The Entertainment!!

Reuben O’Dell-Barkow has been playing the guitar for over 24 years. His first musical memory is creating dance routines to Michael Jackson songs and best of the 80's compilations to perform for his Mom. 

He began to dream about becoming a rock star at the age of ten, after seeing Nirvana perform at the Grammy's. He took his first guitar at age 13 and never looked back. He would play along with his best-loved albums, jamming with his favourite bands, making up new parts and dreaming of stardom. Playing lead guitar in a myriad of bands throughout high school, he honed his style and grew into his abilities. 

Around the age of 18, Reuben bought a car and was forced to start writing poetry. Not being able to afford gifts during the holiday season, he gave his loved ones personalized poems. Graduating from poetry to song lyrics, he was on his way to fulfilling his potential. Having had a few of his songs nixed by bandmates, he decided to start his own band, Remainameless. 

Releasing their first album in 2003, the ‘selftitled’ debut album, Remainameless started playing shows incessantly. Following up ‘selftitled’ with 2004's ‘saving the planet one song at a time’ he found some marginal success. Playing hundreds of shows and touring the eastern seaboard of the US, southern Canada and the maritime provinces between 2004 and 2007.

After the breakup of Remainameless, Reuben became the front man for a number of short-lived bands and band leader for Courtney Wells. Co - producing her 2008 debut EP, ‘who will stop the rain?’. He led a nine-piece band for a number of years. Playing such esteemed venues as the Horseshoe and Lee's Palace and helping orchestrate an album release as part of a boat cruise in Toronto harbour.

He also started working on cover songs. Making his own versions of famous songs, he started developing his performance style. Refining the skills needed to bring in audiences and lead a party. He has always been drawn to pop music, of whatever era. If you can sing along with the melody, and dance with the rhythm, it's his style. 

In 2008, he started a band called Bacchus. A super group made of lead bass, lead drums and lead guitar. Touring incessantly and playing raucous live shows in and around Toronto, they recorded an album, 2010's ‘The Lady and the Moon ‘ and toured for a few years before the birth of his first child.  

At the start of 2018, Reuben made a concentrated effort to recapture his old dreams after a brief hiatus. Booking more shows and practising daily, he returned to the music scene with renewed enthusiasm. He made more live appearances in 2018 then in the preceding 5 years combined. Giving himself a new moniker: The Entertainment!! He gathered a line-up of musicians so as to be able to play any venue, any time, for any crowd. 

He recently left a lucrative service industry job to focus on his career within the music industry.  His self - proclaimed style of top 40 through the ages gets crowds dancing and singing along. His song writing has reached new peaks, composing new songs regularly. With his sons and a myriad of life experiences as his muse, he touches on the most basic human emotions, empathizing with his listeners, and drawing in his crowds.

Get your dancing shoes on.

The Entertainment!! is guaranteed to rock and roll!