"Sledgehammer" - SOHUD Music Festival

--Skully's, Short North, Columbus, Ohio


Live at the SoHud Music Festival 2010, after The Floorwalkers and Max Power, I had the joy and privilege to perform some of the greatest songs ever, including this Peter Gabriel classic.  I am lucky enough to sing with some great singers and play with some great players.  Thanks to everyone else who made this possible.


Jesse Michael Barr:  Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals
Steph "Ladybird" Rogers:  Backing Vocals
Sara D:  Backing Vocals
Mike Twice:  Drums
Evan Oberla: Trombone
Jason Branscum:  Trombone
Steve Kortyka:  Sax
Mike James: Guitar
Marc Subel:  Bass

We Are the Middle Rats

--Hocking Hills, Ohio


Elizabeth and Jay followed us with their cameras as we romped in the woods in Hocking Hills, Ohio.  This was shot in and around the cabin where we recorded "The Middle Rats" album.  The Middle Rats are Joey Hebdo, Mike James, Jon Elliott, and Jesse Michael Barr.  Kudos to Jay Alton and Elizabeth Nihiser for shooting the footage and editing this awesome video.

This is the title track, "We Are the Middle Rats", from the album "The Middle Rats", by the band "The Middle Rats".  Anyway, notice the New York subway sample at the top of the tune.  We made it ourselves using a microwave from the cabin.

Joey Hebdo:  Vocals

Jon Elliott:  Vocals

Jesse Michael Barr:  Guitars, vocals

Mike James:  Guitars, drums, vocals

*video by Elizabeth Nihiser

Jesse Michael Barr - "Brainstorms"

Produced by Jesse Michael Barr.  Mixed and edited by Jesse Michael Barr.  From a live recording session featuring Ohm Patel (Tabla), Megan Palmer (Violin), DJ Chuck Johnson (Turntables), Ben Lamb (Bass), Brad Poure (Electric Guitar), and Jesse Michael Barr (Acoustic Guitar).  Engineered by Kevin Dippold.  Recorded at Off-Guard Records, Columbus, Ohio.

Jesse Michael Barr - Brainstorms by Off-Guard Records

"I'm Not Gonna Cry" - Steph Rogers & Company

--Skully's, Columbus, Ohio


Steph "Ladybird" Rogers leads this awesome Sharon Jones song at the SoHud Music Festival 2010.  Steph is the go-to backing vocalist for Max Power, but she sure can deliver a lead vocal!  The rhythm section is Mike Twice on the drums, Mark Subel on bass, and me (Jesse Michael Barr) on the funk guitar.  Another highlight of this video is the dueling trombone solos by Jason Branscum (left) and Evan Oberla (Right).  My favorite part of the video is when Steve Kortyka (sax) saves the end of the trombone solo with this tasty little riff that wraps everything up perfectly.

Living Loving Maid - Joey Hebdo, SoHud Super Show

--Skully's Music Diner, Columubs, Ohio

Joey and the guys did  some killer Zepplin at the SoHud Super Show III.  This song is so cool and you can see Larry Cook is absolutely loving it up there.  Thank the gods of rock that I recovered some pretty good multi-track audio from this show and was able to put a pretty good mix on it.  I also went nuts on the video editing.  Enjoy the trip back in time into the 70's era of psychedelic mirror effects.  This song features Joey Hebdo singing lead and playing guitar, Mike James crushing the lead guitar and also singing, Larry Cook laying down the bass and also contributing the 3rd voice on the chorus, and the big man on the drums, Floorwalkers drummer, Tom Lasky

Max Power "Let Down"

--Columbus, Ohio


This was the climax of the night for me and I think everyone else as Max Power played the classic Radiohead song, "Let Down" in a juxtaposed ska style.  It was the perfect ending to the beach-themed SoHud Super Show II.  I've always wanted to hear this lyrically hopeless and depressing song done in the most joyous and upbeat  genre possible.  This song is a true collaboration as the Floorwalker's Jon Elliott and Todd Hamrick help out on vocals and organ, respectively.  Jason Branscum absolutely kills the trombone solo.  He has such a sure, strong style.  It was the end to a great night and a beginning of sorts for Max Power incorporating more ska into their live set.

Columbus Alive features The Floorwalkers, Joey Hebdo, The Max Power Trio, & The SoHud Music Collective

Featured Story in "Columbus Alive - The Best of Columbus 2010 Issue" by Chris Deville

Though The Floorwalkers, Joey Hebdo and Max Power Trio are playing at Skully's Friday, their hearts will be a few freeway stops to the north. The bands, who comprise the SoHud Music Collective, have joined forces to promote each other's music and the city blocks they inhabit.

The neighborhood south of Hudson Street just west of I-71 has long been a hotbed for musicians and artists. Half a decade ago, some of the area's punk, indie and experimental musicians half-jokingly dubbed their 'hood "Washington Beach" and built a vibrant community around Summit Street dive Cafe Bourbon Street.

Now a different set of bands are out to advance their little slice of Columbus, using the burgeoning strip of businesses south of Rumba Cafe as their rallying point.

Where the Washington Beach thing was basically an inside joke, the SoHud bands are organized - complete with interns! - and eager to import attention and export sounds.

"It's not Campus. It's not Clintonville. It doesn't have big arches over the streets. It's always been like a no-man's land," said Jesse Barr of Max Power Trio. "And then Rumba moved in, and now there's a little scene here."

The idea originated last year with Barr, who hosts a radio show called "The SoHud Sound" at 7 p.m. Thursdays on WCRS (102.1 & 98.3 FM). The collective, which originally included Andy Shaw Band, mostly lived within a few blocks of each other.

They frequently shared the stage at venues like Rumba and Ruby Tuesday, inhabiting an aesthetic somewhere near the intersection of blues, folk, pop and soul. Barr figured, why not use each other's skills and connections to mutual advantage?

"Before, we were just like three-legged dogs," Barr said. "Now we're like a nine-legged super dog."

Their first step has been throwing a series of SoHud Super Shows, in which all three bands perform their own sets and combine for something special; they're collaborating on a Led Zeppelin tribute Friday.

Next, they'll use proceeds from the concerts to hole up in a cabin and record together for a weekend. Ideally, they'll emerge with an album that can showcase their combined talents and draw new ears to each act, Floorwalkers frontman Jon Elliott said.

He referenced Toronto collective Broken Social Scene, whose communal creations brought exposure to contributors' other projects such as Feist, Metric, Stars and Do Make Say Think.

Meanwhile, the SoHud bands are seeking to partner with a video production company, scouting for groups to join the fold and looking for ways to translate their talk into action.

"It's just too easy to sit around," Hebdo said. "You can actually take that step forward and do something."

...And another feature Story in Metromix Columbus

Good Times Bad Times - SoHud Music Collective

--Skully's, Columbus, Ohio

Coldest night of the year, but this song was a bright, warm light of inspiration as Joey Hebdo and his usual band joined forces with The Floorwalker's Jon Elliott to deliver one of the earliest and grittiest of Led Zepplin songs.  "Good Times Bad Times" has that incredible guitar shred and Mike James crushed it.  I think we can see in the video that he broke a high E string, but this doesn't seem to bother him.  Jon and Joey share the lead and Floorwalker's Tom Lasky and bassist Larry Cook hold down the rhythm section.

Jesse Michael Barr - Conversation With a Bounty Hunter

Produced by Jesse Michael Barr.  Mixed and edited by Jesse Michael Barr.  From a live recording session featuring Ohm Patel (Tabla), Megan Palmer (Violin), DJ Chuck Johnson (Turntables), Ben Lamb (Bass), Brad Poure (Electric Guitar), and Jesse Michael Barr (Acoustic Guitar).  Engineered by Kevin Dippold.  Recorded at Off-Guard Records, Columbus, Ohio.

Entire session was improvised {no overdubs, no cutting and pasting, no script}

Best listened to with headphones.  Let the film play in your head.

Jesse Michael Barr - Conversation With a Bounty Hunter by Off-Guard Records

Max Power - The Song Remains the Same

--Skully's Music Diner, Columbus, Ohio

A magical night featuring Max Power, The Floorwalkers, and Joey Hebdo.  This was part of the SoHud Super Show III and the theme was Led Zepplin.  This one is done in true Max Power reggae style.  Thanks to Joey and Theo who guest star on this song.

Jesse Michael Barr:  Vocals, Guitar

Theo Perry:  Guitar

Joey Hebdo:  Vocals

Carlos Fisher:  Drums

Marc Subel:  Bass