Graham Parker's softer side

British singer Graham Parker is fond of saying, ''I don't complain, I merely describe reality." He's described a lot of it in his music through the years -- taking shots at corporate drones, political hypocrisy, MTV, bogus celebrities, and even a former record label that he didn't feel sufficiently promoted his albums.

Today, though, Parker is less the angry young man than he is a wise sage who lives with his family in the country near Woodstock, N.Y. He professes to seek balance, not confrontation.

''Well, other people can be [angry] for me now," says Parker, 54, who plays a First Night show at the Orpheum Theatre tonight.

''There are still a few things that might pop out in songs, but they have a more fun edge to them rather than being deadly serious. I always think I've had a fun, mocking kind of tone a lot of the time anyway. It's not like the Clash, who were deadly earnest."

Parker may not be a household name in rock 'n' roll, but he should be. He burst out of the English pub-rock scene in the mid-'70s with two well-regarded albums, ''Howlin' Wind" and ''Heat Treatment," which led to ''Squeezing Out Sparks," a 1979 disc that won Parker (and his band the Rumour) the Village Voice's poll for album of the year.

Parker has gone through ups and downs ever since, but he's been on a prolific writing roll in the new millennium -- particularly on the literary side, having released two books since 2000, one a short story collection called ''Carp Fishing on Valium," the other a novel entitled ''The Other Life of Brian," about a one-hit wonder in the pop business.

He prefers music, though. ''Music is more immediate," he says. ''It's not something I'm willing to stop doing at the moment in order to concentrate on [book] writing. The music is more successful for me. And I don't have the patience to just be [an author]."

Parker also has a Boston connection who has helped rejuvenate his music. That is guitarist Mike Gent, who is in both the Figgs (a band that has backed Parker on four tours) and the Gentlemen, who back Parker at the Orpheum tonight (except for one member, who will be absent). They plan to concentrate on Parker's hits, including ''Get Started, Start a Fire," ''Protection," ''Local Girls," and ''Discovering Japan."

Gent first met Parker in 1996 when the Figgs (who contributed to the tribute disc ''Piss and Vinegar: The Songs of Graham Parker") were playing the same Atlanta club. Gent says he asked probing questions about Parker's chord progressions and ''about some weird songs that even he had forgotten about."

The Figgs and Parker hit it off, but they had never recorded an album together until this fall in Bryn Mawr, Pa., where Pete Donnelly of the Figgs runs a recording studio. ''He's a great producer/engineer, and I was glad to use his services," says Parker.

Adds Gent: ''Graham was great to work with, because he lets you contribute. He comes in with the songs done, but as far as the parts, you can do what you want. It's not a dictator thing. And I got to play a lot of slide guitar. Some of it feels like Stones stuff in the days that Mick Taylor was in the band."

Parker has been a musical chameleon of late -- his last album, ''Your Country," released in early 2004, was a country-slanted disc that even included a cover of Jerry Garcia's ''Sugaree." The forthcoming record with the Figgs, however, will be rocking. ''It's seriously pounding in your eardrums," he says with a laugh. ''And I've got six more songs in the bag for the album after that.

''I never know how to explain this songwriting stuff. It's still a mystery to me," he says. ''But it keeps coming."

Graham Parker plays the Orpheum tonight at 8:30 and 10:30, preceded by Bill Janovitz & Crown Victoria for each set. There are no tickets, but you must purchase a $15 button (which gains access to all indoor First Night events) at Shaw’s/Star Markets, Store 24s, or the Park Street or Arlington Street T station. More info at firstnight.org or 617-542-1399.