My wife and I had our daughter this week. Monday, June 4 to be exact. 6:23 p.m. Dark hair. Blue eyes. Big feet. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. (More on this below.)

Every journalist knows it doesn’t get much easier than the e-mail interview. E-mail interviews are like free money. You just ask someone else to do your job, and then cut and paste their words into your column.

Cha-Ching.

Since I’ve done nothing but watch Lily sleep and shit and eat for the last 36 hours, and deadline is ever approaching, I thought I’d take advantage of the age old technique. I spoke with Sammy Barrett this week, who will perform with Top Heavy Crush and some band called the Cupcakes this week at Hell’s Kitchen.

(Whoever the Cupcakes are, they definitely, certainly, without a doubt aren’t Sweet Water ... or are they?)

Barrett is all of 20 years old, and like most things I hear about these days, I first caught wind of her on MySpace. She’s struck up a relationship with Don Roberston of Idol Management (see: Top Heavy Crush, Zeke, 3 Inches of Blood, and Kane Hodder), and my guess is her name will be showing up more and more on bills around town. Now seems like as good as time as any to familiarize yourself with this minor with a voice that carries and a musical vision that flat out rocks.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: First off, where the hell did you come from? Obviously you’re young and many people are just now discovering you. Perhaps you could explain a little bit about who you are, what you hope to do, and how you got here?

SAMMY BARRETT: Well, I’m from Seattle, and I come from a family where music is important. My mom was a singer songwriter and my dad is in the industry in a sense. He is more a sound guy then a musician, but I guess music has been around me all of my life. I want to play music, you know? That is what I love, and that is what I feel I should be doing. I am not the best at math and I know I ain’t a doctor.

VOLCANO: You’re 20. Why aren’t you at the mall, or attending the community college down the street from your high school?

BARRETT: I’ve done my time at Nordstrom, believe it or not, and what I realized was that it was getting in the way of me moving on with music and writing. I would like to tell you that I should be in school, but I just do not feel like that’s what I should be doing right now. I hope I am right!

VOLCANO: What are your musical roots? Your MySpace profile credits the song “Hey Joe” as an influence, could you explain?

BARRETT: My mom and dad introduced me to Hendrix, and I especially liked “Hey Joe,” which was written by an old friend of my mom’s. Well actually it is funny because I think they may have even went on a couple of dates. Weird. I was also influenced by my mom. She was writing songs when I was younger, and I think that whether I was actively listening or not, being around someone who was creating music as a child was pretty influential.

VOLCANO: Not only is your voice impressive, but your band ain’t so shabby either. Can you give them some props and let everyone know who’s on stage with you?

BARRETT: With pleasure! I love my band! I have my sister Rachel Barrett on bass guitar (what is better then having your family with you?), Chris Johnsen (of Zeke) on guitar and Donny Paycheck (also of Zeke) on drums. I am so lucky to have my band. First off, Donny and Chris are so good. Musically they are amazing, but then they are killer people and I feel so incredibly lucky to have these people with me. It makes me want to dance or something. Yeah!

VOLCANO: How is Don Robertson guiding you? Do you guys have a game plan for world domination yet?

BARRETT: I was sort of blown away when we met because I had literally been thinking “who is going to help me?” It was really cool how it all happened. Don is so good at what he does. The goal right now is just to work hard, play lots of shows, drink lots of water, stay healthy and make a great new record.

VOLCANO: I know you’re from Seattle, but deep down you like Tacoma more, right?

BARRETT: I love Tacoma! Tacoma has been so supportive, and that is so important for me. I love it here!

VOLCANO: Is your debut CD, On the Corner, officially available?

BARRETT: It will be for sale at shows any minute now. All of the tracks are available for purchase on MySpace and on my Web site.

VOLCANO: Are you happy with how the record turned out? Is the final product similar to what you envisioned in your head when you started work on it?

BARRETT: I am very proud of it. I just wanted it to be good and I am happy with it. It is perfect for what is going on right now. The songs have progressed now that there is a solid band in place we will make a record this winter of the best songs from On The Corner plus some new songs!

VOLCANO: Have you ever heard of Sweet Water?

BARRETT: I have. Great band!

VOLCANO: How old were you in 1995, when their album Superfriends came out?

BARRETT: I guess I was 10 or 11.

VOLCANO: Just for s***s and giggles, what do you think it might be like to open for a band like Sweet Water?

BARRETT: I would not turn it down. I have requested that it be made possible. I would love to open for them in Tacoma. I think my dream Tacoma show would be playing with Sweet Water and my friends in Top Heavy Crush!

Stranger things have happened.



[Hell’s Kitchen, with Top Heavy Crush, The Jet City Fix and The Cupcakes, Saturday, June 9, 9 p.m., $7, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

Having a kid

Watching the woman I love labor for 13 hours pushing an 8 pound lifeform out of her “Yoni,” as our hippie midwives like to say, without the aid of a single drug or painkiller, was the most incredibly powerful, moving, awe-inspiring, and gruesome event I’ve ever witnessed. Easily. Never again will I cringe at a football player’s knee injury or a skateboarder’s wipeout. I’ve seen real pain now. I’ve seen bloody show and I’ve seen “one last push.” They’re not punk bands playing the Kitchen; they’re the human body at its most amazing.   



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