Nicholas Barron - RSS Feed

Show: Feb 05, 2012 @ TEMPLE BAR

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Incredible Weekly sunday night gig! 9:30-midnight.

Show: Feb 09, 2012 @ House of Blues chicago

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Me playing the fantastic Restaurant at the House of Blues solo from 6:30-8:30.

Thanks Liz Rush and sean Mcdonough. I'm goin to fucking rock the house!

Press: Johnny Boy Would Love This

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0800

2 CD tribute to John Martyn includes Beck, Snow Patrol, David Gray, Phil Collins, Nicholas Barron and others. - Hole in the Rain/Absolute

Press: Nicholas Barron and Swimmer 1998

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0800

SWIMMER '98 I would later learn a couple things about how that stuff works when a friend of ours (mine and Ed's) in Chicago had a GREAT band called Swimmer. This guy, Nicholas Barron, is like Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison and Joe Cocker all rolled into one. Swimmer built some serious momentum in the Midwest, named as a "top band to watch in the midwest" by Playboy at a time when the Midwest was producing tons of major-label, taste-making bands. They were on the circuit of South By Suthwest type conferences where (at the time) that was the primary way bands got record deals (and at a time when getting a deal meant everything). Then some baby band from England called Swimmer signed to Madonna's label, Maverick, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. They trademarked the name and our friend Nicholas got hit with a cease-and-desist order. What he learned was, even if someone else beats you to the punch by trademarking a name, if you can prove you were using it in trade first, you can challenge and trump that trademark. The irony is, especially when battling a company like Warner Bros., in order to protect what's yours your pockets must be deep. Our friend didn't have the dough to embark on that, and Warner Bros. was offering him [we know how much but let's call it approximately the annual income of the average American at the time] to stop using the name Swimmer, so he took the deal. After changing the band's name, the audience disappeared virtually overnight and his career has not been the same since. That said, Nicholas ranks among the world's smartest motherfuckers and despite the knuckleballs life has thrown him, dude does well and has never done anything other than create and perform music to make a living. But for that Warner Bros. thing, though, our friend would be a household name, counting his millions. - centerstage chicago

News: SUNDAY RESIDENCY WITH NICHOLAS BARRON BAND AT TEMPLE BAR

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

I am really stoked to get back to playing every week with my band that is Vijay Tellis Nayak on keys, Shawn sommer on bass, and Steve Gillis on Drums. We played every sunday at The Longroom and

built a great following and had an amazing experience bringing it every week. We learned to play almost

telepathically together. I can say without question that you will not find this music anywhere in chicago but on sundays with my band. It's Organic and sweaty. It's incredibly funky and Soulful and always a surprise!

News: New Videos from California Tour

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0800

I've posted three new videos from my summer tour in California. Enjoy!

News: PAINTINGS SUMMMER/FALL 2010

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0800

My dear friend orjan Odelbo who has basically taken every good photo ever taken of me since 1996, shot

15 of my latest paintings at the end of September in my apartment on the lake. Unfortunately, there are 2

of my favorite newest pieces not in this collection of pictures. I just gave MARTYR'S and Ray Quinn the

owner, my OTIS REDDING window which i just redid to make it better than it was before. It should be

hanging up at Martyr's by the end of October 2010. The other piece is an abstract painting that i

feel very strongly about. My father continues to mentor me and inspire me as a painter-giving me new

weekly tips and hanging out at my place talking about the life of an artist. I feel very fortunate.

News: MY PAINTINGS

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0800

I will be posting incredible pictures of all my paintings in the next couple of weeks. My "archivist" and dear

friend Orjan Odelbo who is my best friend Steve Gillis' brother in love will be taking the pictures this week.

All my paintings are for sale and the prices are totally negotiable. Lately i've been painting both on wood

canvas as well as recycling and painting and drawing conceptually on products like GLAD TRASHBAGS.

At the moment i've got nearly 30 pieces that are for sale. Some of the paintings are up on this website

currently.

News: Nicholas Barron book of music and words with song descriptions

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0800

Hi Friends. Me and my dear friend John Harnum who just became a candidate for his doctorate

in Music at Northwestern are going to be publishing a book of my best and most well known songs with

Music,words, and descriptions of how the songs were written as well as paintings of the songs.

We just started brainstorming about it this week (9/21/10). I am very excited to share this with all th efolsk

likie what i do. Look for more info about it and it's evolution in the next couple of months of 2010.

News: THE BARRON'S (me and my dad's art show)

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0800

Me and my dad have an art exhibit together that will hang all through June to July 5 at

The have art gallery at Starbucks at 2023 West Roscoe and Seeley. We both have our own

room of new work. Go to Wbarronart.com to see much of his work. Thanks!

News: NICHOLAS SUMMER 2010

Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 -0800

Hi. Welcome to my new website! My new and great friend mark Rubash put it together for me.

Mark just had me play his yearly house concert in Santa Clara in Sonoma county (wine country).

It was one of the best night's of my life and certainly on a performance level was the most intimate.

We are most likely going to put together a DVD of the 3 shows i did when i played in San Francisco and

Sonoma. I have never been captured live in front of an audience which for me means everything.

I become a whole other performer because of adrenaline and intention. There is nothing like knnowing

you have to "bring" it so to speak. I am looking to play many more house concerts in the future.

I find them to be very special because of the level of intimacy. Everyone feels a special bond in that

intimate setting. I've been known to play completely unplugged later in the night.

environment. If you are interested in having me perform please email at birdiebarron@yahoo.com.

Me and my father are having a duel exhibit of our most recent paintings throughout June at 2023 West

Roscoe and Seeley at the Starbucks.

I'm opening for the great Shawn Colvin at Old Town School of Folk Music on saturday June 12.

I love the vibe at Old town as much as any i have ever seen or heard. I am really feeling great about

that night's potential which will also be captured on video. It is very possible that my next record may be

a truly LIVE sound as well. I've been doing many Voice over auditions and had 2 go final. I just got my

first headshots taken so i can audition for commercials and TV.

The movie i wrote 5 songs for and acted in called THE MOLEMAN OF BELMONT AVENUE comes out

this summer! There will be a special screening at The Music Box in Chicago in the next couple months

too. I was just featured on a really great new interview show on Channel 11 (PBS) called FEAR NO

ART. It is a very unique look inside artists spaces and the host-Elysabeth Alfano-asks very intuitive and

smart questions. It will be shown for the 3rd time this Sunday May 23 at 4:30 in the afternoon.

It's wedding season. I have a very soulful band called 312 Chicago that is made of some of my best

friends. I am happy to say that i actually love playing weddings now because of these great folks.

We are the furthest thing from typical and cheesy and our clients are genuinely blown away by our

cool repretoire (60's and 70's Soul-Rock-Funk and Disco) and the authentic and organic feel that one

never hears at a wedding.

I hope to see you at a show soon!!!! Remember-you can buy CD's at candyrat.com or even directly

from myself on my website. Cheers!

News: New Videos from California Tour!

Mon, 17 May 2010 00:00:00 -0800

New videos from Nicholas' recent trip to California are beginning to make their way to YouTube and the Nicholas Barron web site. Check-out the Videos tab for the current releases and feel free to share them with all your friends. We took about three hours of footage, so stay-tuned for future updates!

News: Fear No Art Chicago

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0800

Fear No ART Chicago

featuring an interview with Nicholas Barron airs on WTTW11 on May 7 at 8:30 PM, May 12 at 10:30 PM, and May 23 at 4:30 PM. Public screenings are at the Jbar ( 610 N. Rush) on April 30th at 8 PM and on May 1 at 5 PM at Art Chicago.