photo by Randy Baranosky
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Morning Show host John Richards, is Yesmen and Bumsuckers
by We Barbarians from the 2008 self-released EP In the Doldrums.
After the demise of this trio’s former band, The Colour, they received a little help from their friends. Those friends were Nathan Willett and Matt Maust of Cold War Kids and their help came in the form of connections and a small kick in the butt. Several months later, We Barbarians release a debut EP as though they’d been planning it for years. While The Colour leaned toward classic rock, We Barbarians are the everyman’s post-punk. These guys succeed by not trying to sound bigger than they are, and their songs’ oft-simplicity make them immediate classics. Davey Quon’s (guitar/vocals) delivery, slightly rough and always anthemic, conjures images of Bono — not in sound but in delivery. Like most well remembered frontmen, he gives the words life. The band only pressed 500 copies of the EP, but according to their MySpace page a limited edition 12″ vinyl version is coming out later this month, which will include 2 remixes (1 is on their MySpace now). After a very successful tour with Cold War Kids, We Barbarians are soon heading out with Tokyo Police Club and stopping at Neumos 5/18. While no substantial videos are yet circling the ‘Tube for We Barbarians, here’s a clip of The Colour performing “Our Children Were the Stars” from 2006:
