Tim Barry

Richmond, Virginia folk-rocker Tim Barry cut his teeth as the singer of the celebrated punk band Avail, but his solo music has more in common with heartfelt folk and country than with three-chord sloganeering. Despite his status as a punk hero, Barry's existence has revolved around his 100-year-old house, life around the James River, and day jobs that keep food on the table. It's that side of life that he mined for the pain and pathos of solo albums like 28th & Stonewall, which landed on Billboard's Americana/Folk Albums chart in 2010. ~ Kenneth Herzog