Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant, located at 121 W. 45th street in mid town, was the host for the launch of Not Fade Away Records’ third album “The Cost” by the Tim Young Band.

The party was a terrific celebration of over a year’s hard work. Recording began on the album during March of 2007. Tim had located the independent production team of Counter Clockwise Music through an association with Mike Stephens who hosts a podcast in Wayne, MI. Producer Mark Meisel heard the track ‘Renegade’ on Mike’s podcast and became interested in contacting Tim.

Tim Young – “The Cost”

That’s how the story begins. The rest, as they say, is history. The collaboration between Tim Young Band; Tim Young, rhythm guitar and lead vocals; and Sand Edwards, drums; and all involved from Counter Clockwise has been, in my humble opinion, a smashing success.

Since such strong bonds had been created during the week when basic tracks were recorded, not to say anything about the months of mixing through via emails, it only seemed damn appropriate that the entire Detroit team be on hand for the release party. Let’s say I was more than pleased when after I made the suggestion to Mark Meisel and Bob Becker that they get themselves to New York City for this party, they enthusiastically approved.

To make things even more complete, two other players who made such important contributions to ‘The Cost’ were also able to attend. Dave Leeds, who plays bass on all the tracks, as well as Bob’s brother, Rick Becker, who added the amazing electric guitar parts to the remake of ‘Renegade.’ Mark Meisel also tore the place up with his electric guitar. Mark added electric guitar to all the other tracks on the album in addition to all the keyboard parts.

It was the celebratory mood and the rejoining of old friends that helped to lift the party into the higher vibe at Connolly’s. The Klub Room is the party room and the good times are as easily spilled there as a pint of beer. Many old and new fans of the band were in attendance. Over one hundred in all. The constant gigging among the bars of Hell’s Kitchen’s ninth avenue have turned out to be so very valuable.

Aiding to the sounds of the party was Tim’s son, Adam, who brought along his laptop packed with great rock n roll to fill in the gaps when the band was not performing. Adam was also involved in one of the highlights of the show during a jam of Tim’s song ‘New Orleans’ at the very end of the performance when he and engineer Bob Becker popped up on stage to help sing the chorus.

That’s what was so appealing about the mood of the evening. An extended family brought back together for a reunion and I think everybody could feel those connections. Marks’ wife, Billie Meisel, also helped keep things flowing smoothly by seeing that everyone that came into the room received their copy of ‘The Cost’ for their five dollar contribution.

The music and enthusiasm would not be contained once the Klub Room had to dim the lights so an impromptu after party materialized at The famous bastion of dive bars, Rudy’s, over on ninth avenue and 44th street. The band and the entire Detroit contingent swooped into Rudy’s where, Danny, the most cordial manager, immediately tossed ‘The Cost’ CD on the player and everyone drank toasts aplenty. A fitting night cap to an evening replete with great friends and rock n roll.

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http://cdbaby.com/cd/timyoung3

Tim Young Band is becoming more and more associated with the Podcast nation. The first week of September has seen three podcasts pick up on the sounds of Tim Young Band.

Two on either side of our USA and one from our brothers and sisters in Italy. First up is a program from New Hampshire known as Opinionated Ramblings hosted by a DJ by the name of CeeJay. CeeJay chose to start off her Labor Day special podcast with the song ‘Work Today’ which is from Tim Young’s solo album RED. RED was released in the Spring of 2005. This year’s THE COST is the follow up. CeeJay is a southerner transplanted to New England and a musician herself. The Labor Day special is Podcast number 56 and first aired on September 1, 2008. http://ceejay64.blogspot.com/

‘Hangin In’ caught the ears of two gentlemen in Italy who have a podcast known as AmiciAmici. The site is all in Italian but it sounds like these guys really love what they do. ‘Hangin In’ debuts on their Podcast number 61 or Puntata 61. ‘Hangin In’ is showcased on THE COST. This program first aired on September 3, 2008. http://www.amiciamici.com/rubrica/podcast/

Rounding off the week was The choice of ‘Outta Town’, from THE COST. A very prolific podcaster by the name of David Tanny aired this track on his I Still Get Demented Podcast Edition show number 32 out of San Diego, CA. David makes special notice of ‘Outta Town’ and also fills his shows with parody and political humor. A very entertaining listen. Show number 32 first aired on September 6, 2008. http://www.dfsxradio.com/5200.htm

Podcasters are able to search for and find podsafe music, which is original music wholly controlled by its creators, at the Podsafe Music Network. Artists can create an account there and post the music they’d like to make available for podcast. http://music.podshow.com/

As this first week of September is demonstrating the music of Tim Young Band is appealing and attractive to people in the industry. These podcasters are among the vanguard in their support and attempts to help spread the buzz about these great songs. In addition, Tim Young Band, is beginning to build a potent web presence with the aid of MusicDish.com in their tireless efforts to help promote the new album THE COST.

www.timrocksweb.com

Tim Young Band’s ‘The Cost’ is the perfect summertime soundtrack. It feels best to listen to it while sitting in front of a campfire, surrounded by company but alone with your thoughts. Every fleeting idea of pain, loss, and confusion come to full circle on each track, bringing to light the themes we all need to spend time thinking about.

The single ‘The Cost’ tugs right at your heart-strings with fully-charged, emotive lyrics like ‘Now the night is sawin’ at my heart…nobody knows the cost of losing you.’ Moving forward from the pain of loss, this twang-y, sorrowful lament about heartbreak infuses country-western rock to create a catchy melody. ‘Outta Town’ adds the electric guitar and makes you imagine what it would be like to just run away from all your problems as Young lists daily hassles we all deal with, such as traffic, landlords, and stresses from work.

One of the strongest songs, with the best intro, is ‘Drifting Cowboy.’ With sliding guitar riffs, the vocals slow down, providing a nice tune to meditate to, amidst your confusion. While listening, you can actually envision a cowboy alone on the ranch, gazing out at the flat land ahead, wondering where to go. Creating an original story on this track, Young tells the tale of a young cowboy from Alabama who quit school: ‘Rejection filled his cup until he landed on the stage in Nashville.’ As Young switches to first person with ‘I’m a drifting cowboy,’ we have to wonder if Young himself is the drifting cowboy. Either way, the story is nothing short of riveting.

‘Just For You’ has a nostalgic feel to it, bringing Elvis’ generation of country/rock back to the mainstream music scene with strumming guitar and wailing, honest vocals: ‘I’d shine every night just for you / I can see just what I need to do.’ ‘Remember’ certainly has an Elvis attitude, with its ‘bad boy’ tone shining through: ‘And even when I write these words / I don’t understand the past.’ The track presents a concept any listener can understand: being at a crossroads of the past and present, trying to decipher what’s happened before in order to know where to go in the future.

On ‘Hangin’ In,’ Young sings the blues, country-style, telling middle class woes of trying to get by, while inspiring listeners to keep their heads up: ‘It’s a long road every day / everyone I know says they’re hangin’ in.’ Shifting the album’s tone, on ‘Cold Wind’ Young introduces the theme of being, as Bob Dylan sings, ‘Blowin’ in the wind’: ‘Cold wind keeps on blowin’ me around; cold wind spins the truth right through the ground.’

‘Renegade’ fittingly closes the album, since after moving from a wandering cowboy, to a lost soul, to the dust blowing through the cold wind, Young advances to a renegade: a proud, brave man advancing forward through nature and city scenes alike, ready to dominate whatever environment he finds himself in. Without looking back, and with his eyes always set straight ahead, Young proves the ability that we all have to completely move on past the painful yesterdays and transform ourselves into powerful individuals that we never thought we could become. Then, truly, the cost of the pain becomes inconsequential; all that matters are the rewards reaped from the incredible growth process that we all are able to enter and emerge from.

‘The Cost’ forces listeners to ask themselves, ‘Where am I? Where have I been? How does it all make sense?’ And more importantly, ‘Where am I going?’ But by the time the CD stops spinning, you realize, thanks to the Tim Young Band, that, no matter what the answers are, everything’s going to be all right.

http://www.timrocksweb.com
http://www.myspace.com/timnycyoung