Dave Matthews signs Danny Barnes to ATO Records + October 2009 tour dates

Dave Matthews Signs Danny Barnes to ATO Records

Danny Barnes to open on Yonder Mountain String Band's Fall Tour, Commencing October 6th

Barnes' Pizza Box, Produced By John Alagia, Set For October 20th Digital Release and Physical Pre-Order

Lead Single "Overdue," Featuring Dave Matthews On Background Vocals, Goes To Radio

Danny Barnes, banjo pioneer and a founding member of the Bad Livers, a seminal Austin alternative country band, will open for the Yonder Mountain String Band on its fall tour, which launches October 6th in Millvale, PA.

Barnes will be debuting songs from his new album, Pizza Box, to be released digitally on October 20, 2009 by ATO Records, and physically as online pre-order. (See below for tour itinerary and album track listing.)

Fans who pre-order the album will also receive an exclusive bonus CD featuring Barnes and Dave Matthews Band performing songs from Pizza Box and Danny's during the band's recent three-night stand at The Gorge in George, WA over Labor Day weekend, along with two bonus songs from the album recording sessions. The bonus CD will be available only through the pre-order. Ten copies will be autographed by Danny Barnes and Dave Matthews and will be randomly distributed among all pre-orders. For additional details, please visit: ATO Records.

"Overdue," the lead single from Pizza Box, went to radio this week. A moving look at a relationship that's endured some rough times, the track is one of three that Dave Matthews sings background vocals on. Matthews, a longtime fan of Barnes, signed him to his label, New York-based ATO Records, and also contributed the cover illustration for Pizza Box.

The album was produced by John Alagia (Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Jason Mraz) and recorded at Haunted Hollow in Charlottesville, VA. It features Matt Chamberlain (Pearl Jam, David Bowie, T Bone Burnett) on drums and Rashawn Ross (a touring member of Dave Matthews Band) on horns.

According to Matthews, "Danny Barnes' Pizza Box is my favorite new music, my favorite rock record, and my favorite country record. From the first time he sat down and played me 'Road,' I knew his next record was going to be great, but I didn't expect this. The music is smart and soulful, and the lyrics are profound. It is heaven and earth. It is Americana, from the back porch to the pulpit, shattered dreams on angels' wings. I can't stop listening. In the haze of over produced, 'perfect' recordings, Danny Barnes spent less than two weeks banging out an album that may well save your soul."

With Pizza Box, Barnes spins tales of American life like a latter-day John Steinbeck, wielding banjo and pen with equal effect, and the character of his voice as the perfect mouthpiece to truly bring these songs and stories to life. Pizza Box comes stuffed with sharp hooks and addictive vocal and instrumental melodies, but it's Barnes' skills as a storyteller that shine strong. He tells tales with the wry wit and humor of Garrison Keilor, the lyrical eccentricities and intellect of Randy Newman, performed with the southern twang and swagger of Levon Helm. Barnes combines and blends all of these elements into a style that is uniquely his own.

"The label 'true original' gets bandied about too often these days, but Danny Barnes deserves it," said Paste Magazine while the Austin American Statesman has hailed him as "One of the most wildly imaginative musicians on the planet."

The list of artists he has performed alongside is as eclectic as his music and includes Bela Fleck, Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett, Government Mule, Bill Frisell and members of the Butthole Surfers, Dead Kennedys and Ministry. Barnes is prominently featured on two tracks on Dave Matthews Band's latest album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King.

Pizza Box will be available at all digital retailers on October 20th. Its official physical release will follow in January 2010, but CDs are available via pre-order to coincide with the initial October 20th release, and will be sold at Barnes' upcoming tour dates.

Buy Music:

Danny Barnes on amazon.com

The track listing is as follows:

1) Caveman*
2) Road
3) Pizza Box
4) Sleep*
5) Misty Swan
6) TSA
7) Bone
8 Overdue*
9) Charlie
10) Broken Clock
11) Sparta, TN

* Featuring Dave Matthews on background vocals

Danny Barnes October 2009 tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

10/6 Millvale, PA Mr. Small's Funhouse
10/8 Philadelphia, PA Keswick Theatre
10/9 Washington DC 9:30 Club
10/10 Baltimore, MD Ram's Head Live
10/11 Northampton, MA Pearl Street
10/14 Burlington, VT Higher Ground
10/15 Burlington, VT Higher Ground
10/16 Boston, MA House of Blues
10/17 New York, NY Nokia Theatre
10/18 State College, PA State Theatre
10/21 Milwaukee, WI The Rave
10/22 Madison, WI Orpheum Theatre
10/23 Chicago, IL House of Blues
10/24 Chicago, IL House of Blues
10/28 Columbia, MO The Blue Note
10/29 Omaha, NE Sokol Auditorium
10/30 Lawrence, KS Liberty Hall
10/31 Lawrence, KS Liberty Hall

For the latest tour dates, music and more, go to:

Danny Barnes Official Website

Search for CDs, Mp3s, more: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk