The peoples' democratic blog of Matt Hayward

Timbo was in pretty good form today. Not fantastic, but not bad. He seems to be at the tail end of a rather harrowing experience and might just pull through. In hindsight, he’s become like a negro, Delta blues star: idolised by everyone for years to come but no one would want to be in his shoes.

I’ve spent most of today in a melancholy mood listening to ‘Ghost Songs’ on repeat. On first impressions, ‘Dirty Ron’ has lost the cool, rocking country twang of Spit Polish and is trying to pull off some Rockabilly shit thing. It’s just not working for me yet. But ‘Ghost Songs’ is uniquely poignant and almost voyeuristic and compelling, like what ‘Big Brother’ is meant to be. There is a tragedy in the boy that’s for sure!

So what better way to finish a day listening to dulcet, yet depressing duos on Ghost Songs, than to see Timbo play? There were about 200 or so people there. You have to give it to Timmy, even though he couldn’t remember half of his own tunes (hey man, he’s written HUNDREDS and blatantly hadn’t rehearsed), he’d play ‘em in a heartbeat if asked. Two people came up and sang.

He was in good humour, although he seemed to have an epiphany when he read the liner notes of his own CD. Poor bastard wen’t silent. Now Timmy’s stopped playing his Guild acoustics, his guitar sound is a little more shallow. I have to admit i’m not completely taken with it.

Anyway it was good to see Timmy soldiering on. He reckons You Am I have recorded 7 tracks for their new album. And they only pan out to about 17 minutes. So there’s a bit of animosity comin’ our way, that’s for sure. After Dirty Ron, I can’t wait! It will be a welcome change.