By Aimee Zhang
Staff Writer

Formed “by accident” in 2005 to support frontman Brian Fennell’s solo CD, Safety Songs, Barcelona is made up of four very talented young men: singer Brian Fennel, bassist Brian Eichelberger, guitarist Chris Bristol, and drummer Rhett Stonelake.

Originally, Eichelberger was set to produce Fennell’s solo effort. Fennell asked Bristol (whom he met while attending Seattle Pacific University) and Stonelake to back up his vocals.

While recording together, the foursome clicked on a profound level, and Barcelona was born. Since then, they have traveled to California and Ohio, and performed locally at the Moore Theater, and the Showbox.

All four are Seattle-born-and-raised, but a night filled with too many beers and too much bacon may prompt them to tell you they were all born and raised in Barcelona, hence the name. While they all make it a point to visit Barcelona one day, the name was decided based on its simplicity and creativity.

Fennell can take credit for writing deep, meaningful, and genuine lyrics, as well as the music that accompanies them. Each song on Barcelona’s not-yet-released CD usually starts with Fennell’s soulful voice crooning into the mic, followed by a slow, steady, strong, instrumental background, with one notable exception. The song “Numb” starts out with a taunting and playful beat that is catchy and simple, but the lyrics contradict its seemingly happy nature. Different moods and emotions can be experienced throughout the rest of the album.

Barcelona is inspired by the likes of Keane, Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, and Sigur Ros, and much like their inspirations, they haven’t yet become jaded by life’s difficult obstacles or the male ego. Fennell shows a certain amount of vulnerability that is relatable to the listeners.

In the Stranger, they’re quoted as “…four Seattle guys with five o’clock shadows, hoodies, and a career headed toward perfecting early-evening, off network teen-dramas where someone’s looking out at the water, wobbling their chin in a sweater…”

Perhaps any other band who wants to be taken seriously may have found that slightly offensive or insulting, but when asked about a possible negative reaction to this comment, Fennell replied, “I don’t think we have anything to prove to the music scene, and our music is an extension of our experiences.”

Their album is expected to be out this mid-summer, and features a clever cover of Hall & Oates’ popular 1983 song, “Rich Girl.”