Anton Barbeau

The term "cult hero" was practically created for Anton Barbeau, a master of surreal, melodious psychedelic pop whose music bears the stamp of predecessors like XTC, Syd Barrett, Julian Cope, and Robyn Hitchcock, filtered through his wit and intelligence. He first gained traction in the pop underground in 1994 after his debut long-player, The Horse's Tongue, took home a Sacramento Area Music Award. Since then, he has released a steady stream of acclaimed albums, including Drug Free, In the Village of the Apple Sun, Manbird, and Power Pop!!!, and has collaborated with members of XTC, the Soft Boys, the Bevis Frond, Cake, and the Loud Family among others. He had an especially prolific 2025, issuing Glitch Wizard and Dig the Light, as well as the sampler An Introduction To Anton Barbeau.