Song of the Day: The Barr Brothers - Half Crazy

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 song, selected by Midday Show host Cheryl Waters, is "Half Crazy" by The Barr Brothers from the 2014 album Sleeping Operator on Secret City Records.

The Barr Brothers - Half Crazy (MP3)

Considering how many times we've featured and recorded them, it might seem like we've been stalking The Barr Brothers. In the three years since the release of their self-titled debut, we've managed to record the Montreal band five times, in three different states and two continents – from Seattle, to Austin, to Happy Valley, Oregon (twice!)... to Iceland! Naturally, we're excited about the release of The Barr Brothers’ sophomore LP, Sleeping Operator (out October 7 on Secret City Records), so much so that we've already premiered their first single, "Even The Darkness Has Arms", back in June. Complementing the lush folk pop of that song, they've since made available the second single, the album's showcase scorcher, "Half Crazy". It's a fiery blend of the band's ongoing influences, which, as singer/guitarist Brad Barr says, "could be described as the tenacious offspring of the North African desert music of Mali/Morocco and the sweat and electricity of the Chicago and Mississippi Delta blues". Throughout, Andrew Barr's percussive polyrhythms wind joyously around Brad's wiry lap steel, while Andres Vial's electric bass pulses to Sarah Page's typically lilting harp that's here grunged up through a mini Honeytone amp. There's even a direct nod midway through the song to the great Muddy Waters. "We're all half crazy, half clear as a bell”, Brad Barr sings, but we'd be all all insane not to enjoy this song.

You'll be able to hear the rest of Sleeping Operator when it’s released on October 7 on Secret City Records. And you can see them two months later, on Saturday, December 6, at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle. They'll also be LIVE on KEXP on Friday, December 5, at 11AM to preview the show. To find out more about the band and see where else they will be, head over to their website and Facebook page. For now, you can watch the official video for today's featured song here and their rendition of it live for KEXP at the Bunny Glade during Pickathon: