By day, he’s one of the world’s most renowned environmental economists.

By night, he’s a drummer in a band that plays rock, blues and rockabilly.

Edward Barbier, a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Economics, started playing drums when he was 12 years old.

“My dad was a jazz musician in his spare time,” he said. “And he started having me sit in and play drums. Everywhere I’ve gone, I’ve found musicians to play with.”

When he was at the University of York in the United Kingdom in the 1990s, Barbier found musicians to play with. Then, after being hired by the University of Wyoming in 2000, he helped form a band called Mumbletypeg, a game that he and the lead guitarist played as kids, even though they grew up on opposite sides of the country.

Name changes

When he was hired by CSU in 2017, the band changed its name to Mumble the Peg. After losing a couple of band members, the group was renamed Square Peg several years ago. In addition to Barbier, the band consists of lead guitarist/lead singer Rich Arbour and bass player/lead singer Jerry Gallegos.

The group performed at Mishawaka last summer, and the musicians play at Fort Collins venues as well as the Trading Post and Bear Bottom in Centennial, Wyoming. Barbier estimated they play about 20 gigs a year.

“We prefer to play in the late afternoon or early evening, because we’re getting old,” he said with a laugh.

Musical economists

Barbier has also incorporated his hobby into his day job. When he traveled around the world for conferences, he befriended other economists who were musicians. They’d perform at conference events under the name “Dr. Keynes and the Blues Equations,” a nod to John Maynard Keynes, one of the most influential economists of the 20th century.

Barbier also sings backup vocals and has played the harmonica since he was a kid. When he encountered bands that already had a drummer, sometimes he’d join them on harmonica.

Being musical runs in the family: His son James, who attends Syracuse University, is a pianist, and his daughter, Becky, who attended CSU, plays the guitar.

“We like to get together and just jam,” Barbier said. “Music has always been a nice outlet and release. It may even make me a more productive economist. It’s a very different atmosphere, requiring concentration and teamwork. It’s great fun, and I’m just lucky to be able to play with friends and family.”