Tim Tibbitts @ The Lost Lounge
So Tim Tibbitts (www.timtibbitts.com) is another artist who I didn’t know, and “discovered” by association of going to see another artist playing the same show (Chisai Jackson opened the night, Tim was up next. The show finished with Matt York, who I unfortunately did not stay to watch because I was way too tired.) The show was at the Lost Lounge, formerly known to me as the Sound Lounge. Tim claimed this was the best acoustic venue in Canada, and seeing his extensive touring, I wouldn’t doubt him for a moment.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect when he came up on stage, by himself, with a guitar, and a myriad of electronic gizmos on his… I guess his pedal board. It was shaped more like a box from my recollection. Having never heard him sing, let alone speak, somehow his voice totally caught me by surprise. I wouldn’t have pictured him to sound how he did, not that I can describe how I did picture him to sound like, but I definitely did not expect that voice, to come out of him. IT was a pleasant surprise since I really liked what I was hearing.
Tim performs solo, as well as with a full band from my understanding, but this was my first time seeing him so I have nothing to really compare to. Pretty early I was introduced to one of the gadgets before him, something that made his voice sound like the voices of 4 people at once. In perfect harmony. It was pretty interesting, I didn’t know such devices existed. Made backing vocals so easy for one person to do. Another that was really cool, was something that recorded what Tim played, then looped it throughout the song, so he had basically a rhythm guitarist and a lead guitarist at the same time. Very interesting to see this solo act become a one-man band.
The songs are very catchy and I would dare say “radio friendly” since not a single song was offensive in any way, and is something everyone could groove to, whether you knew the artist/song or not. Tim mentioned how his songs are doing well everywhere but Ontario, so if I visited friends out west maybe I’d hear about him more than I do.
I loved the descriptions of how he came about some of his songs. Like one of the songs he wrote for his wife, as “the mushiest song he could ever write” to get a romantic reaction out of his wife (which worked he said.) Or the love song he wrote about his car, and named his car “Monica” because it was the closest name that sounded like the phrase “My New Car”
For a string of acoustic love songs written about wives, mom’s and cars, these songs were not the sappy slow songs I’m used to thinking about for acoustic love songs. They’re upbeat and songs I could probably not be bothered if I had to listen to it all day long.
I can’t wait to review the album titled Portraits, that’s being re-released on January 30th.
Tim Tibbits plays again with Chisai Jackson, Matt York (and Angie Nussey) on January 27th at The Red Rooster Cafe in Burlington Ontario. I read rumours that both Tim Tibbits and Angie Nussey will be recording live DVD’s at this show.
