Huddled around a table at the Matador in Ballard, I chatted with Brian Eichelberger, Chris Bristol, and Brian Fennel of Barcelona (Rhett Stonelake was studying for finals) about their seemingly effortless rise to the top of the local scene. They talked about their laidback attitude toward success, forming the band, and stealing fans Even though they deny it, I think they chose the Matador as the site for this interview just to keep me distracted with Barcelona/Matador/Spanish puns the whole time. Touché, Barcelona. Touché.

Alright guys, I notice that you formed as a group in September 2005, but you played one of your biggest shows ever at the Moore Theater in December that year. How'd you do it? Any band would kill for that kind of launch.
Brian F: (laughs) Yeah, it was actually pretty great -- a buddy of mine told me about a song writing contest that KZOK was doing for their Twisted Christmas. I looked into it and found out that all I had to do was send in an mp3. I had some ready to go, so I sent em in, and the station called and told me I was a finalist. It was awesome. They invited 20 or so finalists to the station, and eventually we were chosen. Actually, another band 'technically' won, they were this really good baby Eddie Vedder sounding band, but they were too young to win the contest (you had to be 18) so we sort of stole it from 'em.

Chris: We stole from Baby Eddie Vedder (laughs).

Was that your biggest show to date?
Brian F: Well, the Moore is amazing, and it was our biggest show, but we recently played a sold out show at the Showbox that was just ridiculous.

Brian E: Yeah, they were introducing the bands that were gonna play getting everyone pumped up and they were like, "who's excited to see these guys" then loud applause and stuff, then "these guys" more applause, then the MC said, "and who's here to see Barcelona?!" and the place just shook. We were backstage just looking at each other, like what?!

Chis: Yeah, it was nuts too, because we sold out the venue. It only fits 1100 people and we had 1189 people there between the three bands. We were thrilled.

I also see that you've played at the Viper Room on your first Californian tour. What was playing that venue like?
Brian E: It was sweet to play a hallowed place like the Viper for sure.

Not to keep listing your successes, but how did you get involved with the Podcast contest, with over 25,000 listeners, that you recently won on iTunes?
Brian F: Wait, we won?

Yeah, I just found out today.
Brian E: Sweet (all laughs).

Glad I could be the bearer of good news.
Brian F: Yeah seriously, that's awesome. Well, initially we were contacted to be a part of the contest where 12 unsigned bands submitted to a weird TRL style voting song contest on iTunes. We submitted 'Secret Smiles' the first time around and won, then 'Colors' got runner up, then 'Numb' apparently just won again.

Chris: That's awesome. Wait, so we're the returning champs like on Jeopardy? (all laughs)

How is it that you keep piling success on top of success when you guys are so casual about winning these events that other unsigned bands would kill for?
Brian F: Well, we are definitely an unorthodox band, but we put work into it for sure. We've just been afforded such great opportunities-- it's a weird enigma that we're somehow successful in a sea of talented bands. It's all about stealing fans (laughs).

How do you feel sources like Myspace, CDBaby, iTunes, and KZOK have helped you guys, especially since you are still unsigned?
Brian E: We haven't had a really intense, surgical marketing plan. We just try to take it as it comes.

Chris: Yeah, it's like "oh sweet, we have an in here, let's capitalize on it.'

Brian E: I mean, the whole dynamic of the band is kind of like that. It all started with Fennel's solo album, "Safety Songs," then us just getting together and realizing that we could add to it.

Chris: I remember just sitting around with Rhett and Fennel and saying 'let's be a band.' It was really that simple.

Brian F: Brian didn't even play the bass before he joined the band. It started with Rhett mentioning that Brian would 'love to play the bass in a rock band.' He's kind of our freak gimmick (laughs). We're like, look he doesn't even play the bass and he rocks. (all laughs).

Yeah, I noticed a xylophone in one of the pics from your Showbox show. Is that what you normally play, Brian?
Brian E: It's a glockenspiel actually (smiles). I call it the "Glock." It, and the strings on the album were inspired by Fennel's orchestra background, I played the strings on "Numb." A lot of people play it (the glock) in the studio, but we try to pull it off live. It's part of our deal.

Brian F: It's the educational version, with the notes written on the keys (laughs), but seriously, Brian is such a humble musician, but the biggest part of our band and recording process, and its nuts that he's just learning.

Speaking of just throwing the band together -- Chris, what other bands have you been involved in?
(all laughs) Chris: I've played in a lot of bands.

Brian E: I've got his CD in the car (laughs).

Brian F: They were called The Ripple Effect.

Chris: Not "The" Ripple Effect, just Ripple Effect (Brian and Fennel laugh).

Brian F: No, no, on the road trip back from California we had a really celebratory vibe in the van and we listened to all of our old projects. We eventually got around to Ripple Effect and...

Chris: We were going for the whole Creed sound. The big old "yawrl."

Yawrl?
Brian F: Kind of like Lifehouse (laughs).

Brian E: Yeah, it's this really throaty forced yell kind of singing

Chris: The Yawrl makes the world a better place.

Brian F: It's a little southern accent, a lot of rock (laughs)

Brian E: We all actually broke out into a Yawrl rendition of songs from the Little Mermaid (in the Yawrl voice) " What do yaaaaaa call ehhhhhmmmmm aaaaahhhhh feeeeet" (all laughs)

Chris: Rhett was in a ska band. (all laughs)