Canadian folk group The Barr Brothers performed for the KEXP Pickathon festival at Bunny Glade in Happy Valley Oregon. Watch the pro-shot YouTube videos below.
The Barr Brothers "Come In The Water" Live at KEXP Pickathon 2014
The Barr Brothers "Half Crazy" Live at KEXP Pickathon 2014
The Barr Brothers "Love Ain't Enough" Live an KEXP Pickathon 2014
The band played three songs from their upcoming record Sleeping Operator. The first one they played, "Come In The Water," is a relaxed, folky number, but it showcases the band's cohesion. The percussion is light, and the harp, acoustic guitar and upright bass intermingle beautifully. Singer Brad Barr's vocals are soulful and genuine, and the harmonies laden throughout are gorgeous. The song demonstrates influences of chamber pop and has a wonderful orchestral quality thanks to the harp.
The next track, "Half Crazy," manages to create a more experimental sound. The tempo picks up, and the acoustic guitar is plugged in, turning into a hollow body electric guitar. His playing shows influences of the delta-blues. This song showcases some fantastic finger picking during the jam session in the middle. The band takes sticks, and other natural objects around them to work as the percussion in this song, utilizing their environment excellently.
They conclude their set with "Love Ain't Enough" which brings the orchestral and folk styles together. It begins with a focus on the harp and the upright bass, before the rest of the instruments join in. As the verses begin, a calming wave of soft acoustic guitar and airy harp sound like they are surrounding the listener. It is a great conclusion to a set of beautiful and natural music, perfect for the festival and their location.
"Half Crazy" and "Love Ain't Enough" are currently available on Spotify. Sleeping Operator will be out October 7th on Secret City Records. You can pre-order it now on Amazon and on the Secret City Records website.
Source: KEXP YouTube