Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

September 27, 2023 7:55 pm

New LIVE Recordings!

Author: ericbarr

It’s been a long and busy summer and the band and I have been busy playing the outdoor summer party circuit. I didn’t record much this summer, but on our last gig I decided to record it at the last second. In fact, I missed the first couple of songs. I am pulling tracks from this recording and intend to post several tunes here. This is the first installment. Two cover tunes, Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”, and Clapton’s I’m Tore Down. Get all the details on the VIDEOS page, like how an acoustic guitar can sound like this..

Eric Barr & The Jammers LIVE – Mary Jane’s Last Dance
Eric Barr & The Jammers LIVE – Tore Down
September 3, 2022 6:04 pm

Down By The River Music Video

Author: ericbarr

After 20 years, I finally made a proper video for one of the first songs I ever wrote and recorded. The recording is all original tracks, recorded back in 2002. They have been remixed and remastered, and packaged with the technology and equipment (and experience) I have today. From the first recording I wanted to put strings on the end of this tune. In this new mix I had the ability, so I did just that. That is the only difference in instruments/tracks from the original OFFICIAL release in 2004. I take pride that no auto-tune or artificial vocal harmony creators were used. The vocals and harmonies are all genuine. This is a solo effort start to finish. Everything you see and hear, I created from scratch. I take full responsibility for the content.

For the full details and story behind this song, check out my VIDEO PAGE.

A lot of time and effort was put into this music production. If you like it and enjoy the music, consider donating to my tip jar. Tips help me continue creating new music and videos, and helps me keep this site up. Any gift is GREATLY appreciated. Thank-You!

Eric Barr & The Jammers performing the Steve Earl hit “Copperhead Road” at Greg Alderson’s Stone Bluff Party on July 16th, 2022.

Eric Barr and The Jammers performing at Greg Alderson’s yearly bash outside of Stone Bluff, IN on Saturday, July 16th, 2022. The Jammers (Eric Barr, Billy Sloan, and Gene Powell) perform the Steven Earl song, Copperhead Road.

The song itself is actually the first song I ever played all the way through on stage way back in the early 90’s at an open stage. It has become one of my most requested songs, whether solo or with the band. The Jammers play our version of the cult classic country rock foot-stomper in this genuine Hoosier back-country production. No fancy effects, no glitz and glimmer, just three guys doing what it is they love to do. Jammers Be Jammin’.

No claim for copyright on the music or lyrics, as this is a cover tune written by Steven Earl. Any ads shown by YouTube are solely and properly for the benefit of the author. This recording and video, however, are ©2022 Eric Barr.

When the weather goes bad..

This was an awesome party, as usual. Greg puts on a great shindig and the folks there are always a lot of fun! Plus we get to see some old friends there. The Jammers and I had a really tight show, playing through new main speakers and monitors that put our sound on another level. There is a certain satisfaction when the sound is just right and everything is working so well, it’s hard to stop playing. We knew storms were predicted that night but figured we had time to finish the show and pack up before they were supposed to hit. We had no idea how quickly things would get out of hand.

We finished up with a powerful lightning show inbound from the horizon. And shortly after we started packing our equipment the first sprinkles started. It’s okay, we have dealt with rain a LOT, doing as many outdoor parties as we do. (Just the night before, as a matter of fact.) We know what needs packed the quickest and usually get ‘er done. We were under 2 canopy’s; a 12×12 for Gene and I and the mains and soundboard, and Billy was under a 10×10 attached behind us. Even in a steady normal rain, we have been able to pack up in the past. But in an instant the rain went from a sprinkle to what we used to call a “microburst”. So much water coming down you cant see past arms length. The small part of the funnel of a strong, humidity-fueled storm was suddenly parked right over us.. Not a good situation. I was sitting putting my floor gear into the case when I noticed the water bulging in the canopy. As I was standing up to push it out, the entire canopy collapsed on me and pinned me to the huge sub speaker cabinet, with the frame of the canopy stabbing my back. The weight of the water in the tarp saddled on either side of me was pinning me down where I couldn’t get up. I was having difficulty even drawing in a breath. As I flailed my arms and elbows to try to push out the water from the tarp on either side of me, I was able to dump enough to lighten it enough to use my legs and finally push myself up and get a breath. I could hear Billy yelling for me and soon somebody appeared under the tarp and asked if I was ok. I just asked him to get the electronics and get them to cover, I would support the tarp for him. Somewhere in this we lost power to the lights (thank God, there were power cords on the now-soaked ground..), so now we were in the dark with only flashlights. The rain lasted 10 to 15 minutes and then slowed back to a gentle rain. We got our equipment secured and safe for the night thanks to some pretty awesome folks who risked their safety as well, and dove in to help us.

Billy came and got the bulk of the equipment the following day. It took days of drying and cleaning and fans blowing at Billy’s, but at the end of the day we lost only one tent and one DI/effects unit. And thanks to the AMAZING folks at Sweetwater Music the DI unit was replaced and shipped in time for our next show. A pretty scary experience for us all. I didn’t see what happened with Billy or Gene in those sketchy moments, but suffice to say, we were all being watched over by some pretty amazing angels that night.

Dug Batterson Project – Down The Road – ©2002-2022 Eric Barr

The Dug Batterson Project was a 4-piece band from West-Central Indiana consisting of Eric Barr, Chris Smith, Jeff Snell, and Travis Bernarte. They formed in 2001 and ultimately retired the name in 2010 when drummer Travis Bernarte passed away from a long battle with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

This track, “Down The Road”, was recorded in the Spring of 2002. It was recorded in Eric Barr’s home studio. Written by Eric and brought to life with the magic, blazing guitar work of Chris Smith, along with Jeff’s inspired bass runs and the relaxed percussive riffs from Travis.

The track is more like a rock opera album track. It opens up with Chis showing off his huge computer-operated music machine to Jeff and I. It goes through the regular song and at the end, it becomes this fluid, trippy, surreal journey that deposits you right back into the banging’ groove with a giggle. Some of the greatest, most inspired guitar riffing I ever had the pleasure to witness. It’s still some of my favorite guitar work of all time.

The recording process was tedious at best. Recorded on an old Mac Cube computer. We only had one stereo input track, so I made some dummy base tracks to play along to and we built the song one track at a time. The most difficult part was recording Travis’ drums. He was on the other side of the house and had mic’d his kit into a 12 channel mixer. We ran cables to get a send to him to monitor and play along with, then a return which brought his stereo mix back to the computer.

At the end of the process I had half a dozen guitar tracks, half a dozen Special FX tracks, vocals, bass and drums. My mixing skills were not up to the task of getting a decent mix back then. I had a horrible time with the drums. I got frustrated with it, and beyond a rough mix I gave to the guys and maybe a few friends, the track sat.

Fast forward to early 2022. I find the tracks while going through old hard drives. I had thought they were lost. I was able to mix them with my current software and enhance the drum tracks to a usable level. This is the result.

Alias Smith & Jones was an old TV show from the early 70’s. It literally has nothing with this band. Well. One name, maybe. “Smith”. The group was a loose conglomeration of talented jammers barreling down the tracks, putting forth some old Biker-Rock and Blues, with some very tasty originals thrown in to make it personal. I was asked to join the group in 1999. My musical resume back then was open stages and camp fire parties.. This was my first actual gigging band I was ever in.

Alias Smith & Jones live at Crash McClain’s Pub in Crawfordsville, IN on January 9th, 1999. Onstage L to R Chris Smith, Jay West, JC Clendening, Eric Barr, and Chad Clendening playing congas.

This video was recorded on January 9th, 1999 at a bowling alley lounge called Crash McClain’s Pub in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Performing that night were (onstage L to R) Chris Smith, Jay West, JC Clendening, Chad Clendening on the congas, and myself, Eric Barr. It was at this very venue on Open Stage night that JC asked me to be a part of his band. I was very new to the scene, having only performed at area Open Stages for a few years. This was literally the first paid public “gig” I ever did. So, a very special memory. Unrehearsed and raw, it is like a herd of stallions racing to the end of the gig. I learned a lot that night. Mostly what NOT to do.. So here it is, a gig JC called “And Then There Were Five”. We have no claims to any copyrighted material presented. This video is presented solely for historical nostalgia from an old cover band. A nice flashback for a few folks. This video was recorded on an old VHS camcorder. Audio is from the camcorder, so sound quality is horrendous at best. The tape runs out in the middle of a song, and that’s all we have.

So enjoy a flashback from over 20 years ago. Lots of folks from the local scene passing by that camera. I saw a lot of old familiar folks, and it was great reminiscing. Enjoy, and Rock ON!

Read the AS&J short bio from JC Clendening on the AS&J Page.

January 29, 2022 6:03 am

Dear Sister

Author: ericbarr
Dear Sister – Eric Barr ft. Amber Morris

Seems like for such a short way into it, we’ve had some tremendous loss already in 2022. It has inspired me to turn to my music. I’ve been quietly toiling away in my studio the last few months and finally got this tune in the ball park. It is a subject-appropriate track called “Dear Sister”. It is a tune I wrote in 2006 about death from the POV of the deceased. Dear Sister is intended to be an inspirational song written to comfort those left behind.

Dear Sister features an amazing vocal performance from the very talented Miss Amber Morris. Amber had worked with my band EB & Group Therapy, and had also come in to open stages I hosted. She came up and sang it when I would do my acoustic version. She amazed me with what she added. When I decided to finally record this tune a few years later, I asked Amber to record her part as well. It just would not be the same tune without that powerful element. The rest is just me in a studio, I did all instruments and incidental vocals. So I take full responsibility for the track, love it or hate it. This is actually a pre-release of this track. I intend to make a full music video of this tune with the final mix later this Spring. So it is what it is.. Enjoy some West Central Hoosier original music, and thanks for listening.

December 19, 2021 11:51 pm

Happy Christmas (War is Over)

Author: ericbarr

The last year has been a rough one for my family. I lost my Mom, Sherry, and my wife Megan O’Donnell Barr just months apart. It’s not been easy to be festive. My Dad, Frank Barr, is the real Santa Claus in my view, and he lost his life-long soul mate when Mom passed. It has taken its toll. This is my attempt to help cheer him up and return the gift of giving he has always demonstrated. Christmas was always a very special, magical time of year in the family mansion. The hundreds of foster children who woke up over the years on Christmas morning to a room full of presents under the tree (some for the first time ever) and more importantly LOVE in the hearts around them, was magical. Christmas Music has always been so soothing to Dad. One of his favorite songs is “Happy Christmas” from John Lennon. Mom always asked me to play this on Christmas Eve at the huge family/friends gathering my they hosted every year. Mom and Dad both loved it when I would sit and play it for everyone. This year I decided, to help us both get back in the spirit, I would record his favorite song in front of the family tree. I was fortunate to have a friend and talented vocalist, Melissa Bradley, help me make this video for my family, adding the dimension that is hard for me to accomplish on my own. I wanted it to be very special for him. Thanks and props to Miss Bradley! So here is Lennon’s “Happy Christmas” done Hoosier home-style. I hope it brings joy to all in this season. And indeed, Happy Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!

November 5, 2020 1:45 am

Clear the Air

Author: ericbarr

Uploading a “test” file. I made a music video to test production steps and equipment. Wasn’t really meant for release, but for the raw, live acoustic original music lovers this will be a small treat.

Eric Barr – Clear the Air