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Concert Wed Apr 13 2011
Preview: Tim Larson and The Owner/Operators
This weekend Tim Larson and The Owner/Operators will celebrate the release of their new album A New Deal by playing a special CD release show at Beat Kitchen Friday night and two afternoon shows on Saturday in honor of Record Store Day.
A New Deal is a consciously thematic album. It's a collection of blue-collar anthems detailing the strife of America's working class in recent years. But with Larson's extreme insight and articulate storytelling abilities, it's a theme that hardly grows old during the album's 10 tracks. It gains both authenticity and listenability through the combination of Larson's longtime experiences as an asphalt worker and his classical training in music.
While the initial draw of this album might be the raw emotions Larson captures in his lyrics and the often heartwrenching subject matter he focuses on, there's plenty to be said for the disc's musical elements as well. On A New Deal, the Owner/Operators create alt-rock blends of acoustic and electric sounds all serenaded by Larson's deep croon. The seemingly endless layers of strings—via mandolin, electric bass and a variety of guitars including acoustic, electric and lap steel—contribute heavily to the overall rich, wholesome quality that this album possesses.
While the songs on Larson and Co.'s latest could be described as protests and contain some undeniably harsh moments, both lyrically and musically, A New Deal still saves itself from the trap of sounding whiney or melodramatic. This album is a legitimized tribute to the same working class that Larson grew up in on Chicago's south side, but that's not to say it's unrelatable for listeners of a different ilk. It's an eye-opening documentation of the struggles faced by what many would argue to be the hardest working class in our society.
Tim Larson and The Owner/Operators will be showcasing songs from A New Deal live all weekend. You've got three chances to catch them. First at the Beat Kitchen (2100 W. Belmont) on Friday night, April 15. The show starts at 10pm and is 21+. Tickets are $8. The Owner/Operators will play two shows the following day (April 16). The band plays at Vintage Vinyl in Evanston (925 Davis St.) starting at noon. Then at Gramaphone Records (2843 N. Clark) at 2pm. Both shows are free and all ages.
Patrick / April 13, 2011 4:49 PM
Cannot wait for this show...the opening act, Wolf Ram Heart are good too. Larson and the owner operators just get better and better.