Do you like Jim White, Tom Waits, Howe Gelb and Chuck Prophet? Yeah…me too. What is it about their collective sound that is so cool? Probably has a bit to do with the level of musical sloppiness they all share, the amount of reverb added to both the vocals and guitars, and mostly their unique view on life.
Add German singer songwriter Digger Barnes to that list above. When you heard “German” do you immediately think Hasselhoff, Lederhosen, and beer gardens? Sure Germany hasn’t had the greatest rock track record of late, but amusingly all the artists above are probably more influenced by the Bauhaus movement than they are any American musical trend be it sunny west coast rock to angular indie punk.
Digger Barnes is well known to Lucero fans as a member of the touring collective known as The Rivival Tour (w/Tim Barry (AVAIL), Ben Nichols (LUCERO), Tom Gabel (AGAINST ME), Austin Lucas, Frank Turner,and Jesse Malin). Seeing the company he keeps it’s no surprise that his debut record Time Has Come is a gothic americana masterpiece influenced by preachers, snakes, full moons, vampires and plenty of liquor.
You can pick up the LP here.
