The Barlow - Horseshoe Lounge (2021)

If you think country music is all twang, cryin’ and beer, think again. Straddling the line between classic and modern country, The Barlow’s carefully-crafted songs should attract music fans from a base as wide as this country itself. Southern rockers and outlaws will especially rejoice.

The band does share one classic country trait: they didn’t join up from ads on Craigslist. Friends since high school, their tight, honest music reflects that solid foundation. Produced by The Barlow, Horseshoe Lounge features guest appearances by members of Mike and the Moonpies, including tasty pedal steel by Moonpie’s Zachary Moulton (who plays throughout the record) and Moonpie front man Mike Harmeier, who contributes vocals on our Premiered album-closing track, “Part of the Band.”

According to the band, Horseshoe Lounge is a blue-collar record aimed at fans of all genres. They said, “We’re excited about the evolving songwriting, performance, production, and overall personal growth of the band,” and they should be.

Writer Shea Boynton described his song “Part of the Band” to Elmore as “a nod to feeling a part of something and putting in the work on account of the camaraderie. We worked with Zach from Mike and the Moonpies on the dobro, and had the idea of including Mike Harmeier on the first verse and, thankfully, he obliged. We aimed for the song to be simple and stripped down.” Happily for listeners, The Barlow’s aim is true.