American Aquarium is an alternative country band that formed in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2006. The founding member is BJ Barham, who is the group’s lead vocalist and guitarist, and is still fronting the group, although there have been lineup changes.
They released “Antique Hearts,” their debut album, in 2006, and followed it up in 2008 with “The Bible and the Bottle.” The group toured extensively in support of their releases, performing an average of 250 shows annually, and gradually building a fan base beyond North Carolina.
Critics began to notice them when they released “The Bible and the Bottle,” which appeared the same year as their EP “Bones,” recorded live. Barham composed the material after a breakup, and the themes expressed on the EP became standard for the band, especially the ideas of the right woman getting away, or breaking the protagonist’s heart.
They have continued recording and touring, and released their most recent album, “The Fear of Standing Still,” in 2024, tackling a familiar theme for almost everyone—fear of missing out.
A concert review says:
“Played to a packed house . . . BJ had them eating out of his hand. Every number was high energy and the lead guitar was awesome!”
American Aquarium will be at the Buffalo Iron Works on October 6. When they book acts like this, organizers often use poster printing to create advertising for them.