Alternative folk rocker Danny Barnes toiled over his electric guitar at the New Orleans Jazz Fest this afternoon, earning praise for his agile fingers from both longtime fans and first-time listeners.

The muscles in Barnes' tattooed arms flexed and his stringy blonde hair hung in his face as he worked to crank out songs like "Caveman" for an audience gathered in the shade around the Lagniappe Stage.

Barnes, who teamed with a drummer for today's performance, is known for his unusual innovations on the banjo and collaboration with Dave Matthews, who is featured on Barnes' album "Pizza Box." Barnes is also known for heading the now-defunct acoustic punk-rock band the Bad Livers.
Brian Kelley of Fond du Lac, Wis., said he owns all of Barnes' albums, but today marked his first time experiencing a live performance by the banjo and guitar player.

"He's a virtuoso," said Brian Kelley of Fond du Lac, Wis. "I've never seen a guy's fingers move faster on the frets."
Kelley said he also likes Barnes' voice, particularly his "twang factor."

Kelley, who attended Jazz Fest with a group of friends from other parts of the country, said Barnes and John Mooney & Bluesiana formed the main attractions for him.

Pam Pacelli of Davis, Calif., said she and her husband, Mike Harty, discovered Barnes while researching Jazz Fest acts online.
"I heard him, and I thought he sounded interesting," Pacelli said, adding that she liked the pairing of Barnes with the drummer. "I like the way they work together."

Like others, Harty expressed respect for Barnes' picking skills.

"I just think he really understands his guitar," Harty said. "He makes sounds with it that are very unusual."

Dave Dikeman of Hawaii, who caught the show with a group of his college and high school friends, said he has seen Barnes perform a number of times.
"This guy has just obviously been absorbed with his guitar playing for 100 years," Barnes said. "He's a great, unique guitar player."
Caprice Castano of Fountain Valley, Calif., said she walked over to the Lagniappe Stage to relax in the shade, but wound up enjoying the sounds of Barnes. She said his sound reminds her of The Black Keys with a bit of The White Stripes.

"It's good," she decided.

Barnes' influences include genres as varied as bluegrass and metal. The musician paused near the middle of his show to compliment New Orleans heavy metal musicians, mentioning local bands Down and Goatwhore.

"You guys have got a cool metal scene down here," Barnes told the crowd.