Best of M for Montreal: The Barr Brothers

By Andre Guerette

From KCRW’s Promotions Coordinator Mary Chellamy:

Bonjour! After spending 4 days in Montreal this past week I can definitely say the city’s music scene and culture is brimming with life. I was one of the lucky few who was invited to attend the 6th annual “M for Montreal” music showcase and conference. This music sleep-a-way camp setting not only made for great music scouting, but was also the perfect opportunity to mingle with journalists, managers, music supervisors and other music enthusiasts from across the globe.

Sure, you know ALL about Arcade Fire, but did you know Montreal’s music scene has other musical exports waiting to be discovered? My festival highlight was TheBarr Brothers, who awed audiences at the festival’s closing night showcase at Metropolis.

Their harp-infused folk rock sound had the ‘at capacity’ crowd stunned by their rockin’ guitar solos and vocal harmonies. And who knew the harp could double as a rock-n-roll instrument? First Active Child and now The Barr Brothers. Well done gentlemen, well done.

The band also has a 70’s Southern rock jam going on, with a driving drum beat that reminded me of the Black Keys. But if you’re looking for guitar plucking, mellow lovelorn melodies, they’ve got you covered there too.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/11739083[/vimeo]

This band is all kind of multi-dimensional, talented and lingual (they’re from Montreal! they speak French! At least in my heart they do).

Honorable ‘M fo Montreal’ festival mentions:

Thus: Owls

Of Monsters and Men

Of Monsters and Men

Young Empires

— Mary Chellamy