Well Tim Hicks “Sophomore” album was released just over 3 weeks ago today, and it has stood at the top of the Canadian Country Charts since. Lets just say Tim has had a chance to grow his audience touring the country over the past 18 Months. The album / download sales are showing that Canada has grown very fond of Mr. Hicks.
The first time I saw Tim perform was August 1st, 2013 at First Canadian Place in downtown Toronto on a promo tour for Throwdown. Tim hit the stage cranked out a 28 min set with the soon to be and already chart topping songs like “Get By”, “Buzz Buzz Buzzin” and “Hell Raisn’ Good Time”. This “Mall” setting as Tim puts it was a pretty cool place to see an up and coming artist in an intimate setting.
Fast forward almost 12 months to the day (ok 4 days but damn close) and Tim releases 5:01 an album full of soon to be chart topping singles. On the first single Tim didn’t hold back, and kept the with his foot stompin’, fist pumpin’, raise your glass, Kick Ass brand of music. “Here Comes The Thunder” is that single and for any of you that have seen one of his performances this summer (I may have seen a couple) when the thunder rolls at the beginning of the set and Tim hits the stage with this song it sets up for one hell of a ride. That is exactly what he did with the album kicking off 5:01 with “Here Comes The Thunder” followed by “Dust and Bone” which has a very catchy slide guitar riff with what i believe might be a cow bell that mixes with the electric guitar extremely well. 5:01 has a couple slower more heart felt songs with “She Don’t Drink Whiskey Anymore” & the duet with label mate Madeline Merlo “Ready to Say Goodnight”. Its these songs that really change the landscape for Tim in my opinion by showing a softer and more may be personal side of the artist.
Don’t get me wrong tracks such as “So Do I” , “My Baby, “Hands Up” & my personal favorite “Calling All Trucks” are all airwave crushin’ tracks that sound best cranked up to 10. But its songs like “You Know You’re Home”, “Ready to Say Goodnight” and “She Don’t Drink Whiskey Anymore” that show that Tim is capable of more than just E/G Chord drinking songs. Adding songs like the aforementioned show’s that this guy won’t burn and fizzle anytime soon. This album really is all killer with no filler.
As an artist it seems Tim has brought so much more to the table on 5:01 having the chance to write with some of Nashville’s best song writers such as Phil Barton, Gordie Sampson and of course buddies Noel Billings & Jeff Coplan of Blackjack Billy all of which have a great writing resume . As previously mentioned I was a huge fan of Throwdown but I think 5:01 has set the bar high for Country music in Canada and believe this guy is going to have a few hits south of the border on this one. Tim is about to embark on a Cross Canada Tour with Dierks Bentley and take the stage next month at the CCMA Awards in Edmonton on CBC September 7th. If your in the Toronto area he is also going to be playing the CNE on Friday Aug 29th with Kira Isabella trust me you won’t want to miss this one! I will have my interview with Tim from Boot’s & Hearts posted by the end of the week.
Corey Kelly / @CoreyKelly76
www.kiraisabella.ca
