The past year has been something of a comeback for The Barr Brothers, who have long been one of the most underrated bands of the indie folk scene. Late last year, the Brothers released Let It Hiss, their first studio album since 2017 and a collection of songs that come from a place of mental and musical clarity (READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH BRAD BARR). Following a handful of recent dates opening for Mumford and Sons, the Brothers and their talented bandmates are on the road for a headlining tour. On Tuesday, March 24th, they played the first of two shows at Portland, Oregon’s Mississippi Studios.
With a sold-out crowd packed into the relatively intimate Mississippi Studios, the band hit the stage shortly after nine and launched straight into “Take It From Me,” the opening track off Let It Hiss that, in the live setting, carried the sunny hum of Harry Nilsson enhanced by Eveline Gregoire-Rousseau’s dreamy orchestral harp. Brad Barr led the charge on the harmonica-laden folk of “Another Tangerine” while “Naturally” showcased his slow-building piano foundation to give it a real 70s rock crooner sound. Songs from Let It Hiss made up a large portion of the set, but the band also mixed in older favorites like the dark and moody “Look Before It Changes” with its delicately haunting acoustics and harmonies that lingered like the finish on a fine wine before veering into a briefly intense jam. “Even The Darkness Has Arms” was another older tune that swept up the audience with its gorgeously soft vocals and intricate bass-guitar interplay that felt warm, playful, and emotionally deep. That, in a nutshell, sums up the magic of seeing The Barr Brothers perform live. “Let It Hiss” burst forth with rollicking energy and bouncy psychedelia, while “Run Right Into It” was a standout with its lively, euphoric tone and full-band energy that may have been topped by Andrew Barr’s impressively complex drum solo.
Accentuated by thick clouds of fog and naked lamps that gave the stage a warm glow, the band continued their momentum into the last stretch of the set. Some of the heaviest rocking of the night came during “Kompromat,” while “Burn Card” was steeped in theatrical drama, with Brad and Andrew slowly pulling at strings to set up a distortion-soaked solo before their harmonizing, and the harp offering dreamy, romantic sonic textures. They continued this in-the-round campfire vibe during their cover of Benjamin Lazar Davis’ “What If I,” with the whole band singing in a half-circle around a single microphone.
Coming in at around two hours, the band encored with an especially potent “Lean On Me” that started slow and trippy before handing over the vocals to the audience. It was this kind of communal spirit that has long been a hallmark of Barr Brothers shows, and their performance in Portland made it clear that even with their time apart, their musical bonds are stronger than ever.
All photos by Greg Homolka
