Charlie Parr may be an early 21st century bluesman, but he looks and sounds like a vagabond riding the rails in the 1930's. His finger-picking technique is superb; that is to say, it's got just the right ragged edges. And his voice summons the spirits of blues singers from a bygone era. Maybe that's because Parr grew up without a television and turned to his dad's records (by Lead Belly, Lightnin' Hopkins, Woody Guthrie, and others) to entertain him. Whatever it is, this guy's the real thing.

Charlie Parr plays Thursday, February 20, 8:30 p.m. at Bop Shop Records, 1460 Monroe Ave. $10 donation. 271-3354, Bopshop.com.