For the second album in a row, Tim opened his tour in Minneapolis smack dab in the dead of winter. And last night was particularly nasty, so it was encouraging to see a couple hundred brave souls head out on a crappy Tuesday night.
After touring solo last year Tim is performing this year with drummer Miles Loretta and bass player Keith Hanna. This is a no frills yet very competent trio who cover a variety of styles quite nicely. After seeing several sterling solo sets from Tim over the last few years it was a blast to see him in an electric setting for the first time in almost 2 years (he toured briefly with Rosavelt in the spring of 2001 and played a few dates with a pared down, Tweedy-less Wilco in the months before that when "The Truth About Us" was released).
Tim was clearly itching to play, pumped about the new record and excited to be "plugged in" - the show went on for 2-1/4 hours (!!). Tim kept joking on about venturing too close to "jam" territory as the songs just kept pouring out. Tim is actually a pretty decent electric guitarist (as anyone who ever saw the Haynes Boys can attest to) and the live versions of much of the stuff from the new record were louder and edgier than the more finely tuned studio arrangements. Tim didn't touch an acoustic guitar for well over an hour when we finally got a few riveting solo songs.
The biggest surprise of the night was the pointed avoidance of "The Truth About Us" material - only a few songs and 2 of those were drastically rearranged. More songs from "Special 20" were performed than from "Truth". Also interesting was the presence of some "new" songs - a few from 2001 that didn't make the cut for the new record and some of even more recent vintage. It was kinda funny to hear somebody talking about the "next record" on he first date of a 2 month tour in support of the "new" record.
Aside from all the great "Break Your Mothers Heart" songs, the personal highlights for me included a solo reading of a stunning new song ("Reliable Man," also performed last fall) and 2 songs from "Special 20" that I'd never seen live before ("Just Like Home" and "Everywhere is Somewhere").
Needless to say, based on this fine debut performance I'd highly recommend this tour to anyone lucky enough to be in its path. The band chemistry was very good for a first show and I'm sure it will improve in the coming weeks. Tim's a great songwriter, a compelling performer and a hell of a nice guy, too. BYMH is a brilliant album and contains some of Tim's best ever songs (Rolling Stone will be giving it 4 stars in an upcoming issue, for what that's worth). BTW, all three of his albums are available for sale at the shows along with some cool tour posters.
SETLIST
Tim Easton + band
400 Bar - Minneapolis, MN - 11 February 2003
1. Watching the Lightning
2. Poor, Poor LA
3. Black Hearted Ways
4. Lexington Jail
5. John Gilmartin
6. Half a Day
7. Amor Azul
8. Just Like Home
9. Hanging Tree
10. True Ways
11. Everywhere is Somewhere
12. All the Pretty Girls Leave Town
13. Special 20
14. Man That You Need (solo acoustic)
15. Next to You (new) (solo acoustic)
16. Carry Me (acoustic)
17. Don't Walk Alone
18. Baltimore (new)
19. Out of Your Life
20. Lonesome, Lonesome (??) (new)
21. Bad Florida
22. Listen to Her Heart (Tom Petty cover)
23. I Am a Pilgrim (Merle Travis cover)
24. Rewind
25. Reliable Man (new) (solo acoustic)
26. Long Cold Night (new)
27. I Want You (She's So Heavy) (Beatles cover)
28. Pick a Bale of Cotton (trad / Leadbelly "cover")
Tim Easton 2003 tour
2/11: Minneapolis, 400 Bar
2/12: Madison, Club Montmarte
2/13: Chicago, The Abbey Pub
2/14: Columbus, OH, Little Brothers
2/15: Pittsburgh, PA, Club Cafe Live
2/18: Arlington, VA, Iota Club and Cafe
2/19: New York, Village Underground
2/20: Boston, TT the Bear's
2/21: Philadelphia, The Point
2/22: Cleveland, Beachland Ballroom
2/24: Grand Rapids, MI, One Trick Pony
2/27: Asheville, NC, Grey Eagle Tavern
2/28: Winston Salem, NC, The Garage
3/1: Atlanta, Red Light Cafe
3/4: Louisville, KY, Gerstles
3/7: Dayton, OH, Canal St. Tavern
3/8: Nashville, Exit/In
3/11: Dallas, Gypsy Tea Room
3/12: San Antonio, Casbeers
3/20: Los Angeles, Largo
3/22: San Francisco, Bottom of the Hill
3/27: Seattle, Tractor Tavern
3/28: Portland, OR, Aladdin Theater
Thursday, February 13, 2003
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