Tim Davis’ “music with a message” is alive and well. Listen to his album Short Ride to follow the blistering vigor of his voice and the steady thump of his soul. The indie/folk rocker is a wildcard, wielding shards of country, blues, contemporary Christian and progressive rock ’n’ roll. Above all, Davis relies on his Christian faith to keep him from slipping off track. Short Ride was written and recorded by a man who prefers to teach life lessons with a guitar around his neck.
Some of his fans have dubbed Davis “the Bob Dylan of Christian music,” definitely a big title to measure up to. Tim Davis is a strong songwriter, who has a warm touch of lyrical potency and can evoke emotions without being overly cryptic or poetic. And the blending of harmonica-driven blues and worship music with mainstream country helps give his style a distinct sound.
His band enters full force on the opening song of the album, and Davis gets right down to business. It’s the kind of grit you can feel directly in the chest. Honestly, that style of rawness isn’t common in Christian music.
Davis puts up a tough exterior, but lyrically his songs are tender to the core. He writes honest music that just about anybody could appreciate to some degree. More than any single musical characteristic that defines the album, Davis sells it all on his own.
Short Ride is heavily influenced by Davis’ connection with the fundamentals of his Christian lifestyle.
The Tim Davis Band is a truly talented group of musicians who sound committed to the vision of its frontman. The band’s devotion bleeds through the edges of the speakers from all of the recordings on the album and is a pleasure to listen to.
Davis stands out notably from the crowd of Christian rock groups with his edgy, blues grit; however, there may not be enough uniqueness to keep him from being mixed in with all of the other quality bands in Middle Tennessee. Nevertheless, Tim Davis is a noteworthy local Christian artist. Keep your eyes open to see where he heads next.
Visit timdavisband.com to learn more.
