The Red Wheelbarrow

The Red Wheelbarrow

Bobbo Byrnes

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"The Red Wheelbarrow offers another obvious example of Bobbo Byrnes’ astute ability to share optimism and possibility through songs that rock with both desire and determination." ~Lee Zimmerman

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Reviews

Reviews of The Red Wheelbarrow Here.

 

"Given his enthusiasm and determination to do what Williams suggested in the poem of the same name, The Red Wheelbarrow offers another obvious example of Bobbo Byrnes’ astute ability to share optimism and possibility through songs that rock with both desire and determination. His knowing attitude boasts infectious energy that surges from start to finish. Consider The Red Wheelbarrow an essential acquisition, and every one of Byrnes’ earlier efforts to be of similar standing as well. Whether the wider world recognizes it or not, he ought to be considered an essential Americana master."  Lee Zimmerman, The Daily Ripple (full review here)

 

"In addition to his solo work, Bobbo Byrnes is also active as a member of two other bands: "The Fallen Stars" and "Riddle & The Stars". But it is above all his excellent solo work with which he can count on international interest and that will only increase after the release of this new album "The Red Wheelbarrow". We hope that he will soon make the crossing to Europe to please the many fans of this popular music genre.

"Motel Americana" from 2017 and "Two Sides To This Town" from 2018 were the two previous solo records from the Californian singer-songwriter Bobbo Byrnes. On his third album 'The Red Wheelbarrow' he is bringing four carefully selected cover songs and six new self-penned compositions, all tracks are contributing excellent rock'n'roll and country rock songs to what might be called his very best record up to now. More to come, for sure! ”- www.rootstime.be

 

Me talking red wheelbarrows

I have a tattoo of a red wheelbarrow on my left arm and a lot of people ask me why.   

Well it all goes back to a poem by William Carlos Williams called The Red Wheelbarrow. I can't type in the sixteen words that make up the poem but it can be found here. It's a short but important poem that starts with "So much depends upon" and here's the thing - all he is doing is describing a scene but the scene doesn't exist until the poet says it exists and in that what he is actually saying is "All art depends upon". Because here's the thing - all art is dependent upon one thing and that is the actual doing of it. You'll always hear someone say things like "I could've written that" or "I could've painted that" but they didn't. Do your art, whatever it is and in the words of Andy Warhol - "Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art."  

That was the motivation behind my new cd. I went to Nashville, TN and in 5 hours Ken Coomer and I recorded 5 songs that became the framework for everything else. I've been a fan of Ken's since way before he was in Uncle Tupelo and Wilco and I knew we were going to keep it rocking and loose. Then I met up with my buds in New Hampshire and Morgan Keating, Jon Grant and Gary Young added some backing vocals to a couple songs and Will Walker played the Wurly piano and Hammond on a song. I got back to California and shockingly got Phil Manzanera to play guitar on my cover of Roxy Music's "Virginia Plain" and then Rami Jaffee put Hammond on four more songs. And then I thought - let's keep this loose and fun, I know what I sound like playing guitar but I know a bunch of great guitar players. What would it sound like if I got a bunch of my friends to join me and it sounds like way more fun. And that's how Travis King, Django Rowe and Tom Bremmer all played guitar on here.  

What about drummers you say?  Well Ken had already played on most of it but I couldn't forget Matt Froehlich so he's rocking on here as well and then Kyrie Anderson flew in from Australia and was staying with us and I had to record something with her.    

Tracy is of course on here playing bass and singing some as well. Her bass playing is what holds all my songs together. My friend Stacy Pendleton also makes an appearance on two songs, so that's different too!  

And there you go. It's so global, it's so right, it's rocking and fun. We learned the songs, we jammed them out and recorded them. Nearly everything is first or second takes and spontaneous. I've gotten so tired of hearing music that is structured and diced and sliced to perfection. People aren't perfect and music ain't supposed to be perfect either. This is rock and roll.   

Enjoy.