BJ Barham (of American Aquarium) starts string of solo shows next week

The Old North State is tattooed on the bones of front man BJ Barham (of American Aquarium), who has never lived more than two hours from his hometown in Reidsville. But, more so, what better to represent an album about loss than a place built to save the lives of shipwrecked mariners and passengers? Song as a sort of salvation is something Barham hopes his latest album Chicamacomico can do for the band’s established and growing fanbase. Sometimes when we’re drowning, music keeps us afloat.

Anywhere off Hatteras Island, Chicamacomico sounds made up, like some wine-drunk incantation or maybe a tongue twister—try to sayit ten times fast. But as a former life-saving station built in 1874 on the Outer Banksof North Carolina, the name is perhaps the perfect metaphor and title for American Aquarium’s ninth studio album.

Few songwriters swing the hammer as hard and precise as Barham and it is a testament to the humility and trust of his bandmates that they take the back seat and allow his storytelling to drive us home. With a heavy tour the rest of the year and a backlist of brass-knuckled bangers, each will surely have their fair share of time at the wheel. But as for this record, be thankful for the subtlety, for the stillness and for the quiet. For ten songs, Chicamacomico will hold your head above water.

BJ Barham will be over for a select string of solo shows starting at the end of this month:

27/02: Dublin, IRL - Workmans Cellar
28/02: London, UK - St Pancras Old Church
29/02: London, UK - St Pancras Old Church
02/03: Amsterdam, NL - Tolhuistuin
03/03: Stockholm, SWE - Twang