Tim Easton has been singing and writing songs since he was 14 years old. He never considered another career. After finishing college, Easton hit the road with his guitar and spent seven years singing and playing on European street corners. When he got back to Ohio, Easton joined the Haynes Boys, a roots-rock outfit that made one album before breaking up. Free again, Easton picked up his guitar and returned to the road, touching down long enough to make nine albums that earned him a loyal following with their blend of gritty roots-rock and heartfelt songwriting. Every LP took a slightly different approach and his latest, Not Cool, shows off his love of rockabilly and early R&B. Easton will be quest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our new feature on him.
Easton: This restaurant, honky-tonk, movie set and all around Hi-Desert institution is on the wish list of many a traveling band. It also happens to be owned by my daughter’s godparents. The first night I ever traveled to Joshua Tree, I found myself onstage with Harriet, singing Ledbelly songs to the dancing crowd of desert dwellers, L.A. escapees and tourists from the world over. After moving nearby, I joined the Sunday house band and sang songs with Victoria Williams and many others. It’s not uncommon to hear a foreign accent there or meet a famous person—many of us drawn to the region by Rolling Stones/Gram Parsons visions of yore. I heard Eric Burdon sing there on my second visit. After I moved to the region, I ended up singing “Happy Birthday” to him on his 70th.
You can eat good food and often hear a good traveling band or be moved by some local heroes. Out back on the patio is where I’ve had some of the most beautiful nights of my life, talking with friends and strangers, looking for shooting stars or watching a lightening storm. Most people who make the journey will be satisfied. If you are a musician, go on a Sunday and sit in with the house band.
Video after the jump.
