Sometimes you wonder if he’s paying attention. His mind often appears to be in a completely different place, escaping the here and now. That’s because 24 year-old Scott Barnes has his eyes on the horizon, his heart set on one consistent thing: playing music for a living. With each passing show, each new song written, and now release of the Fire & Revolution EP, Barnes is inching towards his goal. But the unassuming political science grad is quick to point out there’s a long way to go. “I’m the first to admit it’s a dream. But what fun would it be going through life without holding onto a dream?”
The dream began when he was 13 and attended a Dave Matthews Band concert in Grand Rapids, Michigan, an hour from his native East Lansing. He became hooked, not just on the group, but on live music. “Seeing that show, I remember thinking, ‘Wow. These guys do this for a living.’ And seeing the crowd, feeling the energy…it was truly life-changing.”
That first experience ignited his passion for the stage. “I can spend months working on one song, a year working on an EP that I love, but nothing compares to picking up my guitar, stomping on a few foot pedals and putting on a good show for a receptive crowd.” Reviews have described his shows as “unique,” “energetic,” and “soulful.” According to others he displays “talent” and “ingenuity,” with a endearing stage presence and a commanding voice. He uses his array of foot pedals for live sampling and looping, sometimes creating the sound of an entire band from bass lines to percussion, and even doing his own backing vocals. But Barnes is careful to not rely on the pedals or overuse them. “They certainly make it more entertaining for not just the crowd, but for me…but I’m also a fan of keeping it simple and all about the song. I can loop ten guitar parts and make my vocals play back in reverse, but are the people in the audience connecting with the song?” Still, he sometimes can’t resist the urge. “But then you say, ‘Screw connecting, this is gonna sound pretty damn cool.’” Whether he keeps it simple or improvises a ten-minute outro, fans of all genres of music are consistently drawn to his performances.
The passion and energy Barnes brings to the stage on a nightly basis are finally captured in his latest project, Fire & Revolution. Beginning with “Fuse,” an intro track with haunting strings and wailing, pleading vocals, with the energetic pop college party-inspired single “Bartender Make Me a Memory,” and closing with the soulful ballad “Mess,” the EP is a true representation of Barnes’ variety. When asked about the meaning of the EP title, he states, “Fire and revolution is a new day…a new day to take a chance and a new day for someone to take a chance on you.”
He has performed throughout the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, gaining fans at every stop along the way. He has headlined venues in Detroit, East Lansing, Indianapolis, Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C. He has had the fortune of sharing the stage with Teddy Geiger (Columbia Records), Tally Hall (Atlantic Records), and Kate Voegele (MySpace Records).
He has been compared to Bruce Springsteen, The Wallflowers, John Mayer, and O.A.R.; his voice has been described as Dave Matthews meets Peter Gabriel. Yet when asked how you would describe his style of music, the most common answer is, “I’d have to think about that.” And that’s how Barnes likes it. “You’ll hear one song and think it’s pop rock. But you’ll hear another and get a blues or folk feel. Why limit myself?"
Barnes will continue evolving, working on a dream and taking chances each day. Because he believes, in himself, his music, and those who hear it. "As long as I've got this fire, I'm going to play for anyone, anywhere."
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