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I had the pleasure of being invited to a showcase for the
former frontman of the Murfreesboro, TN,
power-pop/piano-rock outfit Fluid Ounces. Seth Timbs, somewhat of a local
songwriting hero around the MTSU campus, has recently
re-located to Los Angeles and is in the process of shopping
around new music, and with Timbs, it seems that there is
always new music.
With a few Nashville label executives in place, as well as a
decent-sized smattering of locals, Seth took the stage
previously occupied by only a lonely piano and guitar.
Known to be quite a prolific songwriter, Timbs (as did his
former band) seems content to exist somewhere between
The Beatles and Ben Folds 5; between Jackson Brown and
James Brown.
Most likely his instrument of choice, the piano was the first to
feel his wrath; and four bouncy, technical, flair-ridden songs
were the result. Timbs is quite an accomplished pianist and
by the third song, "Make It Through," he was in fine form.
Next was the enjoyable "Nobody Loves You," which seems to
be Timbs' impression of the tattered-love balladeer - a
technique any songwriter worth the price of a piece of blank
sheet music needs to have in his bag of tricks.
Seth broke out the guitar for his next two efforts. "Fool
Around," a coming-of-age, teen-love escapade about having
the parents out of the house (which unfortunately hits a little
too close to home) includes the classic double- (or more)
entendre of "Gonna get full-grown." Second was "Selma
Lou," one of the finer moments of the showcase with its
simple, bluesy progression and quasi-Buddy Holly feel.
Timbs is obviously as technically dexterous with his left hand
lead work on guitar as he is with his right hand flourishes on
piano.
The artist finished out the short set with two more piano
numbers, "Crazies" and "Big Deal (Out Of Nothing)" - rockers
both - the latter being adequately cute, yet not overly cliche,
where some artists in this vein tend to go. His inspired
vocals and highly developed playing are surely to be the
stuff of note around LA. His work is danceable and playful,
and his efforts are as radio-ready as anything you've heard
by Five For Fighting or the aforementioned Folds.
With all the chops in his bag, it's also nice to see the
performer not self-indulgently noodling or showing off.
Instead, the keyboard flourishes and the moderate guitar
flash seem to devote themselves more to what is the real
icon here - the song.
In a quick post-performance conversation (that was off the
record - sorry, Seth), I asked the artist about Ben Folds
comparisons. I mean, it's going to happen, with the quirky,
out-of-place-love feel of the songs, and oh, the piano.
Suffice it to say that Timbs seems to be somewhat of a fan
of the Chapel Hill crooner, and dislikes comparisons in
general, as does every musician I've ever spoken with. But
when you really think about it, I've never seen Ben Folds
drop massive guitar licks.
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