Bozeman Magazine

To celebrate thirty years of traveling with and writing songs on his black Gibson J-45 acoustic guitar named "Paco,' Nashville based songwriter Tim Easton recorded an entire album DIRECT TO LACQUER at The Earnest Tube Studio in Bristol, Virginia. This performance based method of capturing songs leaves no room for manipulation or overdubbing, therefore conjuring the roots of American Music. Each track was recorded via portable lathe which cuts a mono signal directly to a lacquer acetate disc, much the way The Carter Family or Jimmie Rodgers would have made their first records in Bristol over 90 years ago. In as much time as it takes to listen, Easton recorded nine original songs and one cover using a single 1940's RCA 74B ribbon microphone, alternating between the rapid fire flat- picking and steady Travis-style thumb picking technique that he has been streamlining all these years, coupled with his Country Blues style rack harmonica playing. The occasional foot stomp can be heard as well, vibrating through the floors. Easton sings songs from the personal experiences and observations of man who has spent a few decades on the road. His folk music is not always the gentle kind. His authenticity is pervasive. This is what the tradition of the troubadour sounds like.