Tim the Alien

Today's post is a Tim Reynolds appreciation post.  I realize that I haven't heard every guitar player on the planet, but Tim is definitely up there on my list of super-amazing guitarists.  Thanks to my love of Dave Matthews and Band (is there nothing this man can't do?) I was introduced to the music of Tim Reynolds. 

Tim was born in Germany, to extremely religious parents, and after moving around the world and through the US Midwest, he eventually took up residence in Charlottesville, VA.  This is where he met Dave.  I was fortunate to see him and his band, TR3, play in Davenport in 2008 and 2009, and was completely blown away.  He's a bit difficult to understand when he talks, and in interviews, he's talked about being from a different planet, but good grief, the man can play a guitar.  As a guitarist friend of mine commented, after we went to see TR3 play, "'that's a lot of notes."  True, but all good and really innovative notes.  Listening to Tim's music is like going through a soundscape of different jagged edges.  At first listen, it seems chaotic, but actually it's all very logical.  TR3's first studio release was Radiance in 2009, and this album would be a good one to look into as a first time listener. 

He's experimental, using different technologies and sound loop systems to create, and makes full use of time signatures, styles, and melodic harmonic devices.  I am generally hard to impress, especially when it comes to the ubiquitous guitar player, but I am thoroughly impressed with Tim's skill.  And if you see TR3 in concert, you may be lucky enough to see the Pooh Bear Wearing Gas Mask and Cow dancing around onstage.  Large dancing animals is always a plus in my book.

Equally competent on electric and acoustic, he's been known to pick up other instruments such as the banjo and sitar.  TR3 tours the country, and Tim can be seen as one half of the Dave and Tim acoustic duo and he's appeared on nearly every one of DMB's studio albums.  As a personal record, in addition to the couple of times I saw his band play, I've seen him perform a Dave and Tim set at the 2011 DMB Caravan and at every DMB show I've been able to attend.  Rounding out the TR3 trio on bass is Mick Vaughn, and Dan Martier on drums.

If you get an opportunity to see Tim play, as a part of a DMB show or as TR3 or just by himself, I highly recommend it.  And who knows, maybe we are all aliens.