Reynolds and Matthews
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds returned to their old stomping grounds in August to play to a sold-out, exuberant crowd at nTelos Wireless Pavilion in Charlottesville, VA. Proceeds from ticket sales were donated by the fans to various charities through JustGive.org, a website that supports nearly 1.8 million nonprofit organizations.
Thousands of fans, both inside and outside the Pavilion’s confines, enjoyed over 3 hours of acoustic entertainment and storytelling by Matthews and Reynolds, along with a special guest appearance by Asheville’s own legendary guitarist Warren Haynes. The charitable evening of musical mastery was complimented by the peaceful and jovial mood of the fans, who relished in favorites such as Jimi Thing, #41, My Baby Blue, and Two Step.
A few days prior to the event, I caught up with Reynolds to discuss the show, his music, and adjusting to life in the Outer Banks of NC.
Reynolds, who has paired up with Matthews for multiple benefit shows over the years, was glad to be a part of the Charlottesville event, and appreciated that fans had an active role in the donation process.
“I think it’s pretty cool because people can donate to the charity of their choice, so that funds get spread out more to the smaller charities,” Reynolds said.
Over the years, Reynolds’ performances have benefited global organizations like China Care and Middle East Child Alliance. However, he also makes great efforts to donate his talents and money to smaller, local charities throughout the Outer Banks.
In 2007, Reynolds left his home in New Mexico and moved to the Outer Banks with his family. While topographically much different from NM, the eastern shore of NC has provided Reynolds with fresh inspiration and a new environment for songwriting.
“It took me a little while to adjust, but once I finally realized that the beach was only a 15 minute walk from my house, I felt more at ease. There is always something here to inspire me and make me feel alive,” he said.
When it comes to songwriting, Reynolds often uses the natural environment to fuel his creativity.
“As far as songwriting, some songs take a long time, while others just come to me quickly. The other day, I was walking on the beach and thought of an idea and just recorded it right into my iPhone. I thought that was pretty amazing,” he said.
Shortly after moving to NC, Reynolds met local bassist Mick Vaughn and drummer Dan Martier. After playing together a few times, Reynolds decided it was time to resurrect his old band TR3 with Vaughn and Martier as new members. Collectively, their gritty electric sounds have developed into a melding of rock, funk, and jazz that is sure to bring down the house. Between touring small venues across the US, TR3 recorded and released a studio album entitled Radiance, and just recently a live two-disc album entitled From SPACE and Beyond. Reynolds shared his delight in creating and playing music with Vaughn and Martier.
“I usually bring a song idea to the guys and we start practicing it. As we practice it gets tweaked and changes, so it’s a fun process. Every year we play more gigs and get more in tune as a band. There has been a more consistent effort this time around. We have the same steady personnel so it is like a real band thing and it evolves in its own way,” he said.
In 2010, Reynolds also released The Limbic System, a solo acoustic album that took him over two years to complete. The title, which references the center for memory and emotion in the brain, is fitting for the two-disc collection of instrumental and vocal arrangements all written and performed by Reynolds.
“It was a labor of total love and joy to do. There were a lot of feelings in those recordings. It was very intimate and even though there are some mistakes in there, when it was done it felt like a big Ahhhh for me. It was a musical statement from the heart and soul,” he said.
Whether Reynolds is solo or on stage with TR3 or the Dave Matthews Band, he continues to surprise his fans by mastering new interpretations of sound, making each experience unique and special for the audience.
To find out more about Reynolds’ music and tour schedule, please visit www.timreynolds.com.
Evolution of a Fan 