Alternative Country Band American Aquarium to Perform Missoula Concert

Raleigh, NC-based alt country outfit American Aquarium will headline a concert at the Top Hat on July 1, 2019. Brandy Zdan will perform an opening set.

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Fronted by BJ Barham, much has changed for the band since their acclaimed 2015 effort, Wolves. In 2017, every American Aquarium member save BJ quit the group. American Aquarium has featured about 30 players since BJ founded the outfit in 2006, and while each member has left indelible marks, the band has always been anchored by the literary songs and sometimes roaring, sometimes whispering, drawl of BJ Barham. BJ’s personal life also underwent seismic shifts: He got sober. He got married. And now he’s a dad.

Featuring a new band lineup that includes Shane Boeker on lead guitar, drummer Joey Bybee, bassist Ben Hussey, and Adam Kurtz on pedal steel and electric guitar, as well as a reinvigorated frontman in BJ, their 2018 release, Things Change, is American Aquarium’s first release on a label after selling thousands of records on their own. “As an artist, your goal is for the newest thing you do to be better than the last. You’re slowly whittling away the bullshit to try and get to the truth,” BJ says. “With this album, I learned how to cut some of that fat so that it’s just truth. It’s our best record.”

Their 2012 album Burn. Flicker. Die. was produced by Jason Isbell and received considerable praise from music critics and fans. It was nominated for “Best Americana/Roots Album” and “Best Album Artwork” in the 2013 Lone Star Music Awards.

Tickets go on sale Friday, April 5th at 10AM at The Top Hat, online or by phone at 1 (800) 514-3849. All tickets are general admission standing room only with limited bench seating available on a first come first served basis. All ages are welcome. Additional ticketing and venue information can be found here.

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