Gator Lake Road (Bark, self-titled, 2015)

In January of last year, Susan took an interest in playing the drums. TL3 drummer Chris Bratta showed her a few things, wrote her some practice charts, and encouraged her to go for it.

She did.

Within a couple weeks, I could hear her in the basement playing along with Creedence Clearwater Revival records. It was impressive.

Playing any musical instrument is a lot more fun when given a context, i.e. playing with other humans, so after a while I joined in.

Taking our cues from heroes like Tony Joe White, the Gun Club, R.L Burnside, and the Cramps, as well as Knoxville friends such as Big Bad Oven and Daddy Don't, our duo thing took shape pretty quickly, especially after I procured a Bass VI (basically a six-string guitar that is tuned a whole octave lower than standard).

We had some ideas for songs, found our groove, Susan dubbed it Bark, and in June our little side project made its debut at the Pilot Light opening for Wreckless Eric.

Since then, we've played several shows in and out of town, written more songs, and recorded an eight-song EP that is now available as a premium when you pre-order the TL3's "33-1/3" LP or CD.

Today's Friday Freeload features "Gator Lake Road," a song from that EP, which we recorded live with our friends John Harvey and Mary Podio at Top Hat East here in Knoxville. (Did I mention that Susan sings while she's drumming? Yeah, that's live too on this recording.)

Oh yeah, Gator Lake Road is a real place.

Dig it.

— TL

"Gator Lake Road" is from the 8-song self-titled EP Bark, part of the premiums for pre-ordering the Tim Lee 3 new release, "33.1/3" ... go here.

http://igg.me/p/1027049/x/1825679

Bark can be found online at www.bark-loud.com and www.facebook.com/Bark.Bark.Loud

Gator Lake Road (Bark)

This track is from the album 33 1/3 and is available for purchase on CD Baby here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/timlee313

Shut Up and Kiss Me

Daddy's Girl

This track is from the album Raucous Americanus and is available for purchase on CD Baby here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/timlee31

What I Have Not Got

Where Things Get Lost

Looking for the Door

(Let's Do) Something Stupid

Night Takes Legs

We recorded this track for a film project that was put on the back burner for the time being. We dig it so much that we thought we'd just throw it out there for y'all.

Recorded at John Baker's studio, The Arbor, with John Baker and Gray Comer at the board, "Take Me Back to Happy Valley" is a traditional bluegrass tune, and original recordings of the song fall squarely within that genre with banjo, mandolin, and quick tempo. For comparison, The Bailey Brothers/Happy Valley Boys recorded a version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdvp_CqMV8k).

We decided to turn the song on it's head a bit. We slowed it down significantly, put it in a minor key, and used mostly low-end instrumentation. Susan played Bass (and sang), Tim played Bass VI, Chris played percussion, and we brought in guests: Daniel Kimbro played bowed upright Bass, and Greg Horne played a long-scale Banjo borrowed from John Harvey and Mary Podio at Top Hat Studio.

What we came up with sounds more like a murder ballad.

So, listen, download, and enjoy our year's end gift for you.

Here's to a rockin' 2016 for us all!

~ Tim, Susan & Chris

TimLee3

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