About Deadbeats and Barkers

Deadbeats and Barkers are a three-piece Appalachian roots-rock band from Huntington, West Virginia. Their sound blends elements of vintage rock, delta blues, funk, jazz, and even bluegrass. The Herald-Dispatch’s entertainment reporter describes them as “an Appalachian funk-rock throwdown.”

With vocals like rough lumber soaked in whiskey, three-part harmonies, and blistering guitar leads, every performance is as remarkable as it is memorable. They freely admit to being influenced by eclectic sounds of The Band and Paul Simon, with a respectful nod to artists like Stevie Wonder, The Meters, and the Hank Williams.

Since forming in mid-2009, Deadbeats and Barkers have played over 100 shows in Huntington, WV, Columbus, OH, Athens, OH, and other surrounding cities, frequently sharing the stage with critically-acclaimed artists like Lollipop Factory. They have played three large outdoor festivals, a successful benefit concert for Haiti, and had their music featured on several local radio and television shows.

Combined, Deadbeats and Barkers have over thirty years of performance experience…though none of them are yet twenty-five. Individually, members of Deadbeats and Barkers have played the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, studied recording arts at Full Sail in Orlando, Florida, and performed with the Marshall University Jazz ensemble.

Besides their original tunes, Deadbeats and Barkers maintain a large and diverse repertoire of cover songs, putting their own interpretation on everything from roaring-twenties jazz standards to Day-Glo psychedelic jams.

On April 8, 2011, the Deadbeats and Barkers released recorded their full length album Local Scum. You can listen to a few tracks here