterNational IV Boston (contact: Will James, 716-684-7074, bands@atticweb.com)
Johnny D's
October 8, 2011
8:00pm-1:00am
Davis Square, Somerville

$10
Bands:
The Weisstronauts
Twang 'em High
Whiskey Kill
The Brooklyns
The Molenes
The Gilded Splinters