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A while ago I promised a review of the Tim Reynolds shows and the rest of the tour in April. While I do apologize that it has taken me this long, I must say that it has taken me this long to process everything that took place on the stint with Tim.

We began our trek with a ‘not so solid’ gig in Salt Lake City. For the technically inclined; I got a new switch that separates my loops and my guitar into two channels. Glenn then mixes them (an EQ’s) them individually and they become two instruments. For the layman; it sounds a hell of a lot better. I placed this switch in the wrong place and kept sweeping another knob with my heel. I must have done this ten times during the performance! Glenn could not hear, neither could I and thus, we had a nice little warm-up for the TR shows.

Now it is Easter Sunday and we go from Salt Lake to Las Vegas. From the uptight and conservative to the tattooed and seedy…ah yes, the splendor that is the $29.00 a night room area of Vegas. If you have not been, do not go. (Please refer to room pic for further evidence.) We stay the night and then it is onto Phoenix.

The first show with Tim was stellar. Ian and Kevin make it into Phoenix and then the duo of Glenn and M.E. turns into the foursome to be reckoned with. We sold a tremendous number of CD’s as Ian pimped them, ever so professionally, to the audience at the merch desk. Glenn ran sound for TR as well. This is something he has always wanted to do. Kevin taped the shows (audio and video) and then became the driver for the next few dates. We were a well oiled machine after a few days together.

Hanging with Tim, Fluffy, Tim Rew and my other three best friends was the most amazing experience I have ever had. It is difficult to explain because it became much more than I could have ever imagined. Kevin put it best when he said “It was as if all of our good karma was paid back to us in one trip.”… (Kevin, hope I didn’t bastardize your words.) So many good things were happening that I could not take them all in. Not to mention the fact that I was playing with Tim each night for the encore.

The funniest encore took place in Santa Cruz at Moe’s Alley. This show had some tremendous technical problems, so we did not get a recording. I helped tech Tim’s gear because his six string was not working; cords were buzzing, the guitar was fading in and out etc, and Fluffy was sweating. Finally, we replaced a few cables and the show continued. I came up for the encore and we decide to play “All Blues”; a Miles Davis tune we had discussed earlier. There is a heavily lubricated frat boy type sitting directly in front of us, less than two feet away, and he is talking to a friend on his cell phone. He is extremely loud and as we begin the tune he starts saying “dude, you will never guess who I am watching right now dude…fucking Tim Reynolds!”… “Yea man, I am sitting right in front of him…I could reach out and touch him, that’s how close I am!”… “Dude, he’s fucking tearing it up!!” Tim and I are laughing the whole time. Most everyone in the audience could hear the guy and they were attempting to shush him until his phone call ended.

Every single show was memorable. There are so many stories that it would be impossible to tell all of them. Needless to say I cannot wait until the next tour. FYI: There will most likely be another this year! If you have not had the opportunity to catch one of these shows, I would encourage you to travel to one. It is a very special thing, even if I do say so myself. Tim is one of the most extraordinary musicians and people on the planet. I learned so much from playing with him and having the wonderful opportunity to be around him. The experience was like a Paul Simon lyric: “There once was a teacher of great renown, whose words were like tablets of stone.” I am still lost in the feeling of those shows…and I know that everyone who was there is too.
Sperls, Kevin, and Glenn, (or anyone who attended) please add to this post and share a story or two.

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