Missouri"s clearest voice since a certain steamboat pilot, Barna Howard is a meticulous craftsman. His are songwriters" songs, weaving melody, narrative and gravity in ways only the best have. He comes to the listener like some overlooked great, reincarnated for one last shot. Howard grew up in Eureka, Missouri, a small town outside of St. Louis. He now lives in Portland, by way of Chicago and Boston. The contrast of growing up in a small town and moving through cities has had a heavy influence on his songwriting. He is attracted to personal stories that resonate universally but still, most of his songs" characters come from his Missouri youth. Major influences are Bert Jansch, Neil Young, Townes Van Zandt and James Talley. His self-titled debut record was recorded in a damp Portland basement studio and serves as a simple, stripped-down introduction. Also available on LP.