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Colorado Country. That’s the sound The Barlow has been making since 2017, combining Red Dirt, Americana, outlaw country and guitar-heavy Southern rock into songs that are as rugged as the band’s Denver home. Two years after releasing their self-titled debut album, bandmates Shea Boynton, Ben Richter, Brad Johnson, and Troy Scoope are back with 2021’s Horseshoe Lounge. Produced by The Barlow and featuring guest appearances by members of Mike and the Moonpies— whose front man Mike Harmeier contributes vocals on the album-closing track “Part of the Band” and whose pedal steel guitarist, Zachary Moulton, plays throughout the record Horseshoe Lounge is the sound of a band mid-stride, confidently walking down its own lane.
The new album also shines a light on the chemistry generated by a touring schedule that’s kept The Barlow on the road, playing shows throughout West Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Wyoming, and the band’s native Colorado. Along the way the group has shared the stage with Mike and the Moonpies, Sunny Sweeney, Ward Davis, The Steel Woods and other acts who, like The Barlow, straddle the line between classic and modern country.
We get to sit with the band to talk about their new single and more insight into their new album!
Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been, are you surviving the pandemic?
The pandemic has allowed us to focus on writing and put out the best record we can. No reason to get wrapped around the axle about the pandemic, rather figure out a way to grow and create.
Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Before You Know”?
I (Shea Boynton) was in a rollover car accident while coming home from a pheasant hunt. It took a long time to recover and a lot of physical therapy. This song is about that experience and how quickly life can change.
How was the songwriting process and experience behind this track? Was it a group effort or did Shea bring it to the group already completed?
Typically, I show up with the bones to the song i.e. verses, chorus, bridge etc. and we collectively structure and arrange the song.
The single comes off your new album Horseshoe Lounge – what’s the story behind the title?
I work in the oilfields and spent a lot of time in North Dakota and it’s a bar I frequented. I started writing the song ‘Horseshoe Lounge’ as a tale about being young and free and approaching your elder years the same way.
How was the recording and writing process? I see Mike and the Moonpies played a part in the album?
The recording process took place at three different studios. We played with The Moonpies back in ’19 and they were really cool to us. We had a steel player with us for a while and he left shortly after we started the album so I reached out to Zachary Moulton (Mike and the Moonpies) to help. He thankfully obliged and we had the idea of including Mike Harmeier on the last track ‘Part of the Band’. We reached out and he dug the song and ended up taking a verse!
What role does Colorado play in your music?
I’m originally from Maine but have been here since I was a kid. It’s home. All of us went to the same high school and graduated around the same time. Fortunately, we’re not a band who’s all business. We bbq, celebrate our kid’s birthdays together, and give each other a hard time as much as possible…
What aspect of your own personal lives did you get to explore on this record?
The album is really a mix of personal experiences and narrative stories. Over the last few years I’ve tried to explore narrative songwriting over personal experience as that well tends to run dry on me.
Where else did you find the inspiration for the songs and lyrics?
Personal experience, books, and stories I made up.
What else is happening next in The Barlow’s world?
Right now we’re focused on rehearsing for the livestream album release on 2.19.21 on Evergroove Studio’s Facebook and booking what shows we can this year.
