Since 1991 Tim Barry has fronted Richmond, Virginia’s Avail, serving as the American band’s singer, lyricist, and co-songwriter. Avail has developed a cult following by marrying the three-chord fury of punk and hardcore to Americana and classic rock hooks. Barry now (however) is going it alone.
“Dancing in the Dark Records from Germany will release Barry’s first solo disc, the Laurel Street Demo, a collection of eight acoustic guitar-driven songs recorded DIY-style in a home studio a couple of blocks from his house. Once again, Barry is forging his own path, trading Avail’s distorted guitars and concussive drumming for a low-fi blend of folk, old school country, and roots rock. Devoid of amplified power chords or high-dollar studio gloss, the tunes are pretty, raw, moody, and, at times, painfully intimate. As one reviewer for punknews.org site says, the disc ‘sounds like it could come from a dude on his porch with a couple beers and his dog.’”
From Woodie Guthrie to the Boss and from Steve Earle to Mellencamp, Barry simply calls it like he sees it. On the Laurel Street Demo Barry played guitar, piano, harmonica, organ, bass and drums in addition to singing so the spirit in the songs in undeniably his. Barry has since signed to Suburban Home Records and is planning record another album for them later this summer.
MP3 | Tim Barry – Idle Idylist Laurel Street Demo
MP3 | Tim Barry – Church Of Level Track Laurel Street Demo
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tim was selling the demo on the avail website awhile back. some of the songs are a little weak, but there are some definite hits. they sounded particularly lovely live in my basement two weeks ago. boo-yah.