Milwaukee music fans most likely know John Barrett as the drummer of reggae-inspired band In Black ‘n White and Bob Mitnacht and the Crowning Glories. But he's also done some gigs as a singer/songwriter soloist and for that part of his resume, the drummer makes no apologies.
Actually, he made the CD called "No Apologies," released earlier this year on his own Lavish Means Records imprint. The disc is his fourth as a solo performer. He issued two in the late ‘90s and "Something's Gonna Break" was released in 2007.
Barrett says while others are sometimes surprised about his dual musical personality, it feels right to him.
"It's been interesting being a drummer in a couple of semi-popular Milwaukee bands while doing my singer / songwriter gig," he says. "Going from an unknown drummer -- I have a couple of great stories where I've had to plead with security to let me in to shows where I am performing! -- to the classic singer / songwriter front person is a quite a switch.
"I love both roles as I am a songwriter and drummer at heart."
The six songs on "No Apologies" -- recorded at Racine's Wind Lake Studios -- show Barrett's influences rooted firmly in Midwestern heartland and roots rock, with a dose of blues.
"Don't Make Me Up" is folky in feel and the opener, "The Best Thing," almost cries out to Springsteen fans and there's a Tom Petty feel to "I'm Gonna Go."
Surprisingly, perhaps, for a drummer's solo record, "I Want This" features a low-fi drum machine.
"The song really needed the cold rhythmic pulse of a drum machine," Barrett says."For this song in particular where I write about trying to satisfy someone else's goals, the drum machine also provided a sub-plot -- especially from a drummer's perspective -- that added to the complexity of the song."
The song drawing the most buzz, however, is "You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry," which Barrett says is his most downloaded track.
"(It) seems to have a life of its own," he muses.
Barrett says that the new record has a rawer, edgier feel to them than on his previous efforts. And that sound -- and spirit -- is where the title of the disc comes from.
"The songs on this CD have more of an edge to them," he has said. "I've also taken more risks from an artist's perspective than any other effort I've done. When I see an act that I like, it is usually because of two things: energy and attitude. It doesn't matter if it is rock, R&B or some sort of experimental music, if the artist is stepping out, I am loving it.
"With ‘No Apologies,' I really captured that in my performances. I also wanted to extend myself as an artist and a songwriter. I gave myself the freedom to try new things, write about different subjects and stretch further than I have in the past. It really puts you out there -- I wasn't interested in putting out a safe CD."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
