Reckless Barb – Thanks for Asking!

Reckless Barb – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: What was the very first reaction to your music, from the first person to ever hear so much as a practice jam or the demo of your first song?

RB: On this upcoming album, Now I Am My Life, it was way back in 2019 when I first made Splash 1: Out Of The Water (the opening track). I sent it to some friends with my first mix on it. Tom Messina, the lead guitar player on the track, had absolutely ripping solos flowing around sonically, and people seemed to gravitate to that in a natural and positive way. I knew the mix wasn’t super clean or complete, but the general reaction was – Trippy Man!

RRX: “The best laid plans of mice and men…” I don’t really know the quote, but I know this one; sh*t happens. When we least expect it, calamity befalls us. Sometimes just comic inconvenience. Please tell us a story about some comic inconvenience that happened to you whilst performing?

RB: This past summer, I was playing a solo set at Indian Ladder Farms. I had almost sliced off the tip of my middle finger 2 weeks before, and was still in a lot of pain. I was filling in time for the
day and hadn’t expected to be there. After the first couple songs, I paused and flipped everyone off. It just felt so silly to be performing with a giant splint forcing my middle finger up.
It was a moment that I could simply laugh at my predicament in disbelief that I had almost cut my finger off and was still singing my heart out.

RRX: My singer punched my drummer out. Memorable moment, though nothing to brag about. But we have these things that, when summing up your endeavor, an incident comes to mind. What do you got?

RB: Oasis Cafe in New Paltz. I traveled to the gig, only to find out there was no PA. I was the front man at the time, so I ended up cutting the bottom out of a plastic cup and belted out my lyrics as hard as possible. It was embarrassing but fit the vibe enough. Oh – last year we were playing outside at 518 Craft in Troy. A lady was at the monument, seemingly not doing well and started
barking at dogs as they walked by. Memorable from my angle. I used to lick my drummer’s face when I was in college, and then proceed to roll around the floor making gargling noises
while the instruments ripped. Band fights tho, I’m lucky to not have those in my orbit. With the latest Reckless Barb experiences, I was featured at Alchemy Wellness in Schenectady. I really sang my heart out that night, just me and the acoustic. It was really special when someone, unexpectedly, resonated so much with the words I was saying. It felt like that was all I ever really wanted with these tunes – to connect on a deeply emotional plane with strangers. Something about being human or something.

RRX: We have to play somewhere, and sometimes those places have more going for them than a stage and a power outlet. What is a memorable place you played, and bonus points if it’s not a well-known place.

RB: I most recently played drums at Ghost Hit Recording Studio – an old church in West Springfield, Massachusetts. That was with a Psychedelic trio I play with called Daydream Fountain. Very
epic and beautiful. I really enjoy the intimacy of poetry/acoustic music at Paper Moon in Troy and regularly participate there. Mojos Cafe in Troy is an absolute highlight. We did the first full band Reckless Barb show there. The sound was amazing, and there was fantastic lights as well! Impressive on all fronts, and we packed the house that night. Shoutout Mojos. And shoutout the Reckless Barb band! Next show is 11/28 at Indian Ladder Farms.

You never know how it will go with my loose music, but man the guys I’m playing with are so good and bring the songs to life. My album, Now I Am My Life, comes out on 11/02 on all platforms of listening – I’d love for you to hear it! A psychedelic pop odyssey about existence, told through the lens of a fish jumping out of water. What could that mean?! A consciousmoment, I look forward to you hearing it with fresh ears.

RRX: Playing out is tricky because you never know what’s going to happen when you get there. Sometimes everything goes wrong. What was your worst show like?

RB: I was setting up for my first show as Reckless Barb. It was to be short, just me and the electric guitar. I thought I could use backing tracks, but hadn’t adequately prepared. It’s ok, I learned
quickly what not to do. The guitar amp was behind the PA and the feedback was crazy and the backing tracks weren’t loud enough. I ended up just playing electric guitar too quietly and singing but the PA was too low. It was the break out I needed though. Let everything go wrong on the first Reckless Barb show and improve next time.

RRX: Would you rather have one of your songs blow up and make you a one-hit wonder and household name, or would you rather have all your songs be solidly received, but no
chart-climbers? (You have to pick one or the other here.)

RB: My debut album, Now I Am My Life, is made to be enjoyed best front to back. The whole album viewed as a singular body of work. Songs do stand on their own, but I think it would feel better to know that the album was really resonating with people. As long as both options allowed me to keep making music freely and to the highest degree that I can, then I’d choose the all songs solidly received route. However, if becoming a household name with a hit was the gateway to greater creative freedom, then that’s it. But not fame for the sake of fame. I used to think that was cool. Now I feel like you might have to sacrifice too much authenticity for that. And I’m not
willing to make that compromise.

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