Chris Barnes EPK

CHRIS "BAD NEWS" BARNES – BLUESMAN, COMIC, ACTOR, WRITER...

NEW ALBUM "HOKUM BLUES"

Chris “Bad News” Barnes presents his uniquely topical and slightly twisted take on Hokum Blues, the raunchy and humorous song style popularized in the steamy Prohibition era of the 1930’s by the likes of Tampa Red and Big Bill Broonzy. As W.C. Handy said, “You gotta hook ‘em with the Hokum!” Barnes is a well versed musician and satirist whose credits include countless opening slots at the legendary NYC blues club, Tramps, where he would improvise original blues tunes based on audience suggestions, and writing and performing on Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld and the Carol Burnett Show. Barnes enlisted an all-star cast of his notable friends, all musicians sensitive to a comedian’s aesthetics: Jimmy Vivino (Conan O’Brien Show) on guitar, Will Lee (David Letterman’s CBS Orchestra) on bass, Shawn Pelton (Saturday Night Live) on drums, Bette Sussman (Bette Midler Musical Director) on piano, and Steve Guyger (Jimmy Rogers Blues Band) on harmonica.

WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING...

"Bad News Barnes is in blues what Frank Zappa was in seventies underground sound. GREAT." – KBA award -winning radio host, Vincent Zumel

"This guy is not just a comic with a challenging sense of humor, he’s also one helluva singer/songwriter with an at times decidedly jaundiced eye on the skewed social and political world of modern America." – Iain Patience, Elmore Magazine

"This is a wonderful combination of Traditional Hokum and Comtemporary Satire made by mighty fine musicians with a love of both. It is Tight Like This, enjoy." – Bill Wax, Blues Radio Luminary

"This excellent new alblum has been an authentic and amazing revelations. Ireally like Barnes" personal and satrical treatments of blues classics and his original's sharp compositions are so good, delivering a 360 degrees vision of blues, soul and American Roots Music." – Roberto Rossi, European Syndicated Radio Host

"With funky grooves, thunderous rhythmic assault and performing in his blood; the most entertaining Blues albums in recent memory."
– Mark Urichock, Weekender, Northern Pennsylvania's No 1 source for arts and entertainment

"W.C Handy said, “our Hokum Hooked’em”. Well Chris Barnes will Hook you with his latest. “Hokum Blues”. Fourteen songs, steeped in risque’ innuendo and double entendre tomfoolery; that honor the tradition of this great American Art form." – Vinny Marini, Music On The Couch