Little Barrie

We Are Little Barrie

The inevitable indie-funk wave has crashed on American shores, and its salty foam is getting critics all moist and breathless. We Are Little Barrie is a sly, hopelessly hip introduction to the trend: a tightly wound amalgam of Meters-like funk and Donovan-esque Northern soul psychedelics that's as authentically British as Austin Powers's snaggletoothed mug. Which is to say, not very, but it's fun as hell, and who cares as long as it makes you randy, baby?

White-boy funk doesn't always suck -- check out Little 
Barrie.
White-boy funk doesn't always suck -- check out Little Barrie.

Truth is, the Nottingham, England, trio nods toward American ragmop revivalists like Galactic and G. Love for its modern context but steps out with a vintage jangle-funk boogie that echoes back through the decades. From Stax to Sly to the Godfather, Little Barrie parlays its black American influences into all the white moves, Brit-style -- a sort of leaner, sweatier Gomez. Lead vocalist-guitarist (Little?) Barrie Cadogan pulses with minimalist, wiry soul and is high-impact in voice and syncopated strumming, taking tracks like "Free Salute" and "Long Hair" to anthemic heights. The two-man rhythm section is a masterfully understated match -- walking bass lines and lingering ride cymbals stick these tracks together like Krazy Glue. There's crazy potential for mass appeal here, so long as you take your funk with a Brit lilt and your soul with indie insolence.

 
My Voice Nation Help
 

Concert Calendar

  • May
  • Sun
    19
  • Mon
    20
  • Tue
    21
  • Wed
    22
  • Thu
    23
  • Fri
    24
  • Sat
    25
Houston Event Tickets
©2013 Houston Press, LP, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places Houston

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city