[Harbours' frontman and friend of Stranger Dance, Miguel Zelaya, was nice enough to contribute a review of Timber Timbre's recent show (9/18/09) at the Rickshaw Stop. Full disclosure: Harbours were the opening for this show.]

Last Friday at the early Rickshaw Stop matinee show, Timber Timbre’s subtle musical confidence won over the audience that so wisely chose to see the Toronto based band. Front-man Taylor Kirk’s take on American roots music has transformed from his early bedroom blues days into a fully realized cinematic, character driven, song-scape (yes, made-up word). The three-piece band’s performance immediately dropped you into a deep, dark forest haunted by David Lynch imagery and murky, creaking, swamp waltzes. First impressions were guided by the familiar voice of Taylor Kirk and his dour Americana lyrics which tip a hat broadly to the Southern Gothic writers.

The thing that floored me was the band’s controlled dynamics, sense of drama, and mildly theatrical scenes they seemed to conjure up. Leaving few gaps between songs, the audience soon realized this was a complete performance piece rather then a regular song-by-song set. Midway through the performance, the band looped live bird whistles and cricket sounds which, if used to open the show may have felt heavy handed, but in this instance it worked in a surprising crafty way to breathe life into their songs.

The dense atmosphere created by “the band,” consisting of Mika Posen on violin and Simon Trottier on pedal steel, includes the use of a variety of pedals and noisy tricks & treats, usually reverb drenched, which the band shaped and manipulated live by hands & foot. All while Kirk played electric guitar seemingly styled after latter-day Tom Waits; deeply echoed and perfectly overdriven. Kirk also played a bass drum which served to accent his already percussive woozy bluesy guitar playing. The three-piece band played so tastefully even during the brash bits of screeching strings and background hollers.

Simply put, when it came time to play “the song” the band got out of the way and let the singing and words take the lead. The ebb and flow of noise & quiet, song & atmosphere worked so well. Meeting Kirk afterwards provided a great foil to all those ghostly sounds with his down-to-earth, appreciative, and slightly goofy demeanor. After all, the play had finished and the lead character was able to relax and have a beer with his fans.

-M. Zelaya
myspace.com/harbours

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For more Zelaya, catch the 5th Annual Jeffrey Luck Lucas and Justin Frahm Birthday Concert this Sunday, which this year focuses on the music of Leonard Cohen. Historically this event has taken place at The Rite Spot, with local musical talent celebrating everything from The Velvet Underground to Paul McCartney. Due to the popularity, a bigger space was chosen this year.

There will be a back-up band and solo acts and some in-between. Local luminaries singing their favorite Cohen tunes (spanning Cohen’s entire career) include Kelly Stoltz, Sean Smith, Nathan Wanta, Kira Lynn Cain, Miguel Zelaya, James Finch Jr, Sara Beth Nelson, Tom Heyman, etc. etc. as well as the birthday boys themselves.

It only costs $7 for a night of the incredible songwriting of Leonard Cohen and incredible performances and interpretations by some of SF’s finest musicians.