Beatles, Julian Cope, Faust, Incredible String Band, Eno, Bowie, Robyn Hitchcock, XTC, Ivor Cutler, Bob Dylan, Gary Numan, Os Mutantes, the Wicker Man, Monty Python, Kate Bush, Amon Duul II, Philip K. Dick, Joan Armatrading, Roy Harper, Jean-Luc Godard, Jean-Luc Picard, Jan Svankmajer, the Mutton Birds, the Bevis Frond, the Loud Family
"Anton Barbeau represents the Sacramento chapter of that nameless coterie of enduringly reliable, acid-tinged singer-songwriters that includes XTC's Andy Partridge, Robyn Hitchcock, Julian Cope and the Bevis Frond's Nick Saloman. His new album bathes beautifully constructed, thoughtfully arranged songs in a fading psychedelic sunshine, and it would be many casual consumers' album of the year if only they got to hear it. Four stars."
-Stewart Lee, Sunday Times
"Prolific, pretentious, precocious, intelligent, quirky, nasal, amusing, annoying to some, pop genius to others, and never ever boring -- this, my friends, is the cumulative description of northern California's musical auteur Anton Barbeau."
-PopMatters
"The man in question is Anton Barbeau, cult hero and left-field maverick from Sacramento, California. Mind you, calling him a 'singer/songwriter' is a bit like calling Jimi Hendrix a 'strummer.' His songs are fervid, swarming, tangential and often humorous, but possessed of a compelling inner logic."
-Dorset Echo
"He's a bit of a genius and I think we need to adopt him as one of our own. This is brilliant music." -BBC Radio, Oxford
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ANTON BARBEAU
With but a few years remaining until 2012, Anton Barbeau has been busier than ever, spreading his "pre-apocalyptic psychedelic pop" far and wide. California-born, but currently residing in Cambridge, England, Barbeau has toured the UK from tip to tail, and has confused and amused audiences from Istanbul to Berlin with his mind-bending stage-show and auto-neurotic humour. He's supported a crazy range of other artists, from Martin Carthy to Mono, Robyn Hitchcock to Robin Williamson, and is as awkwardly comfy in a smoke-and-feedback drenched village farmhouse as he is in a Paris piano bar.
As a songwriter/recording artist, Barbeau is remarkably prolific. His 2009 release, Plastic Guitar, is his 6th since 2006, and features a variety of styles, from 60's-vibed classic pop to laptop bleep-bop and electro-kraut grooves. While Barbeau's previous album, The Automatic Door, took the dark themes of global warming, fundamentalism and romantic breakdown and painted them in bright colours with sunny harmonies and folky pop backing, the songs on Plastic Guitar lay bare our hero's anxieties. The album is rich with guest appearances, Kimberley Rew of the Soft Boys, Gabe and Greg from CAKE, Woodstock legend Barry "the Fish" Melton and the lads from Stornoway all contributing to the mix.
Barbeau has collaborated with the Bevis Frond on King of Missouri and with the Loud Family on What If It Works? Sharron Kraus, Oxford's queen of dark-folk appears on Anton's psychedelic masterwork, In The Village Of The Apple Sun, an album Harp magazine called "Barbeau's Sgt. Pepper," and which ended up on USA Today's "Best of 2007" list.
Bringing it all back home, in Sacramento, a 23-hour Anton-a-thon was held in his honor with over 20 performers covering Anton songs, and the sleep-deprived star performing sets with members of his various backing bands. An unusual scene - but perhaps not for a man whose two first gigs were as a teenage magician and as Jesus in the school play
Barbeau is beginning work on his next album, The Psychedelic Mynde Of Moses and has finished writing/producing Bag of Kittens, the debut disk for California gal Allyson Seconds. All this while he continues relentlessly touring tea shops and stone circles in the UK. Oh, and yes, Adrienne Barbeau IS his cousin!
Beautiful tunes/lyrics Anton! (Guru 7) The "leather face on a wooden head with an elephant's beak" was especially nearly pertinent, as my father is an elephant who had to carve himself a wooden beak to cover the stigma of having a small trunk - but that was when he was 48 in the year 9 (when people were far less tolerant). I'm sure you don't need any luck, as you certainly know your stuff. Cheers anyway.
Hey, just to let you know we have uploaded tracks from Ali's new solo album Flying High to his myspace, come by and let us know what you think or if you want to pre order you can get it on his myspace page.
Ali will be on tour in the UK from June 19th – July 4th come and see him and his new band live – they are tearing it up, round the country with a great party vibe!
Big Love Ali's Team x
If ya got some time on your hands, have a listen to the reunion jam recordings of the original line-up of Tea For The Wicked. Bear in mind that the band havn;t played together for 2 years but ...well...wow.
Please help Rosaldo, a 6 month baby who needs a heart transplant, thanks for being human, I know you can understand how terrible a situation like that could be. More info at http://www.myspace.com/SOS_HEART Rosaldo, 6 month beautiful baby, a friend of mine's nephew needs help for a heart transplant, please visit the page on myspace for info and details... Rosaldo, questo bellissimo bambino di 6 mesi, nipote di una mia amica ha bisogno di aiuti per urgente trapianto di cuore, visitate la pagina su myspace per dettagli e informazioni Rosaldo,este guapìsimo nino de 6 meses necesita de ayuda para un transplante de corazòn, para informaciones y detalles visiten la pagina en myspace FATE GIRARE, SEND TO YOUR FRIENDS, ENVIEN A SUS AMIGOS... GRAZIE
I think I forgot to tell you I bought a moped. Tell me about the Geman shows when you have the time. Ralf said he was going to the Reeperbahn show, I should have told him to say hello. E
The Green Room: The College Musical A new backstage musical illustrating the journey of four best friends in college determined to make it out of the Green Room and onto the Broadway Stage.
Lyrics and music by Chuck Pelletier Book by C. Stephen Foster and Rod Damer
Directed by Kevin Caravalho Choreography by Gino Platino
Featuring the Songwriter’s Guild of America’s Award-Winning song “It’s All About Me”
Good day to you i hope this finds you well and you are doing fine. i am delighted to now finally be able to offer online downloads of my productions. i hope you enjoy at least the pre- listening ;-) all the best, :D
click below for downloading the professional mastered tracks in full CD quality (select the wav option)
Thanking you for your comment interest. I have old friend who like Anton Barbeau music since old days. So I know these songs from long time. Please concert in America!