Time Out Timmy – “Time Out Timmy”
Time Out Timmy has been one of my favorite bands that we cover, for a few years now. And they were definitely my favorite band from New Hampshire
.
Why the use of the past tense Slimedog? Would we be as so lucky that you’re retiring or even better, your eminent departure from your mortal coil can be seen in our rear view mirror?
Heavens to Betsy! Of course, not!
But T.O.T. is calling it quits and this will probably be their last release.
T.O.T. was a skate band influenced by another New Hampshire punker- G.G. Allin. But thankfully, though their stage shows could get a bit wild at times, they never approached the insanity of a G.G. Allin show. But who can say their show, besides The Spice Girls, ever approaches that?
In the eighties, I turned down seeing G.G. live, several times. I don’t know, call me crazy, but the idea of being hit in the face with a microphone or someone throwing their shit at me just didn’t appeal to my delicate sensibilities.
There was a club in the eighties, just a few blocks down from The Midway Cafe called Green Street Station that mainly had punk shows. I had heard that G.G. was scheduled to play there and though I wasn’t going, I had some friends who were gonna check it out.
After the scheduled date, I ran into one of them and asked him how the show went?
“Oh, it didn’t go on.” It seems during the load in of equipment, before the show would even start- G.G. went into a corner of the bar and pissed on the floor. The owner said, “That’s it, everybody out!” And that was the end of the show. I believe that should be in the Guinness Book of World Records as the shortest show ever, being over during load in!
But let’s check out some music and hear why I think T.O.T. were so great.
“Can’t Deal With This,” begins with a dissonant chord change over a slow, head banging, heavy metal groove. But soon the engines are revved up, and we’re off onto a skate punk/hardcore dash with growl-y, emotional vocals. The female vocalist/bassist, Amelio, sings the melodic chorus while the male vocalist/guitarist, Tim, screams out in a death metal like growl. This song combines the best of metal, punk and pop and molds it into one great song- second favorite of mine on this release.
Sung by Amelio, “Suck It,” sounds like Joan Jett playing hardcore, a very good notion, I feel. “Just ’cause you wanna fuck it. Doesn’t mean I wanna suck it.” This song charges out with a swingin’, traditional hard-hitting punk beat and a tune that hits true and hard and takes no prisoners. “Want me to be afraid? Then you better behave.” This is a song with great, philosophical insight and my favorite song on the album.
“Beer Jingle” is only forty seconds long, but it is a song that, I believe, Fear would wish that they had wrote. Every second is great and quenching.
Three roaring garage, guitar chords with a desperate, passionate vocal blasting and a rhythm that’s moving so fast it feels like someone barely holding on for dear life. This is the tasty, recipe of this tune. The song is called “Weakest Link” but I think it’s one of the strongest cuts on this release.
“Down The Drain/ Pollution” the longest cut on this album stands out with some awesome music breaks where the drummer Dube, plays some great drum rolls solo and then later, Amelio, rips off a ripping solo bass riff, as well. I would mention that this song reminded me of Roxy Music’s “Remake/Remodel” but then, I thought it would date me. And I would never date someone like me! The second part of this song reminds me of the legendary Boston band, Mission Of Burma, at its’ most hardcore sound. A band, both Andy and I feel, is one of Boston’s all time best. Lots of great references here and lots of great music. “Well, we’re all going to die anyways. So you might as well go fuck yourself.” Sound advice, given there.
These songs are fierce and fiery, energetic and over the top and lyrically, honest and “in your face.”
And I agree how they described themselves- “wicked good New Hampsha punk.” I only saw them play live once. They opened up for one of my birthday parties at The Midway. They were so exciting that I felt foolish having a band
that good and lively, playing the opening slot.
This band were all that and more of what I want and hope for, from a punk band that I write about.
All good things comes to an end, they say, but I believe they will go on to produce some great stuff, I know they already did here.
And that they delivered in spades.
(Slimedog)
