BARR show

Mike Newmark Arts Editor

Remember Les Claypool’s verses to “Pork Soda” in 1993? No? He sang in a gleefully deranged mutter about a sorry guy who buys a tasteless couch and whose girlfriend used to be a man. BARR (née Brendan Fowler) sounds a bit like that. He belts sing-songy, stream-of-consciousness lyrics like a schoolyard prankster, but his poetry is more measured than Les’s and his references are more contemporary, like magazines that discuss shoes and “larger problems” in the same issue. Oh, and, he’s invading Vassar on Saturday, Feb. 17, courtesy of WVKR. Prepare yourself.

Born in Berkeley, Calif. and residing in Los Angeles, Fowler benefited from sympathetic musical environments. He studied free jazz in school and admires solo performers like Will Oldham and Cat Power. Indeed, his music forges a strangely close connection between singer/songwriter independence (his songs might only contain vocals and a drum) and free jazz dynamism. Fowler describes his own music as political and idealistic, attempting to engage listeners in an internal dialogue about themselves and the world around them.

BARR’s first LP, Beyond Reinforced Jewel Case, was released on the fiercely independent 5RC label, home to lovable spazzes Deerhoof and Hella. His next effort, Summary, is due for release on Feb. 20. While Beyond Reinforced Jewel Case was largely the work of one man, Summary boasts longer songs and a full instrumental lineup, with whom he’ll perform at Vassar. In addition to songwriting, Fowler co-runs Los Angeles-based DoggPony Records and immerses himself in his local art scene; in 2006, he single-handedly curated a multimedia extravaganza at L.A.’s David Kordansky Gallery.

Opening for BARR is New York-based musician Marnie Stern. Her performances utilize her girlish vocals and guitar scrapes, plus prerecorded drum tracks and even more guitar uploaded from her iPod. Whoa.

BARR will be playing in the Main Building Multi-Purpose Room at 10 p.m. Oh yeah, and one more thing: If you’re wondering what BARR stands for, forget it. Fowler isn’t telling, or at least he isn’t telling us the right answer.