Show Review: Tim Be Told

Asian Student Association and Middle Eastern Student Association sponsored a celebration of Asian Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern heritage month in the Union on Friday featuring student performances capped off with a show by pop-rockers Tim Be Told, 3 of the 4 members of which are of Asian descent.

Hip-hop-inflected drums and funky six-string bass support bluesy guitar and Tim Ouyang's bouncy piano playing and soulful vocals, providing a sound reminiscent of a rock take on John Legend or pop variant of The Black Keys. Lyrically, Tim Be Told is a product of the intimate confessionals that have become emo's lasting legacy in the music industry, letting doubts and insecurities shine through between hopeful moments born of the band's Christian background. With everything from wailing solos to catchy singalongs, Ouyang and company bring an appealing live show, right down to self-deprecating humor and compelling explanations of song's content. Pick up their latest effort Humanity [here].

Getting Some Artist Love

Every once in a while an artist is impressed enough by what I've said about them here to link to it or quote it in one of their media outlets. While many might post a link on Facebook or Twitter, a few have paid me the respect of doing so in a more permanent way:

• Will Gray posted my review of his show at b-sides on his blog. [this review]

• Alex Brubaker has a link to one of my show reviews up on his Myspace. [this review]

• MC Psalmist quotes me in his SonicBids EPK under "Press". [this review]

• Kyle Rictor includes me on his website under "Fan Testimonials". [this review]

Photo of Kyle & Kelsey Rictor courtesy of Megan Kelley

• For those interested, you should come see Kyle Rictor at B-sides on Wednesday.

• MC Psalmist recently put out the Friends'n'Family mixtape with some of the artists who also played the show I reviewed at MCPC.

• Alex Brubaker will be playing with Suzi Brown, who has been on The Fox and the Hound, at The Whole Cannoli on Saturday the 26th (I'm missing it for my sentencing in Wilmington, DE).

• Will Gray has a great documentary out about the music business called *Broke. It features interviews with everyone from John Legend to vice presidents of labels like Sony and Columbia.