April 25th, 2014
Timber Timbre is yet another outstanding musical export from our
neighbors to the north. Twice nominated for the Polaris Prize, they've
evolved over the years from a creep folk outfit to a band with a fleshed
out sound all their own.
Their latest release, "Hot Dreams", may just be their best yet, an impressive accomplishment considering 2011's "Creep On Creepin' On" raised the bar so high. The new material sounds a bit like the soundtrack of a David Lynch western about the thin line between love and obsession sung by Chris Isaak's spooky brother. Morricone style drama mingles with smokey Americana rock steeped in reverb and shadows. No contemporary band I'm aware of occupies the territory they're currently exploring. These guys struck a vein of something special and the purity's increasing as they drill deeper.
Their latest release, "Hot Dreams", may just be their best yet, an impressive accomplishment considering 2011's "Creep On Creepin' On" raised the bar so high. The new material sounds a bit like the soundtrack of a David Lynch western about the thin line between love and obsession sung by Chris Isaak's spooky brother. Morricone style drama mingles with smokey Americana rock steeped in reverb and shadows. No contemporary band I'm aware of occupies the territory they're currently exploring. These guys struck a vein of something special and the purity's increasing as they drill deeper.
Timber Timbre's stage lighting at Music Hall was a perfect match for the
personality their music embodies. Under a killer Hot Dreams neon sign,
Taylor Kirk stayed shrouded in the darkness behind the red glow of drop
lights directed at the crowd. The resulting miosis of our pupils
ensured we'd all leave without getting a good look at him, just like the
sketchy dude in the shadows who lives in the lyrics of his songs.
Front to back, start to finish, all in attendance ate it up like a piece
of cherry pie from Twede's Cafe. In a set full of highlights, one of
my favorite moments came at the start of the encore when Taylor took the
stage solo and sang the deliciously demented "Run From Me". His voice
and vocal delivery are the keystones of their sound, so to hear both in
their rawest form was a treat. Hot Dreams, indeed. By night's end I
left a bigger fan than when I arrived. The sole complaint I have is
that it was a standing show. Timber Timbre make cinema for the ears.
Would have loved a seat to close my eyes and watch the show.
Timber Timbre Tour Dates
4/27 – Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel
4/29 – Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
5/1 – Atlanta, GA - Terminal West
5/2 – Nashville, TN - Exit/In
5/3 – Louisville, KY - Zanzabar
5/4 – Newport, KY - Southgate House Revival
5/5 – St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway Nightclub
5/7 – Iowa City, IA - The Mill
5/8 – Minneapolis, MN - The Varsity
5/9 – Madison, WI – Memorial Union Terrace
5/10 – Chicago, IL - The Empty Bottle
5/23 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
6/3 – Los Angeles, CA – The Troubadour
6/5 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
6/7 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
6/8 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
6/10 – Vancouver, BC – The Commodore Ballroom
6/12 – Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room
6/13 – Calgary, AB – Republik
6/14 – Saskatoon, SK - Broadway
6/16 – Winnipeg, MB - Union Sound Hall
9/19 – Montreal, QC – Metropolis Theatre
9/20 – Quebec, QC – Le Cercle
4/29 – Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
5/1 – Atlanta, GA - Terminal West
5/2 – Nashville, TN - Exit/In
5/3 – Louisville, KY - Zanzabar
5/4 – Newport, KY - Southgate House Revival
5/5 – St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway Nightclub
5/7 – Iowa City, IA - The Mill
5/8 – Minneapolis, MN - The Varsity
5/9 – Madison, WI – Memorial Union Terrace
5/10 – Chicago, IL - The Empty Bottle
5/23 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
6/3 – Los Angeles, CA – The Troubadour
6/5 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
6/7 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
6/8 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
6/10 – Vancouver, BC – The Commodore Ballroom
6/12 – Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room
6/13 – Calgary, AB – Republik
6/14 – Saskatoon, SK - Broadway
6/16 – Winnipeg, MB - Union Sound Hall
9/19 – Montreal, QC – Metropolis Theatre
9/20 – Quebec, QC – Le Cercle
