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WXPN's Free At Noon: Freelance Whales and Danny Barnes

Presented by WXPN at World Cafe Live - Philadelphia

January 22, 2010

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Freelance Whales' gleeful experimental dream-pop is rapidly dancing it's way along the streets and throughout the blogosphere. Often spotted playing on sidewalks, train stations, and humble New York City venues, the quintet brings their incredibly warming energy to the amusement and often awe of the public.

Lugging around a strange and intriguing arrangement of instruments including the harmonium, banjo, glockenspiel, guitars, bass, drums, and the waterphone, Freelance Whales immediately take on a curiously quirky and fun appearance. But what isn't readily expected is their lush layers of texture, powerful rhythmic tension and a keen sense of melody. For a predominantly acoustic set, their sound is boldly accentuated by group chanting and careful arrangements.

Their debut album Weathervanes is a testament to their solid live performances. It's sentimental and heart-warming neo-pop-folk style can be likened to artists such as Sufjan Stevens, Le Loup and Ra Ra Riot, but with a dreamy sentimental quality of their own.

Perhaps you've heard of Danny Barnes from his early work with the Bad Livers, an Austin-based Americana group, or with folkTronics, an experimental digi-tech project. Or maybe you've seen him play with top acts such as Bela Fleck, Dead Kennedys, Yonder Mountain String band or Government Mule. No matter what style he's playing his banjo to, his offbeat character always comes through. Regarded as one of the most adventurous genre-bending artists, Barnes' has played everything from traditional bluegrass and country to more idiosyncratic forms of rock, electronic jazz and fusion. Though he hardly considers himself a virtuoso, most agree that he possesses a talent far greater than most, particularly when it comes to writing songs.

Barnes' energetically jovial enthusiasm has kept him experimenting with various musical ideas over his long musical career. A master of the banjo and then pen, he creates a mixture of enthralling musical landscapes topped with carefully written American tales. He is someone who is never bored with his work and it shows. His latest effort, Pizza Box never produces a yawn, as it is both fun and perplexing. Another one of his genre benders, the album unfolds dramatic stories with "weird-pop" melodies leading friend and fan Dave Matthews to label it as "smart and soulful... the lyrics are profound."