Songwriters don’t get much better than BJ Barham.
The frontman of Raleigh, NC based alt-county trailblazers American Aquarium, BJ Barham has proven to be one of the most prolific and most impressive troubadours in the songwriting business for the better part of the past 20 years. With over 15 total albums in his catalog, and another one on the way, Barham has an incredibly deep catalog to show for his legendary career thus far, and he shows absolutely no signs of letting up. In fact, his songwriting is probably getting even better with each album, a remarkable feat for someone who has been so good at this profession for so long.
This is all evident in his last few albums, including his most recent project Chicamacomico, a heavily introspective and brutally honest record that was released to much acclaim in June 2022. One of the hardest hitting songs from this project is a devastatingly emotional track titled “First Year,” that I think every country music fan, particularly anyone who loves sad songs, needs to hear.
Last summer, Barham teamed up with Anthony Simpkins, the folk hero behind roots music media page GemsOnVHS, to provide a powerful, must-watch performance of “First Year,” and it’s just got posted to YouTube earlier this week.
Between Instagram and YouTube, Simpkins provided plenty of valuable commentary and insights into the song’s meaning and his experience filming with Barham, so while I know it’s lengthy, I highly recommend reading below before diving into the performance.
“‘Yesterday was my birthday, the first one since you’ve been gone. All my friends say it gets easier, all my friends have been known to be wrong.’
It’s Mother’s Day. All of y’all better not forget to call your mommas. A day will come when that is no longer an option, that warm voice on the other end of the line won’t be there to pick up. Those of you that can’t this one goes out to you.
American Aquarium invited us into their home in Raleigh, North Carolina to share some wisdom in the form of song, including this one, “First Year.”
“A big thank you to BJ for giving us a little glimpse into his life and sharing these personal songs with all of us to hear. American Aquarium has been a big inspiration for years, and if you’ve never listened tp the band but consider yourself an Americana fan, you should probably get to it.
your friend,
Anthony Simpkins”
And in the YouTube caption, while slightly repetitive at times, Simpkins profoundly delves into his experience making the video with Barham in a bit more detail.
“This is from a hot summer in Raleigh, North Carolina. I’d flown out to meet BJ Barham, prodigal son of the beautiful state and long time legendary musician. He might not believe it (and thank God he doesn’t, that kind of arrogance can drive you mad), but he’s one of the best songwriters I’ve ever known, and a real DIY trailblazer.
They say not to meet your heroes, and I can confirm this is often ill-advised, but BJ turned out to be so humble, down to earth, and just real. Everyone around him is instantly at ease with his jokes, shakes hands and improves the mood. he is fueled these day by massive caffeine shots instead of whiskey, and we’re all probably better off for it.
I didn’t expect anything in particular when I got there, maybe he’d show me a place or two. Instead, he welcomed me into his home with open arms, and we recorded an intimate song about family, amongst his own family. it was touching, and the audience (his daughter) seemed enthusiastic. She was more excited to show us her drawings, and really wanted him to ‘play the Trails song.’
Seriously, though there is nothing harder to adjust to, cope with and contemplate than losing the people who made you, or people you make. It is an intimate bond, a connective tissue in time, which is inevitably always severed by time in the physical, but always remains in memory. We don’t choose them, but we are them. Parents, siblings, sons and daughters. So for all of you who have lost close, for everyone who has a hard time with this Mother’s Day, I feel you, I love you, and I hope this song helps you.
-Anthony”
So, without further ado, check out American Aquarium’s “First Year” played solo by BJ Barham for GemsOnVHS.
If you’ve seen an American Aquarium concert within the last couple of years, you’ve probably heard this one live. Barham often prefaces it with some heartfelt stories of his late mother that will make you want to laugh and cry at once, and he specifically mentions that his mother would always call him on his birthday at the exact second he was born, every year. It was that first year following her passing, when he didn’t get that call from his mother, that it hit him the hardest that she was no longer around. What a song.
I agree wholeheartedly with Simpkins that BJ Barham is one of the greatest songwriters in the game, and songs like this really drive you home. Presumably on that same trip to Raleigh, Barham recorded another video with GemsOnVHS that I highly recommend watching below.
American Aquarium also recently released their first new music in nearly two years with “Crier,” the lead single off of their forthcoming project The Fear of Standing Still due out July 26. Trust me, you’re not going to want to miss this one.
And lastly, BJ Barham and American Aquarium make for one of the most high energy, captivating live shows in the entire country music scene. They just announced an extensive tour in support of their forthcoming album later this summer and into the fall, and attendance is mandatory if they’re coming to a city near you.
