Atlanta Music Scene Has Moved To WordPress
Slowly but surely, the Atlanta Music Scene blog has been transitioning to WordPress - a bigger and better blogging and commenting experience!
See you there, at http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-music-scene/
Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2009 > February > 06 > Entry
Tim Brantley - From The Road
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today’s Dispatch From The Road comes from Atlanta pop-rocker Tim Brantley, in town tonight at Smith’s Olde Bar and due back to play Eddie’s Attic March 27.
Will you be at Smith’s this evening? Already picked up “Goldtop Heights” on iTunes?
Then you should especially appreciate this “postcard”:
Greetings from Atlanta! Now, I know this is supposed to be a message from the road or some exotic locale but truth be told, I’m sitting in my studio right now…I just did a November and December run with Graham Colton, Michael Tolcher and Bryan Greenberg that was a lot of fun. I’m getting ready to play an Atlanta show on Friday with the band for the first time in a year. They’re gonna put me on a the television that morning as well so you should tune in if you have a set… There’s a tour coming up along the east coast that will take us up to the official release of my new record “Goldtop Heights” in stores in April (it’s out on itunes now)…I guess to me, the record is an account of my time here in the city…I tried to get back to the music that I listened to as a boy growing up here- and I really tried to capture that feeling I got going downtown with my parents as a kid to Braves games and parades and the park and whatever else…I had such a great time making the record. We recorded it downtown in Castleberry Hill and I had the pleasure of working with some A+ musicians. Me and the boys are really excited to play these songs off the record live for the first time as a band. Lately, I’ve been traveling around doing a lot of radio shows to promote the single “Damage”. It’s been a lot of fun meeting and working with the great folks on our radio waves… Actually getting to a point in my musical career where I’m able to do these things is a real honor-and obviously something I have been working very hard to achieve for the last number of years.
Compared to making the record, being on the road is a breeze…It’s great to be able to play songs with a clean slate every night for new people and see their reactions…It’s a lot different actually recording the record in that you obsess for months on it’s final shape- then you have to eventually make that decision of when to let it go. Playing a song live is like getting a mulligan every night if you want it, and you never have that much time to worry about anything…every day a new town- with new people. I think that if there is a downside to the road- it’s the long drives. After the first couple of 15 hour drives, you’re tired of every album you own, and your life is this funny cycle of getting gas and stopping at rest areas. And drinking lattes. I like to drive in silence. I also like to spend too much money on cheap necklaces and weird things at truck stops. It passes the time. Like little pockets of excitement. If you ever wonder what it’s like, listen to that Bob Seger song “Turn the Page” because it absolutely captures the feel of the road. It’s really paints a perfect picture. There are places where you’ll stop and people will just stare at you because you’re different. I’ve had old guys point and make fun of me because I have long hair. You almost feel like you’re stuck in that restaurant scene in “Easy Rider” or something…
I’m very proud of the fact that I’m from Atlanta. It’s always great to come home from a tour and see that familiar skyline. I like to drive straight home after the last show no matter how far it is because I’m usually that ready to be back…I sneak through the city in the middle of the night and sleep all day because honestly, there’s not a lot of sleeping while you’re gone…That’s usually followed the next day by going to eat at one or more of my favorite spots, and taking a motorcycle ride. Let me tell you, there’s nothing like La Fonda Latina or Harry’s in the Highlands after a month away…
I hope you can make it out [tonight] to Smiths Olde Bar. We’d love to have you. Looking forward to seeing some new faces this weekend and hopefully growing together with the good people of Atlanta.
Here’s to our great city,
Tim Brantley
Permalink | |
Post a comment
*HTML not allowed in comments. Your e-mail address is required.