Bobby Bare, Jr. could’ve phoned in a career. He could’ve exploited the fact that he’s the son of iconic Country Music Hall of Famer Bobby Bare, was born into Nashville‘s Music Row elite, and counted artists like Shel Silverstein as close family friends and George Jones and Tammy Wynette as next door neighbors. Instead, Bobby blazed a path of unique songwriting craftsmanship with a voice that blows through you like an unyielding wind on the desolate prairie. Undefeated is BBJ’s first release since 2010 and what he calls his “break-up record,” but the whole of it is much more involved: this isn’t escapism; it’s an emotional survival guide. Undefeated is ten songs of reality checks, clever wordplay, and daring arrangements, the aural companion to that buddy who pulls up a bar stool next to yours to help soak away your sorrows.
Bobby Bare, Jr. (https://www.bloodshotrecords.com/artist/bobby-bare-jr) will release his new album Undefeated on April 15 via Bloodshot Records (pre-order available here). This is his first record since 2010, and his first back with the label since 2006’s The Longest Meow.
Recently, Garden & Gun premiered the album’s lead download track, “The Big Time.” The tune is Southern rock ‘n’ roll reinterpreted through the lens of soulful pedaled bass, celebratory and punchy brass, and the façade of big-city talk (“You’re gonna miss me after I hit the big time/ Gonna get brand new famous friends.”) You can download the tune here (https://soundcloud.com/bshq/the-big-time-by-bobby-bare-jrs/s-PWWJg?in=bshq/sets/bobby-bare-jr-undefeated/s-PWWJg).
“The Big Time”:
Additionally, Wall Street Journal launched a full-album stream for Undefeated and you can listen to that here: http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/04/08/bobby-bare-jr-sorts-through-scary-stuff-on-undefeated-album-premiere/
Undefeated features the Hayes Carll co-written “My Baby Took My Baby Away”, and the backing efforts of the Young Criminals’ Starvation League, which includes Jordan Caress on bass/vocals, Doni Schroader (formerly of …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead) on drums, Van Campbell (Black Diamond Heavies) on drums, Matt Rowland on keys, Carey Kotsionis on background vocals, Richie Kirkpatrick on guitars/bass, David Vandervelde on guitars/bass, and Michael “Grimey” Grimes on bass.
In support of the new release, Bobby Bare, Jr. and the Young Criminals’ Starvation League will be going out on the road starting in April, including a run with Bloodshot label mate Cory Branan and a freshly announced June stretch with the pride of Ohio, Guided By Voices.
All Bobby Bare, Jr. tour dates:
