American Aquarium Thread

[Iowan]

Alright, I didn't see a specific thread for these guys and feel they deserve it. Hendooman and I did a music swap, and I ended up with a lot of stuff from these guys. Really, really dig it. Dances For the Lonely is one of the best albums I've picked up in awhile. These guys definitely take a ton of cues from DBT and Whiskeytown, but damn I like this. Moving onto Small Town Hymns next.

[Gator McKlusky]

I dig American Aquarium; Dances For the Lonely is Whiskeytown/Springsteenesque kickass good. Small Town hymns not quite there for me yet but has its moments. Also check out the The Bible & the Bottle--lots of pedal steel and women are evil whores from hell songs. I just saw them last weekend for the second time and bought BJ barham a beer before the show and talked quite a bit with him afterward --super nice guy. Highlight was a show-stopping epic version of I Hope He Breaks your heart. love that song.

A couple of pictures from my phone:






they are big DBT fans.


Also Met a guy in a DBT shirt who has seen em (DBT) 50 times. He first saw them in The Star Bar in Atlanta pre-Jason and has been hooked ever since; he is not on the board though.

[Smitty]

I dig their more lightweight stuff (Aint Goin to the Bar Tonight, rockers like that) but when the lyrics get serious, it comes off too forced & suffers IMO - kinda like Whiskeytown-lite.
They have some solid songs, though - but it's either hit or miss.

[Gator McKlusky]

I dig their more lightweight stuff (Aint Goin to the Bar Tonight, rockers like that) but when the lyrics get serious, it comes off too forced & suffers IMO - kinda like Whiskeytown-lite.
They have some solid songs, though - but it's either hit or miss.

Yeah, some of BJ's "deeper" songs work better when you have been drinking.

[Smitty]

I dig their more lightweight stuff (Aint Goin to the Bar Tonight, rockers like that) but when the lyrics get serious, it comes off too forced & suffers IMO - kinda like Whiskeytown-lite.
They have some solid songs, though - but it's either hit or miss.

Yeah, some of BJ's "deeper" songs work better when you have been drinking.

lol that's definitely true - but they all gotta start somewhere, I guess.

[The Black Canary]

Seeing them for the first time tomorrow night, now I am totally stoked!!!! YEA HAAA

[Kudzu Guillotine]

II just saw them last weekend for the second time and bought BJ barham a beer before the show and talked quite a bit with him afterward --super nice guy. Highlight was a show-stopping epic version of I Hope He Breaks your heart. love that song.

In Jacksonville, per chance? I was down there last weekend and saw where they were playing one of the local clubs but had to head back to NC first thing Sunday morning.

[Iowan]

I dig American Aquarium; Dances For the Lonely is Whiskeytown/Springsteenesque kickass good. Small Town hymns not quite there for me yet but has its moments. Also check out the The Bible & the Bottle--lots of pedal steel and women are evil whores from hell songs. I just saw them last weekend for the second time and bought BJ barham a beer before the show and talked quite a bit with him afterward --super nice guy. Highlight was a show-stopping epic version of I Hope He Breaks your heart. love that song.

A couple of pictures from my phone:






they are big DBT fans.


Also Met a guy in a DBT shirt who has seen em (DBT) 50 times. He first saw them in The Star Bar in Atlanta pre-Jason and has been hooked ever since; he is not on the board though.

Agree with your assessment of their albums. These guys are at their best rocking. Slowing it down doesn't really work that well for them. Dances For the Lonely is my favorite, followed by Bible and the Bottle, and I'm not all that into Small Town Hymns at all (save for Rattlesnake; great tune).

I hope the do a midwest tour soon. I saw that last fall they played that at a great little venue here in Des Moines. If they come back through, I'll be drunk and in the front row.

Regarding the Whiskeytown-lite, I definitely feel that way with their slower to mid-tempo songs. Ain't Goin to the Bar Tonight (title and all) sounds like a cover of an unreleased Whiskeytown song. I asked my girlfriend who she thought they sounded like (she likes Whiskeytown and Ryan Adams early solo stuff A LOT) assuming she would say Whiskeytown. She thought they sounded like Wilco. Maybe she couldn't get past the name, but I don't think they sound much like Wilco (save Casino Queen/Monday esque stuff) at all.

[Gator McKlusky]

II just saw them last weekend for the second time and bought BJ barham a beer before the show and talked quite a bit with him afterward --super nice guy. Highlight was a show-stopping epic version of I Hope He Breaks your heart. love that song.

In Jacksonville, per chance? I was down there last weekend and saw where they were playing one of the local clubs but had to head back to NC first thing Sunday morning.

No, that ultra-hip mecca of cool known as Orlando.

[one belt loop]

I started with Small Town Hymns; it came highly recommended from a source I respect a lot. I think that "fast" vs. "slow" comparison is right on. The first 3-4 songs of that album are great, but after that, it slows down a lot and so does my interest. I just got hold of the other two albums (just 2 more, right?) and haven't really formed opinions of them yet.

They told me they're hoping to come out to the West Coast sometime this fall. I hope the timing is right; I think I'll really enjoy a fun live show. Better get someone else to drive, because they seem like they'd be fun to drink to.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

They attract a lot of the frat boy crowd around here (Raleigh, NC) so I avoided seeing them for a long time. I'd also heard less then favorable things about their music (mainly that it was overly derivative). Despite the warnings, I attended one of their shows at the Pour House in Raleigh a couple of years ago but left before they even took the stage because of rampant asshattery (can't say I wasn't warned). I finally saw them during Hopscotch last year which was free of the ass monkeys but I can't say I was very impressed. BJ strikes me as a Ryan Adams-wannabe (right down to his attire) and while they had the audiences' attention they covered Springsteen. You'd think, when you're playing for a bunch of potentially new fans for the first time that you'd lay off of the covers. Not saying I won't give them another chance as they play around here often but that first impression wasn't a good one.

[Iowan]

They attract a lot of the frat boy crowd around here (Raleigh, NC) so I avoided seeing them for a long time. I'd also heard less then favorable things about their music (mainly that it was over derivative). Despite the warnings, I attended one of their shows at the Pour House in Raleigh a couple of years ago but left before they even took the stage because of rampant asshattery (can't say I wasn't warned). I finally saw them during Hopscotch last year which was free of the ass monkeys but I can't say I was very impressed. BJ strikes me as a Ryan Adams-wannabe (right down to his attire) and while they had the audiences' attention they covered Springsteen. You'd think, when you're playing for a bunch of potentially new fans for the first time that you'd lay off of the covers. Not saying I won't give them another chance as they play around here often but that first impression wasn't a good one.

As far as his music (I refuse to judge a band by their crowd), BJ sounds like what Ryan Adams would have sounded like if he listened to more Springsteen. I recognize the obvious RA influence, and I guess that I don't really care. I enjoy the music. It rocks, it's drunk, it throws some horns into the mix and above all I can relate to it. They aren't reinventing the wheel, just making high quality music.

Kinda sounds like how some folks would describe DBT. I'm not saying that American Aquarium is anywhere close to DBT, but a lot of people hear DBT and say "oh, it's just Southern Rock". DBT doesn't do anything sonically that hasn't been done before, they just write really really fucking good songs. American Aquarium is kind of like that to my ears, except they just right pretty fucking good songs, not really really fucking good songs.

[Smitty]

They attract a lot of the frat boy crowd around here (Raleigh, NC) so I avoided seeing them for a long time. I'd also heard less then favorable things about their music (mainly that it was over derivative). Despite the warnings, I attended one of their shows at the Pour House in Raleigh a couple of years ago but left before they even took the stage because of rampant asshattery (can't say I wasn't warned). I finally saw them during Hopscotch last year which was free of the ass monkeys but I can't say I was very impressed. BJ strikes me as a Ryan Adams-wannabe (right down to his attire) and while they had the audiences' attention they covered Springsteen. You'd think, when you're playing for a bunch of potentially new fans for the first time that you'd lay off of the covers. Not saying I won't give them another chance as they play around here often but that first impression wasn't a good one.

As far as his music (I refuse to judge a band by their crowd), BJ sounds like what Ryan Adams would have sounded like if he listened to more Springsteen. I recognize the obvious RA influence, and I guess that I don't really care. I enjoy the music. It rocks, it's drunk, it throws some horns into the mix and above all I can relate to it. They aren't reinventing the wheel, just making high quality music.

Kinda sounds like how some folks would describe DBT. I'm not saying that American Aquarium is anywhere close to DBT, but a lot of people hear DBT and say "oh, it's just Southern Rock". DBT doesn't do anything sonically that hasn't been done before, they just write really really fucking good songs. American Aquarium is kind of like that to my ears, except they just right pretty fucking good songs, not really really fucking good songs.

The difference (to me) is when you hear DBT, you know it's DBT; say what you want, but they've def got their own sound and noone writes songs like they do. (Not saying noone writes as good, just different). There's a reason DBT stand out in the overcrowded "alt country"/indie rock world.

[Iowan]

They attract a lot of the frat boy crowd around here (Raleigh, NC) so I avoided seeing them for a long time. I'd also heard less then favorable things about their music (mainly that it was over derivative). Despite the warnings, I attended one of their shows at the Pour House in Raleigh a couple of years ago but left before they even took the stage because of rampant asshattery (can't say I wasn't warned). I finally saw them during Hopscotch last year which was free of the ass monkeys but I can't say I was very impressed. BJ strikes me as a Ryan Adams-wannabe (right down to his attire) and while they had the audiences' attention they covered Springsteen. You'd think, when you're playing for a bunch of potentially new fans for the first time that you'd lay off of the covers. Not saying I won't give them another chance as they play around here often but that first impression wasn't a good one.

As far as his music (I refuse to judge a band by their crowd), BJ sounds like what Ryan Adams would have sounded like if he listened to more Springsteen. I recognize the obvious RA influence, and I guess that I don't really care. I enjoy the music. It rocks, it's drunk, it throws some horns into the mix and above all I can relate to it. They aren't reinventing the wheel, just making high quality music.

Kinda sounds like how some folks would describe DBT. I'm not saying that American Aquarium is anywhere close to DBT, but a lot of people hear DBT and say "oh, it's just Southern Rock". DBT doesn't do anything sonically that hasn't been done before, they just write really really fucking good songs. American Aquarium is kind of like that to my ears, except they just right pretty fucking good songs, not really really fucking good songs.

The difference (to me) is when you hear DBT, you know it's DBT; say what you want, but they've def got their own sound and noone writes songs like they do. (Not saying noone writes as good, just different). There's a reason DBT stand out in the overcrowded "alt country"/indie rock world.

Agreed. Quality of songwriting is the reason for me. Almost no one even comes close to their songs. A very distant second is guitar sound, but if I wasn't so familiar with the band, I'd probably say it sounds a lot like The Faces.

[cortez the killer]

I dig their more lightweight stuff (Aint Goin to the Bar Tonight, rockers like that) but when the lyrics get serious, it comes off too forced & suffers IMO - kinda like Whiskeytown-lite.
They have some solid songs, though - but it's either hit or miss.

I more or less subscribe to this assessment of them and their music. I think their music appeals more to the X than the Y.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

On the Record: American Aquarium Talks Live LP (from Durham, NC's Independent Weekly)

[Kudzu Guillotine]

Burn.Flicker.Die. is American Aquarium’s Proud Stand (New Raleigh)

[Kudzu Guillotine]

For the American Aquarium fans that may otherwise have missed this, it's B.J. Barham doing a couple of acoustic renditions of songs off of their new record as part of the Independent Weekly's Simple Music series. If you're interested in learning more about that as well as some background info on these performances you can do so here.

[roland]

AA played to a sold out Lincoln Theater last night (830), and it was a great show. BJ had just enough Jameson in him and was in his element. Bill the bass player had an emergency appendectomy in the morning, showed up for soundcheck still fucked up on anesthesia and came back for the show that night. That's Rock & Roll right there. They played all of the new record, plus a several from their previous records. The crowd was a little fratty, so we sat on the rail in the balcony. One dude up front had his back to the stage the whole show, playing to the crowd behind him. Thankfully for the mushrooms I didn't seek him out and put him to sleep.

[beantownbubba]

[quote="roland"] Bill the bass player had an emergency appendectomy in the morning, showed up for soundcheck still fucked up on anesthesia and came back for the show that night. That's Rock & Roll right there.

Just thought that needed a spotlight.

[sg207]

God damn, this new album is good. It's the first one that's grabbed me. Although admittedly up until now, I've only listened to clips. I think it's going to be near the top of my list so far this year.

[Smitty]

American Aquarium on Live Music Archive

[Tequila Cowboy]

So this was on American Aquarium's FB yesterday and stirred a shitstorm:

First this

Three years ago, to the day, Florida Georgia Line opened up for us in Jacksonville,FL with their same brand of bro country that is all over the radio today. They now have millions of fans, tons of money and all the cut off bedazzled denim vest anyone could ask for. At least we still have our self respect. Here's to the working bands out there that never settle. Good on ya.

Then this

To the people bitching about this post...
1) I am surprised you are into what we do if you are taking up for this garbage on the radio, but to each his/her own.
2)You are right, I AM jealous of their success. Every band wants to be big. Every band wants to make a living. Every band wants to live the dream. But I want my fame to come from earning people's respect, not it being handed to me. I want to bust my ass every single day and know that I earned it. I want to play music with my best friends, not some band that my label put together for me. I want to write my own songs. I want to sing my own songs. I want to know that 6 guys stood in a room with microphones and performed every single note you hear, together...as a band. A real band. But jealousy is not the only emotion. I'm also...

-Sad that this is what "country" music has been reduced to. One of the greatest American art forms has been reduced to garbage. No attention to detail. No honesty. No soul.
-Angry that when I tell people that I play country music and this is the first thing that comes to their mind. Angry that America has accepted this. Angry that these "songwriters" do it for the dollar, instead of the integrity.
-Afraid that its only going to get worse. If fans of country music keep letting the powers that be lower your standards, IT WILL become more and more laughable. As long as they know that you will buy it, they will keep dumbing you down. Scares the shit out of me.

But its not all negativity. Im also...

-Happy that folks like Jason Isbell, John Moreland, Josh Ritter, Patterson Hood, Ben Nichols, Cory Branan, Sturgill Simpson, Evan Felker, Justin Townes Earle, Joe Pug, and many, many more folks are keeping a real, sacred tradition alive. Writing, playing and singing good songs that matter. That will stand the test of time. That will not go in and out of style, but will always fit, because I truly believe that is what honest music does. It transcends time, trends and everything else.

...and last but not least, I am excited that I get to be a part of the solution, and not the problem.

Right on guys, right on.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

On the other end of the spectrum, Caleb Caudle posted this just a few days ago:

There is a lot of hate for pop country or modern country or whatever you want to call it. So much time is wasted hating it. I'd rather just spend my time listening to and spreading the word about stuff I like than tearing down something that is so far removed from my world.

As long as I've been alive there's been "pop country" or types of country music the purists didn't approve of, that even goes back to the 70's with George Jones who came out of the rockabilly scene and was considered "countrypolitian" along with folks like Charlie Rich. I'm not a fan of Florida Georgia Line either but are they any worse than Dolly and Kenny Rogers who were considered "crossover country" at the time?

[jr29]

On the other end of the spectrum, Caleb Caudle posted this just a few days ago:

There is a lot of hate for pop country or modern country or whatever you want to call it. So much time is wasted hating it. I'd rather just spend my time listening to and spreading the word about stuff I like than tearing down something that is so far removed from my world.

As long as I've been alive there's been "pop country" or types of country music the purists didn't approve of, that even goes back to the 70's with George Jones who came out of the rockabilly scene and was considered "countrypolitian" alks like Charlie Rich. I'm not a fan of Florida Georgia Line either but are they any worse than Dolly and Kenny Rogers who were considered "crossover country" at the time?

Countrypolitan songs were just better. There may be exceptions, but lots of those polished 70's songs were still good songs. That's the difference, to me at least.

[Tequila Cowboy]

I get what Caleb is saying and mostly agree. BJ just pointed out something that gnawed at him and I think it was fine. Let it out and let it go. The difference with Bro-Country compared to other pop is that it represents a certain backwards thinking dynamic of mysogony and ignorance. In those songs women are marginalized and drinking beer is elevated to high art. The fact that Jason Aldean didn't know who Hank Williams was is just a cherry on the shit sundae.

[beantownbubba]

I may just have to buy an American Aquarium album even if i never listen to it.

[Iowan]

On the other end of the spectrum, Caleb Caudle posted this just a few days ago:

There is a lot of hate for pop country or modern country or whatever you want to call it. So much time is wasted hating it. I'd rather just spend my time listening to and spreading the word about stuff I like than tearing down something that is so far removed from my world.

As long as I've been alive there's been "pop country" or types of country music the purists didn't approve of, that even goes back to the 70's with George Jones who came out of the rockabilly scene and was considered "countrypolitian" alks like Charlie Rich. I'm not a fan of Florida Georgia Line either but are they any worse than Dolly and Kenny Rogers who were considered "crossover country" at the time?

Countrypolitan songs were just better. There may be exceptions, but lots of those polished 70's songs were still good songs. That's the difference, to me at least.

Exactly. A lot of those folks who were covering good material too. Isn't there a super-slick version of "Pancho and Lefty" that was huge?

[Iowan]

I get what Caleb is saying and mostly agree. BJ just pointed out something that gnawed at him and I think it was fine. Let it out and let it go. The difference with Bro-Country compared to other pop is that it represents a certain backwards thinking dynamic of mysogony and ignorance. In those songs women are marginalized and drinking beer is elevated to high art. The fact that Jason Aldean didn't know who Hank Williams was is just a cherry on the shit sundae.

Definitely.

What's great about BJ's post is that was very honest, and lacking hypocrisy. He didn't deny his jealousy of another's success, and that takes some balls and a strong ability to be honest about one's self. Both qualities I respect immensely.

Then he goes on to speak positively and point out the artists he admires and wants to promote. Of course it doesn't hurt that basically all of them are 3DD darlings.

[backroads]

LOL, I come here to share this article and y'all already beat me to it!

http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/ameri ... d-for-them