On Monday nights, at Toad, I am lucky to be playing with:
Lou (the glue) Ulrich on bass, Paul Ahlstrand on saxamaphone Andy Plaisted on drums Sean Staples on mandolin and vocals Chris Anzalone on percussion Scott Aruda on trumpet
Another frequent band member who graces us with his presence is Steve Sadler on dobro and guitar
At Atwood's I play with several different combinations of these guys: Mikey Piehl drums Eric Royer less-pants-banjo and kickin' harmonies Jimmy Ryan mandolin Steve Sadler dobro and Dan Kellar fiddle
At The Burren, which is my 4 year old daughter, Maggie's, favorite gig, I play with: Sean Staples guitar, mandolin, vocals Eric Royer banjo and vocals Dan Kellar fiddle.
Influences
So many, but some are these: (not in any particular order)
The Beatles,The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Otis Redding, The Staple Singers, The Band, Ray Charles, Randy Newman, Fred McDowell, Leonard Cohen, Chris Smither, Van Morrison, Greg Brown, Townes Van Zandt, Snooks Eaglin, Chris Whitley, George Jones, Rod Stewart, Tom Waits, Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, Mississippi John Hurt, Simon and Garfunkle, Blind Willie Johnson, J.J. Cale, John Prine, Gladys Knight, Sam Cooke,Taj Mahal. There are just too many to name: I could go on and on and on...
People I'm listening to right now that I have on my "play lists:" Jesse DeNetale, Bill Frisell, Kelly Joe Phelps, Leon Russell, Liz Phair, Los Lobos, Nick Drake, Nirvana, Beck, Ry Cooder, Sam Cooke, Peter Case, Syd Barrett, Desmond Dekker,Gram Parsons, Joni Mitchell, Tim Easton, Rickie Lee Jones, Tom Petty, Van Morrison, Uncle Tupelo, Meg Hutchinson.....
There is so much local talent that I am fortunate enough to be friends with. So I'm going to do what my friends "The Resophonics" said and mention the Cambridge/Somerville community of musicians. You know who you are.
Session Americana doing Tim Gearans "Talk About Heaven"
Tim Gearan duet with Grace Potter featuring Sean Mandolin Man Staples
Tim in the studio recording "No Remedy" with the Toad Band
REVIEWS: Gearan has a 'Remedy' for roots-rock fans. You can't call it a best-kept secret anymore because the place is packed every week. Tim Gearan has had a Monday residency at Toad in Cambridge for 10 years now - and it's the busiest, flagship night for this roots-rock emporium.
Gearan also lives right up the street, but it's clear that his musical reach is much broader. On his new album, "No Remedy," he runs the gamut from rock and funk and gospel inspired by the Staple Singers and Blind Willie Johnson, to the country dynamism of Steve Earle and the piquant, off-beat satire of Gearan's idol, Randy Newman. "Randy is my man," says Gearan, who celebrates the new release tomorrow night at the Lizard Lounge.
"No Remedy," which is Gearan's fourth album, comes closest to capturing the high-energy, full-throttle spirit of his Toad soirees. The kickoff is the Springsteen-like "City of Refuge," featuring Gearan's biting slide guitar (he used to back Grammy nominee Susan Tedeschi) and smoldering horn bursts from local stalwarts Paul Ahlstrand and Scott Aruda, who typically back him on Mondays. The bluesy "Turpentine" sounds like Newman crossed with Levon Helm of the Band with its wry vocal that "the devil may care, but I tend to doubt it/ And the other guy is never at home." Local mandolinist Sean Staples adds some great filigree. Gearan is equally inspired on the scorching rave-up "Fickle Betty" (with Andy Plaisted wailing on drums) and the sudden solo-acoustic turn of "Cubby Oil Man," a reference to a Somerville oil company employee. With self-deprecating humor, Gearan sings to his lady, "I would get a job if I only knew how . . . I swear I'll understand if you run off with the Cubby Oil Man."
Gearan has a deep, drawling voice that quickly wins you over. His ragtime cover of "Sittin' on Top of the World" and James Taylor's "Lo and Behold" are further highlights, though most of his tunes are original and testify to his hard-gigging talent. He also plays Fridays at Atwood's Tavern in Cambridge in a more stripped-down setting. He is all over town, frankly, and often sits in with Session Americana as well. And he just performed on a bill in Scotland with fellow locals Alastair Moock, Rose Polenzani, and Kris Delmhorst.
But he really turns it loose with this new disc, which features area all-stars such as lap-steel guitarist Steve Sadler and bassist Lou Ulrich (formerly of Groovasaurus). They're the Boston equivalent of a roots-music dream team. In the liner notes, Gearan also thanks "the Monday night creatures at Toad." But you don't have to be a Monday creature to appreciate this new disc. Just hop on the bandwagon and enjoy.
-The Boston Globe
He's Gearan up for Fame. For years, the singer-songwriter has stuck to the cozy confines of Boston, where he’s revered by fellow musicians and roots music enthusiasts. But Gearan’s just too talented to remain a local hero. His world might get messier after the release of his fantastic new album, “No Remedy,” which Gearan will feature at a CD release party at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge tomorrow. Playing to adoring audiences in friendly pubs within a two-mile radius of his home, Gearan has become the residency king of the Hub. He plays regular gigs at the Burren on Sundays, Atwoods Tavern on Fridays and, for 12 years and counting, Toad on Mondays. The Midway Cafe offered another weekly gig, but Gearan turned it down. “I can only handle so much of me as it is,” he said over a few pints at the Burren. “Playing weekly residencies around town isn’t the most lucrative businesses in the world,” he said, “but I saw no point in stopping. It’s probably a flaw in my business thinking. People are so used to having you around, you become part of the decor.”
There’s no publicity machine churning away for Gearan. He puts his faith in talent alone.
“I always kind of felt I was doing a ‘if you build it, they will come kind of thing,’ ” he said, “so I’ve stuck with it, keeping my nose to the grindstone as a player and a songwriter. But I’ve never really put myself out there. I joke about it all the time, telling people I’m huge in Porter Square!”
Gearan cut his teeth as a sideman, playing guitar on the road for 10 years in Toni Lynn Washington’s band. When his wife got pregnant, Gearan decided to stay close to home and began writing songs. His first few records abandoned Washington’s blues-soaked r & b for minimalist country folk.
“I did a complete 180,” Gearan said. “I wanted to get far away from the r & b standard, horn band thing.” But on “No Remedy” he’s returned to his r & b roots. Approximating his raucous Monday nights at Toad, a large band swings behind Gearan’s raspy baritone. Gearan is so pleased with it that ambition may finally win out over comfort.
“Literally, this is the first time I’ve ever considered doing a publicity push,” he said, “and it’s all because of this band. These are my oldest and best friends in Boston. It’s a special record for that reason. We’ve been talking about doing this for 10 years and now we finally did it.”
-The Boston Herald
If you are looking to get your late-night singer-songwriter fix, your best bet is the Tim Gearan Band (Monday Nights) at Toad. His voice is as weathered and comfortable as faded leather, and his lyrics are often a gently stunning epiphany, as with the first line of "Big Balloon" from Trouble Wheels - "there's no such thing as a mild euphoria..."
- The Boston Globe
“Moving Day”Moving Day is a mature and focused work through and through. Gearan’s guttural voice bears a captivating, rustic quality-similar to the smokey style of M.Ward- yet evokes the warmth and wisdom of a time-tested songwriter. Gearan starts Moving Day with “What Went Wrong,” a song driven by an incessant percussive loop (wine glasses?)and a quick, choppy acoustic rhythm. His voice resonates smoothly through the musical proceedings, providing a narrative centerpiece. The song actually sounds a lot like the theme to The Sopranos. The album’s folky acoustic ballads are complemented by subtle banjos, violins, and some bluesy, Southern swing, perfected on “One Last Try.” Gearan dwells on particular phrases, such as “little heart sing” and “high and strong,” emphasizing how effective simple phrases can be when complimented by the right musical atmosphere. Soothing female vocals (Jennifer Kimball) serve as the perfect counterpoint to Gearan’s crackling voice. The ballad “Sometimes”features a satisfying electric twang, while Gearan hums about the hope and aspirations of future love while reminiscing the pain of past heartaches. Gearan’s southern blues influences are obvious on Moving Day, especially the old-time feel of Robert Johnson or the careful lenses of Randy Newman. A gifted songwriter and performer, Gearan has crafted a classic sounding album full of moments of understated beauty. In particular, the title track stands out as a prime example of how the meaning between words- and the moments between notes- hit hardest and with the most poignancy when left to linger in sparseness. Gearan spends the song playing with phrases beginning with “Something ‘bout”: “Something ‘bout a real long drive / North on 95 / Something ‘bout coming ‘round / To what you’ve found.” Of course he never tells the listener what “it “is. Rather, his words circle around the most ineffable of emotions, brushing up against them, but letting the sparsely performed instruments communicate their introspective beauty.
-The Northeast Performer
"Moving Day" is understated, exquisite..." The Boston Globe.
"Wat een heerlijk freaky begin van een cd!" Altcountry Netherlands gave "No Remedy" 5 out of 5 horses in a lead review this month. Read more at http://www.altcountry.nl/recensiesfeb08.htmlgearan and if you know what it says, send it to me!
A singer-songwriter moves to Boston and lands himself 10 year residency at a famed club. And he packs it out every week. Good fortune or deserved recognition? If you are a singer-songwriter with a penchant for soulful, thought-invoking roosty rock there is inevitably a warm welcome awaiting you in Boston, that Mecca of likeminded souls. Given that Gearan is currently into a ten year residency at a famed club in Cambridge Massachusetts, it is fair to say they have embraced him as one of their own. A style that casually rambles between Randy Newman and J J Cale, a kind of laid back Stephen Fearing if you like, Gearan is from a breed of songwriter that has perfected the art of making their subjects or characters as real to you as they are to them. Delving into the homes and minds of blue collar America with a passion and understanding of how these people live and breath without ever sounding excessively earnest is a skill that only great storytellers can pull off. Yup, you can file Gearan in that drawer for sure.“What Went Wrong,” a little bit Dylan a little bit Waites, takes a sideswipe at losing oneself from the scene of a crime whilst “Moving Day” is an almost perfect reflection on what it means to leave home and all those things you have taken for granted over the years. You can practically smell the brown overalls and feel the dust off the dustsheets. Gearan manages to hold your attention to the songs by practically grabbing you by the arm and dragging you into the story....he is subtle yet still leaves the door ajar for you to enter. It makes for a utterly compelling experience and earmarks this New York songwriter out as one to keep an eye on. You kind of get the impression that something special could be in the offing at some point. In the meantime "Moving Day" is a cracking record and will more than bridge the gap until the masterpiece arrives. No pressure then.
- Review from the UK site Americana-uk.com.
"Gearan has long been a roots-guitar MVP in the Boston area, but he’s also a talented songwriter and singer. The latter is no surprise to the folks who’ve been packing his Monday-night residency at Toad for years. "Trouble Wheels", his second album, brings his lyric, composing, and vocal skills to the fore, framing them in arrangements dominated by acoustic guitar and dobro. The playing is spare and exquisite, Gearan supported by fellow journeymen including Steve Sadler on guitars, banjo, mandolin, and accordion, Sean Staples on mandolin, and Jim Fitting (The Coots, Treat Her Right) on harmonica. Gearan's work is not precisely folk nor country, but a rootsy acoustic rock. The biggest surprise here is his burnished baritone vocals, a talent heretofore kept well hidden in his blues forays, but notable for its ease of control and resemblance to folk star John Gorka's rugged emotive power. If there is a poster child band for Americana music it would be The Band, and Gearan's "Green" evokes the best of that group's work."
-The Boston Phoenix
Tim has been playing in the Boston area for about 17 years and has been playing solo and with the Monday night band for about 11 years.
CLICKHERE to visit Tim's website where you can buy a CD, get a more detailed bio, hear some more tunes and read more reviews.
Or you can CLICKHERE to go direclty to cdbaby.com to buy a CD
OR, you can come to a show and tell me you want to buy one!
Havin' a sing-along with City of Refuge right about now.... good toe tapper too... good times visiting Atwoods to hear you all over Easter weekend... Happy 4th
Thanks for the add. I had the pleasure of catching one of your sets at Toad a while back, I loved it and became a huge fan! Your sound is really refreshing! Keep on keepin on, Catie
Hey Tim, nice to see you last night, you always rock my world. What was the name of the mixing studio in Central Square that you recommended? be well~ -Celia
