During a show last week at The Living Room in New York, smiling and floating from the warm pop-musical vibes, I waited in line for the restroom and was brought back to reality by a middle-aged woman.
“Did you like them? Did you enjoy the show?” She asked with such sweet sincerity that I hastily told her the truth. “I thoroughly enjoyed the show and specifically sought out Ivan and Alyosha for their four-part harmonies and Tim’s crisp voice for my trip to New York.”
She looked 100% elated. “Oh, I am his aunt. Oh that’s absolutely wonderful!” “Oh wow!” I blurted out, embarrassed. “I am doing a review of this show for The Vinyl District, a DC blog, and I think I&A are solid.” “Oh great! Just wonderful!”
We parted ways laughing, me thinking “I think I just met Tim Wilson’s aunt,” and Tim’s aunt most likely thinking, “What is a blog?” and “I am so proud of my nephew!”
In “Easy To Love,” from their self-released debut EP The Verse, The Chorus (Cheap Lullaby Records), Tim Wilson and Ryan Carbary create simple pop-folk, and Tim showcases his knack for paring a lyric down to just emotion.
When the sky turns black
And we know it will from time to time
We’ve been through that
And we came out on top because
You’re really easy to love
You’re really easy to love
And I know you’re good
You know I try most of the time
We’ve been through that
And we came out on top because you’re really easy to love
You’re really easy to love
And I can’t take it, my heart is achin’, you’re really easy to love [whistling…]
Fortunately, they’ve chosen to maintain the love-inspired songs on the newly released Fathers Be Kind (Missing Piece Records) in “I Was Born to Love Her.” For example,
We played the game
You took my name
I love you
You know I love you
Darlin’ please
They call me crazy, call me pretty
I know you feel it, I know you feel it
And if the sky should fall
And the morning birds not call
You must know how I love you so
One cannot help smiling as Tim softly utters each “darlin.’’ I feel the way I imagine women of the 1950s felt leaving the malt shop after making eyes at a cute boy and hearing Dion & the Belmonts on the jukebox.
In contrast, the lyrics from “Living For Someone” take an introspective view on material things and loving life.
We were not living for ourselves, but we were living for someone else
And I just quit my job
And sold my fine possessions
Expecting our first child
Amid the great recession…
Now draw the line between what you want and what you need
Now tell me what you see
Turn your blessings into gardens, could it be you’re not living for yourself, but you are living for something else
A self-aware Tim Wilson sings about appreciating and understanding, reminiscent of the wholesome folk albums passed down to me by my parents, such as Free to Be You and Me, a 1972 record saluting individuality and tolerance. Tim breathes a similar warmth into “Living For Someone” to what Stephen Stills lent to “Love the One You’re With” in 1970.
If you like Ivan & Alyosha already, check out: Avett Brothers, Andrew Bird, Cinnamon Band, Travis, and Rufus Wainwright.
If you like the above artists already, check out Ivan & Alyosha!
Cheers!
Ivan & Alyosha:
Tim Wilson (Vocals, Guitar)
Ryan Carbary (Guitar, Vocals)
Pete Wilson (Bass, Vocals)
Tim Kim (Guitar, Vocals)
