Barns Courtney live on The Preston & Steve Show. We had too much fun in studio with Barns! Between an 8 Bit song pop quiz and endless jokes we were able to sneak in a live performance of “99” and “Fire”
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00:00MMR's Dreamstream Concert Series.
00:0493.3 WMMR. Everything that Rocks.
00:08We love making new friends, meeting new people, and that's what we're about to do right now.
00:12And maybe turn you on to some new music. And the best way to do that is to have it played live.
00:16In my personal opinion, I think. That's when I really am impressed.
00:20And I've sampled just a little bit of this gentleman's music, and I'm excited to hear more about it.
00:24He is playing tonight at the Fillmore. Please welcome to our studio Mr. Barnes Courtney.
00:28Good morning, Barnes.
00:30Good morning. How are you doing?
00:32We're doing good, man. Thanks for coming in today.
00:34Thanks for having me. This place is fancy.
00:36We try.
00:38Not by your own doing. They just gave it to us.
00:40You have so many lights.
00:42Are you guys hot in here?
00:44We wanted to make you feel, you know, you love being on stage.
00:46I was reading you love touring.
00:48It never gets old to you.
00:50No, no. I also love that you have an enormous 10x10 picture of me on the wall.
00:54Just as I request.
00:56I'm not doing the interview unless there's an enormous photograph of my face.
01:00Is everyone looking at him?
01:02Everyone, please look at the picture, but don't look at Barnes directly in the eyes.
01:06Do you want us to bring the lights down?
01:08Do you want us to set the mood for you? Because we can do that.
01:10That sounds pretty saucy.
01:12Alright.
01:13Oh, you guys are actually doing it.
01:14We can do everything.
01:16There's so much power in here.
01:18We should get this budget.
01:20Listen, Barnes, I'm excited to become more familiar with your music.
01:24As I said at the top, I am not.
01:26But three things that I know you can do.
01:28You can sing, you can play, and you can write.
01:30And I'm very impressed with your vocal capability.
01:33So I was reading up a little bit on you.
01:35And I had read, I think it was where, as a younger musician, you wanted to really try to have a high range when you sang.
01:42But you felt that you were kind of forcing it.
01:44And then you settled into what was more natural to you.
01:47Yeah.
01:48Well, I mean, from a young age, my father used to lock me in the coal shed.
01:51Until I could produce notes of a certain pitch.
01:54So that I could sing for haitneys on the streets of Ipswich, where I spent my youth.
01:58Wow.
01:59Really?
02:00There's a movie in there.
02:01Yeah.
02:02Sorry, that's a complete lie.
02:03Really?
02:06Yeah, I mean, I was...
02:07You were the youngest of 15.
02:09It was very difficult.
02:11My father was a cold and calculated man.
02:14He used to brush my hair from the left-hand side every morning as he would mutter insults under his breath.
02:20Wow.
02:22I like you.
02:23That's just a tragic lie.
02:24I like you a lot.
02:25It's a tragic tale that really led to my music.
02:28Oh, my God.
02:29What an inspiring story.
02:30There's a movie from Disney in this.
02:32Yes.
02:33Anyway, where'd...
02:34Never responded to my emails.
02:36Sorry.
02:37Originally, you're from London?
02:38I'm from just outside Aylesbury, but I grew up in Seattle, so I missed out on the sexy accent.
02:43Oh, yeah.
02:44I can put it on, though, if I need to.
02:45But you have an appreciation of coffee.
02:47I do.
02:48I do like coffee.
02:49I like being awake and cognizant of the world.
02:51We're going to London next week.
02:53We're doing our show from there.
02:54And for most of us, it's a first time in London.
02:57And do you ever go back?
02:58I mean, do you still have family there?
02:59No, I'm not allowed back in London.
03:00You're not allowed back in London.
03:01Not since the accident, no.
03:02Oh, man.
03:03I mean, but I don't want to talk about it here, you know.
03:05I understand.
03:06You burned down the Courtney estate.
03:07We don't want to pry.
03:08Yeah.
03:09They are not fans of me in the Courtney Manor anymore.
03:12Courtney Manor.
03:14Courtney Manor.
03:15And on the fourth day, on the fifth moon, young Barnabas did burn down the Courtney Manor.
03:22Barnabas.
03:23And the stuffed giraffes were ruined.
03:25All the children cried in their nightgowns.
03:29Wow.
03:30I love it.
03:31This is fantastic.
03:32And then he fled to Seattle.
03:33Yeah.
03:34Okay.
03:35I don't even know where to go.
03:36To be honest, I've really digressed away from...
03:39It's all good.
03:40I appreciate it.
03:41Some people don't say anything.
03:42I love this stream of consciousness that we're getting from you.
03:44We'll take this.
03:45Absolutely.
03:46You actually have a connection to our last guest, Nikki Glaser, the comedian who was in
03:49here earlier.
03:50She was on Dancing with the Stars.
03:52One of your songs made it onto the show.
03:55Was that this season?
03:56I saw that.
03:57Tom posted it on Facebook.
03:58I was like, oh, my God.
03:59Why didn't I think to have two enormous muscular men clapping in time in my music video?
04:04I was just walking down the street playing an acoustic guitar.
04:07I was like looking at that thinking, God, that is very, very arousing.
04:11And I need to think about that more in my future work.
04:14So that'll be the muse for you from now on Muscular Men Dancing.
04:17Yeah.
04:18You know, I feel like I've really turned a corner in my career.
04:20That's very modern, what I do now.
04:22It's pushing boundaries.
04:23We love it.
04:24It definitely is.
04:25Well, I want people to hear your voice.
04:27I want them to hear you sing and play.
04:30And by the way, you have an accompaniment here.
04:32This is Agam is your keyboard player.
04:34This is Agam.
04:35I don't actually know him, but he seemed pretty nice.
04:40Okay.
04:41He's got his own Casio.
04:42Right.
04:43What are you guys going to play for us?
04:45I'm going to play 99, which is my new single, Shameless Plug, Shameless Plug.
04:50And I guess I'll just play it now.
04:52I'll introduce you.
04:53Sorry.
04:54You were wrestling off for a moment.
04:55I'm so used to introducing myself.
04:57No, no, no, no, no.
04:59He'll be playing tonight, ladies and gentlemen, at the Fillmore.
05:03And this is 99 from Barnes Courtney on MMR.
05:07I'm strong, young and dumb.
05:12Yeah, we had no fear.
05:14Way back when we said we'd both be millionaires.
05:19Now those days are over and we're all ghosts.
05:28We used to sleep all day, talk all night, stay up by the TV light.
05:33Oh, when your baby teeth ain't milky white.
05:40Wipe the stardust from your eyes.
05:42Oh, come on, love will be just fine.
05:49We're gonna live just like it's 1999.
05:52In 1999.
05:53In 1999.
05:54In 1999.
05:55In 1999.
05:56In 1999.
05:57In 1999.
05:58In 1999.
05:59In 1999.
06:00In 1999.
06:01In 1999.
06:02In 1999.
06:03In 1999.
06:04In 1999.
06:05In 1999.
06:06Back then we were trading cards behind the swings.
06:07Oh no, now it's money, gold and diamond rings.
06:09In 1999.
06:10In 1999.
06:11In 1999.
06:12In 1999.
06:13Back then we were trading cards behind the swings.
06:16Oh no, now it's money, gold and diamond rings.
06:21Now those days are over and we're all ghosts.
06:26We used to sleep all day, talk all night, stay up by the TV light.
06:39Oh.
06:40Oh, when your baby teeth ain't milky white.
06:43Wipe the stardust from your eyes.
06:45Oh.
06:46Oh.
06:47Oh.
06:48Oh.
06:49I said, come on, love will be just fine.
06:52We're gonna live just like it's 1999.
06:54Oh.
06:55In 1999.
06:58In 1999.
07:00Oh.
07:13In 1999.
07:14Oh, oh no, where does it go, where would ever fill your body up with chemicals, oh, oh no, kaleidoscopes, where would ever live in bed or in, oh, oh, in 1990, in 1999, in 1990.
07:44In 1990, in 1999, in 1999, yeah, yeah, yeah, wow, that's awesome, you're just joining us, that is Barnes Courtney, who's going to be playing at the Fillmore tonight, tickets available at the FillmorePhilly.com, so while you were playing that song, I spoke to Casey over here, our producer, Barnes, because
08:13he was listening to me, but that's cool, I was listening, but I had to take a moment, it's fine, it's fine, you gotta pay your dues, I get it, I get it, no, I was listening to the keyboard sound that Agam was playing, and we play a game here called Name That Song in 8 Bits,
08:29and it uses that particular 8-bit video game sound effect, do you want to play one real quick and see if you can, he should be able to hear everything we play in the headphones, right?
08:41Yeah.
08:41All right, I'm going to play a song for you, see if you can identify what this is.
08:43Oh, God, I didn't know this would be a test.
08:45It's a test.
08:46All right, you ready?
08:46I'm ready.
08:47Here we go.
08:47She's a good man.
08:55He's a pro, man.
08:58Congratulations.
09:00What a dude, Tom Petty.
09:01Yeah.
09:01You have just won yourself a digital download of Ant-Man and the Wasp.
09:05It's available now.
09:06No way!
09:07Digitally on 4K.
09:08It's all coming up, Bogsy.
09:12Let's try another one.
09:14There's more?
09:15Yeah.
09:16Let's try another one.
09:17Here we go.
09:17Listen.
09:22You know it.
09:25Oh, okay, yeah.
09:27Oh, I'm going to be, I'm going to be the man who's coming home to you.
09:31You got that right.
09:32I'm really ginger, and I've got a brother here, and he's also equally as ginger as me.
09:39Casey, what do we have for him?
09:40We've got a Casey Yard's Rival IPA right now.
09:43Am I actually winning?
09:44Is this real?
09:45We'll give it to you.
09:46You're just being sarcastic right now?
09:48This is actually the citizenship test you never took.
09:51All right.
09:51Can we do one more?
09:52One more.
09:53Yes.
09:53In case, which one should we?
09:54You know what?
09:55The one that you have, I love.
09:57Okay.
09:57All right.
09:57Let's try this.
09:58Last one for Barnes.
09:59Oh, I know this song.
10:10Oh, I should have just quit while I was ahead.
10:11I know the tune, but I can't place my brain.
10:15I'll give you the artist.
10:16Hold on.
10:16The melody should be kicking in.
10:23Right here, I think.
10:24Here we go.
10:25I got nothing.
10:29Don't know that one.
10:30I know it's a very good song.
10:32Peter Gabriel?
10:33Yeah.
10:34Peter Gabriel.
10:36The name of the song is Salisbury Hill.
10:38Oh, God.
10:39I can't believe I didn't get Peter Gabriel.
10:43I got the pretenders, but I didn't get Peter Gabriel.
10:46That's incorrect.
10:47I'm sorry, Barnes.
10:48You didn't get it right.
10:49We're going to have to take back the download and the beer.
10:51Oh, man.
10:52What was I going to win?
10:53That was like a Prius, wasn't it?
10:55Yeah, no.
10:55That was...
10:56It was.
10:58Yeah.
10:59And unfortunately, you don't win.
11:01I know that song.
11:03That's all right.
11:04It's because you brought me in here early in the morning.
11:06You did it deliberately, didn't you?
11:08Just to shame me in front of all these people on the radio.
11:10You didn't get a chance to, you know, get ready for it and practice.
11:13I'm a musician.
11:14I'm not meant to be up at these hours.
11:15I understand that.
11:17Fundamentally against our DNA.
11:18I wanted to ask you about writing because I was reading an article in Rolling Stone about you
11:23that said you have a difficult time writing when you're happy.
11:28It's better when there are things going on in your life.
11:31That's why I pay a troop of men to sort of beat me consistently in the studio.
11:36You want to be in a constant state of misery.
11:38Yeah, exactly.
11:39Blunt objects.
11:40Things they find outside in the street.
11:42Sticks.
11:44Stones.
11:45Yeah.
11:46No.
11:46But the doorknobs are in a sack.
11:49Doorknobs in a sack.
11:51To keep me on my toes, you know.
11:53I don't want to get too comfortable.
11:55Orange is in a sock.
11:56Yeah, it's surprising that you're going with doorknobs instead of something a little bit more malleable.
12:01I don't tell them how to do their jobs, okay?
12:03Hey, we're the professional beaters.
12:06Let us do what we do.
12:07Are you an only child?
12:08Me?
12:08Yeah.
12:09No?
12:10What makes you say that?
12:11Because only childs are usually weird.
12:17No, I think I was dropped a lot as a baby.
12:19Oh, okay.
12:20I was just trying to get the root of it all.
12:21No, you have a great sense of humor.
12:23That's what I keep telling everybody.
12:26Does that help things, keep things light when you're on the road?
12:29You just try to have a good time?
12:31It does sort of quell the crippling depression that plagued me from a young age.
12:34I didn't know we were going to bring that up for this interview.
12:36I'm sorry.
12:37Yeah.
12:37While we're just trying to get you.
12:39Maybe it's inspiring you to write a new song.
12:42Not possibly.
12:43I don't know.
12:44All right.
12:44So what's another song you're going to play for us this morning?
12:46Wait, I have to play two?
12:47Yes, it's two.
12:48Now do it.
12:49I got the one.
12:49I thought that was the deal.
12:50We got a sack of doorknobs right out there ready to go.
12:53All right.
12:53I'll play Fire.
12:55All right, Fire.
12:56Which is a song of mine that I wrote.
12:58Okay.
12:59With my mind.
13:00Okay.
13:03Ladies and gentlemen, once again, this is Barnes Courtney.
13:06Yeah.
13:07Yeah.
13:09Lonely shadows following me.
13:14Lonely ghosts come a-calling.
13:16Lonely voices talking to me.
13:22Now I'm gone.
13:23I'm gone.
13:24I'm gone.
13:26My mother told me, son, let it be.
13:31Sold my soul to the calling.
13:35Sold my soul to sweet melody.
13:39Now I'm gone.
13:40I'm gone.
13:41I'm gone.
13:43Lord, give me that fire.
13:44Lord, give me that fire.
13:51Lord, give me that fire.
13:54Burn, burn, burn.
14:00Oh, a thousand faces staring at me.
14:04A thousand times I've fallen.
14:09A thousand faces dead at my feet.
14:13Now I'm gone.
14:14Now I'm gone.
14:14Now I'm gone.
14:15I'm gone.
14:15Now I'm gone.
14:17My mother told me, son, let it be.
14:22Sold my soul to the calling.
14:26Sold my soul to sweet melody.
14:30Now I'm gone.
14:31I'm gone.
14:32I'm gone.
14:33Lord, give me that fire.
14:37Lord, give me that fire.
14:42Lord, give me that fire.
14:44Burn, burn, burn.
14:50Oh, send devils come calling.
14:56Calling my name out
15:01Lost in the fire
15:04Virginia blood is calling
15:12Calling my name out
15:17Lost in the fire
15:21Lord, give me that fire
15:24Lord, give me that fire
15:32Burn, burn, burn
15:36Lord, give me that fire
15:40Lord, give me that fire
15:45Burn, burn, burn
15:54yeah man awesome wow fire such a great sound barnes portney who is in our studio and i didn't
16:04talk once during your performance that time thank you well you want us over with the first song we
16:11figured we'd be uh listening to the full second one yeah he got my attention by the way i got a
16:16text that says thank you uh now i have to go home and change my panties wow that was that was me
16:22wow you can text and play at the same time thanks for finally replying to my messages
16:28sending you them for over 12 months now uh how long have you been has this current tour been
16:35underway have you been doing the long haul yeah yeah i've been doing this for two weeks now with
16:41the wombats okay it's been wonderful that's excellent i like the wombats um lemon to a knife
16:46fight is a really really good song that me and my son are into right now um so congratulations
16:52on the tour i actually have a deep-seated hatred for the wombats how much i predicated on it is an
16:57elaborate ruse so that i can get close to them and ruin them for the inside out uh so i had talked
17:04to you briefly before the interview about another artist named courtney barnett and i wasn't sure
17:08if she knows if people mistake the two uh you and her by any chance oh man all literally all the time
17:16i get tagged like courtney barnett so amazing tonight courtney barnett isn't she incredible
17:20what a lyrical genius is courtney barnett what a wonderful diamond of our generation is courtney
17:25barnett um yeah but i mean it's free publicity for me because they've actually tagged me in all the
17:31pictures so people will be like i really got to check this barnes courtney guy out
17:35it's roundabout praise really yeah like you're getting the praise it's just not for you she does
17:40the work and i receive all of the accolades but i'm okay with that it's brilliant actually have you
17:45ever accidentally walk up next to a guy who thought you were courtney barnett
17:48we're getting married next month i felt too awkward to say anything about it i'm sorry dude you seem so
17:57into it i didn't want to throw you yeah i don't know i mean you know he's a nice man nice guy you
18:01he just wrote a letter about his panties yeah well uh the show is tonight at eight o'clock at the
18:06film war and uh great music already but you want to want us over with your personality so we want to
18:12send as many people out as possible to see you tonight and uh barnes come back around and see us
18:16again when you're back in town okay i'll think about it yeah it's great stuff that's barnes court
18:22mmr's dream stream concert series 93.3 wmmr everything that rocks