American Fork, Utah. That's the hometown of Timmy the Teeth, a self-described "wonky-tonk" songwriter whose music — a blend of story-based folk and off-kilter Americana, shot through with equal parts honesty and humor — echoes his city's mix of rural charm and city smarts.
After logging nearly a half-decade as the touring drummer for Joshua James, Timmy kicked off his solo career with 2015's "Just Another Day". The album became a regional hit, re-establishing Timmy not only as an instrumentalist, but as a frontman, too. Two years later, the follow-up record "Ain't That Bad" doubled down on his reputation as a first-rate songwriter, with 11 new songs that find Timmy taking stock of love, life, and all points in between.
"I've always liked a organic, raw sound," Timmy explains. "Josh has a really good ear for capturing that vibe. Also, he lives just down the street, so the whole experience felt like I was home."
That warm, organic, timeless sound is exactely what I am looking for as Songpickr and I think that's the reason why Timmy's music became one of my absolute favorites.
The song "What's it like" is off Timmy's debut album. The video has been directed by Arash Armin and has never been released until now. The song is heavy and deep but the music is heartwarming and the video is perfect for the colder time of the year.
Timmy the Teeth - What's it like (Video):
Timmy the Teeth - What's it like (Lyrics):
hey grandma, what's it like,
to take a one way ticket flight, out of this life?
is everything draped in white?
can you fly? grandma, what's it like?
it's just another cigarette,
another chance to forget,
it's just another bad decision,
a different rhyme, a different reason
if you keep on keepin on,
it won't be long 'fore you're dead and gone,
that's just another monkey on your back.
it could be a car crash,
or it could be a heart attack,
could even be you're home in bed lyin' on your back, dead asleep
it could be the cigarettes,
it could even be the regret
of what ya did or didn't do,
it can eat you, just like the cancer can
hey grandma, what's it like,
is everything draped in white?
hey grandma, what's it like did you and grandpa reunite?
it's just another cigarette,
another chance to forget.
His second album "Ain't That Bad" was co-produced by Timmy and Joshua James. Neighbors as well as bandmates, the two tracked the album at James' home studio in American Fork. Sessions lasted one week, with an emphasis on live vocal takes and natural-sounding arrangements.
There's a laid-back swagger to "Ain't That Bad", whose songs were written by Timmy and decorated with acoustic guitar, pedal steel, piano, and harmonica. "Jewelry Box" nods to his side-job as a woodworker, while "Dollar Daze" finds him mixing the twang of his voice with the buzz of a synthesizer riff. He pulls double-duty as the album's drummer, too, stomping his way through the fuzzed-out rock song "Till It's Gone" before driving songs like "Hoot Hoot" — a nostalgic, countryfied tribute to his grandmother — forward at cruising speed.
Speaking of driving, Timmy knows a thing or two about sitting behind the wheel. Having spent years in the van with Joshua James, he's now traveling the country on his own tours, opening up for songwriters like American Aquarium frontman B.J. Barham, Imagine Dragon's Dan Reynolds, and Damian Jurado along the way. With Ain't That Bad, he's exploring new territory, delivering positive-minded, roots-driven music with a wink.
Listen to more of his music below...
Timmy the Teeth - Ain't that bad (2017):
Timmy the Teeth - Just another day (2015):
More information incl. tour dates, etc. on his website...
All photos by Duston Todd