The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/20/09 Section: Variety

Jeremy Barnes, formerly of Bright Eyes, created A Hawk And A Hacksaw and wrote its most recent album after a trip to Europe. [Click to enlarge]

A keen sense of wanderlust is a necessity for any traveling musician.

So, Jeremy Barnes took his accordion and set off for Budapest.

Though Barnes, creator of A Hawk And A Hacksaw, planned on staying for only a short time, the bond forged with local musicians inspired him to prolong his visit.

"Initially we planned to stay there for three months and spend time with musicians we were bringing into the band," Barnes said, "but we were building such deep relationships and learning so much from other musicians we met that we decided to stay two years instead."

Throughout his two-year stay, Barnes ventured off to experience provincial music in England, France, the Czech Republic and Romania.

Now back in the United States, Barnes will share his multiculturally infused music at tonight's Athens show opening for Wilco.
Barnes, previously a member of Neutral Milk Hotel and Bright Eyes, started AHAAH in 2002, because he was tired of being a cog in others' bands. He wanted the freedom to set his own musical course.

Although pleased with his work on AHAAH's first album, he soon realized the importance of music's communal aspect and has added more musicians to the band with each following record.

"[AHAAH's violinist] Heather and I are in charge of choosing the traditional songs we rearrange and writing new ones, but we're constantly looking for new people to play with, and they teach us new things to incorporate into our songs," Barnes said.

On "Délivrance," the band's next album that will be released on May 18, the musicians recorded only two tracks in English so that the majority of the songs could showcase their gifted new Hungarian friends. Barnes' goal was to include everyone he played with while in Budapest on the album in some capacity.

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