The Barn Burners

Baltimore veterans Bob Kannenberg and Brett Wilson, both alumni of the hard-edged roots outfit the Misguided, launched the Barn Burners in 1994. Their ensemble showcases the seamless integration of multiple strands of American roots music inside a single band. The project operated strictly as a duo until Wilson departed in 1995, prompting Kannenberg to recruit his brother Marc on bass and add drummer Steve Raskin.

That trio delivered Tobacco Sunburst on Run Wild Records in 1996 and generated strong interest in Sweden, where Country Rock Specialisten provided key support. The Barn Burners also appear on a separate CRS compilation issued in the same market. Their style fuses a broad spectrum of American roots influences, both longstanding and contemporary, as Tobacco Sunburst makes plain.

Stateside, the group partnered with Mike Lynam and Run Wild Records to contribute a memorable take on “I Don’t Want To.” to Lynam’s 1998 tribute to Dave Alvin and the Blasters.

By 1999 the band had expanded once more, with Paul Thomas, Tony Vittoria, and Bonanza D. Jones joining Bob Kannenberg to create a quartet that occasionally welcomed Dave Geigerich (Bill Kirchen, Richard Buckner) on dobro. Work on a follow-up project continues.