If anyone is in/near Buffalo, NY or Indianapolis, IN...

[flyershoe]

I posted about my friend's band in the "I hate it when" section on Monday... when I missed seeing her play when she opened for the Cult (yeah, that band that was popular in the 80's/early 90's).

Well, she's been asked to continue on with their tour for the next two stops!! They're playing Buffalo, NY tomorrow night and Indianapolis on Friday night. So if anyone is interested, you should go see the show. I thought of non-rev'ing to Indy on Friday, but I don't really have the time to do it. They're playing Margaritaville in Key West during the last two weeks of March, so I guess I'll just have to go down there to make up for it!

The Official Niki Barr Band Website

[spotty4]

Sounds like her band is getting some serious gigs!! Great exposure. Good luck to her band :-)

[flyershoe]

Originally Posted by spotty4

Sounds like her band is getting some serious gigs!! Great exposure. Good luck to her band :-)

Honestly, I don't know why she hasn't "made it" yet... they've opened for some big acts, played shows up and down most of the east coast, had showcases at the Viper Room in LA and Arlene's Grocery in NYC and she has traveled all over the world on a lot of AME (Armed Forces Entertainment, basically like USO) tours, I think she's done at least 5 tours for the troops.

If/when she does make it, I imagine that I'll wish she were still local.

[spotty4]

Is it a matter of just finding the "right" recording artist to make it big?

I've not listened to any tracks they might have on their website, but is their sound mainstream? Or a bit eclectic and different, which might keep them a little more out of the lime light?

[flyershoe]

Originally Posted by spotty4

Is it a matter of just finding the "right" recording artist to make it big?

I've not listened to any tracks they might have on their website, but is their sound mainstream? Or a bit eclectic and different, which might keep them a little more out of the lime light?

Ehh... well, in her own words from an interview:

"Our stuff is straight-ahead, mainstream rock 'n' roll," says Barr. "When I first started, we were chasing after the major labels because that's where everyone agreed my music should go. Even some of the independent labels we spoke with said I wasn't indie enough or weird enough."

For a time, Barr was being courted by some big labels, but corporate downsizing derailed that plan. "My label representative got laid off, and then there was a bunch of buy-outs and mergers," the musician laughs. Now the band is recording its new music and planning to do its own releases in the fall.




Her recorded music is great, but to really appreciate her, you have to see her live. She's an amazing performer... and she has some new songs that haven't made it onto a record yet that are my favorites. It's ironic that I'm such a big fan of hers. I always saw her as competition in high school.. we both did a lot of theater, she was a freshman when I was a senior, but I saw her as a big threat for lead competitions. We both got lead roles in the musical, so it worked out, lol. Anyway, I had a drunken heart to heart with her earlier this year that I felt threatened by her in school and come to find out, I was one of the people that she really looked up to in the drama club. I just admire her passion for what she does... she's worked hard and just loves playing music. I think that's awesome and wish that I had the drive to pursue something like that. One day I want to get back into theater, I really miss it.