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BJ Barham’s slash-and-burn years around the Raleigh music scene were well documented, as was his knack for writing the kind of lonely, alcohol-fueled ballads that played especially well at 1 a.m.

The aughts ended with what looked to be the last stand for Barham and his band, American Aquarium, the Jason Isbell-produced Burn. Flicker. Die. “We had fully committed to putting this record out, maybe playing some shows on it, and then calling it quits,” said the Reidsville native.

Instead, the album became a breakout success, earning rave reviews just as Americana was was getting new wind. As Shaun Assael reports, Barham’s latest album captures him wrestling with a life he couldn’t have imagined.

Life Inside the Fishbowl

After burning through the Raleigh club scene, American Aquarium frontman BJ Barham had a plan for failure. Then success and a family arrived.

“It was like the universe flipped a switch for us and said, ‘Listen, you guys get to play music for the rest of your life now,’” said Barham.

Have a news tip for our team? You can reach us at scoops@theassemblync.com.

Something’s Brewing

No timing like the eve of a long holiday weekend to announce something fun: We’ve got a beer!

We are working with Durham-based Ponysaurus Brewing Co. on Tell the Truth: A Fact-Checked Kölsch–a beer to benefit journalism in North Carolina.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Assembly to fund additional reporting positions across the state. Tell the Truth is an extension of the brewery’s “Rule No.” series, which began in 2016 with Don’t Be Mean to People: A Golden Rule Saison to benefit LGBTQ+ causes.

The beer debuts on Saturday, and Ponysaurus is planning an official launch party at the brewery’s Durham taproom at 219 Hood Street on September 10, 5:30 p.m. Everyone’s invited!

What We’re Reading

There Will Be Beef: Texas Monthly has declared Prime Barbecue in Knightdale the second-best BBQ outside the Lone Star State, and Jon G’s Barbecue in Peachland the eighth-best. We reckon people will have opinions about that.

Rockin’ the Suburbs: WUNC looks at the electoral battlegrounds of suburban Wake County.

Too Late: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may have bowed out of the presidential race, but he’s still going to be on the ballot in North Carolina, CBS 17 reports. Because 67 out of 100 counties have already received ballots, the N.C. State Board of Elections rule against his request to be removed.

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