It鈥檚 never too late to try something new. Take Tim Neufeld, the Tim of Tim and the Glory Boys. The group had seen plenty of success as a group playing bluegrass-infused gospel music, including winning the Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year for their previous record, Hootenanny! But when it came time to record their new album, Buffalo Road Show, they decided to take a stab at contemporary country music and try something they haven鈥檛 done before.
鈥淲e鈥檙e super proud of it. It鈥檚 a little different for those who have followed us for the six years of our existence, it鈥檚 the most mainstream we have ever been with our music, but I don鈥檛 think we鈥檝e ever written better songs either.鈥�
The change in sound was inspired by friends like Paul Brandt telling them to try country music.
鈥淲e thought, why not give it a shot? We grew up with country music, it has been a part of my musical DNA, especially in the 鈥�90s, I grew up absolutely loving Garth Brooks, consuming everything he put out, I even had the Chris Gaines record, so a hardcore Garth Brooks fan!鈥�
The genre shift meant the Neufeld and the band was able to do things they鈥檝e never done before, a rare thing for someone who has been writing songs for 20 years.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a strange thing to say, but at 42 years old, having been in music for about half of my life now, I鈥檝e never really written a song about a girl.鈥�
Neufeld has a song about his wife on the new record, which he admits feels a little weird on stage - 鈥渋n a good way鈥� he adds - but he feels that expanding their sound has opened up an entire world of possibilities for them and their songwriting.
鈥淚 suppose there鈥檚 risk involved, but if we don鈥檛 take it we鈥檙e just going to implode with that creative outlet not being satisfied, that itch not being scratched.鈥�
It might be a different sound, it鈥檚 still the same band - as you might expect from a band whose previous record was called Hootenanny! Neufeld describes the album as being a party. You can tell they want to have a good time right from the cover art, which puts the band on buffalo.
鈥淚 think gospel music especially takes itself way too seriously, and that鈥檚 what we came out of. This might be a reaction to that. I don鈥檛 think gospel should be that way either, but certainly in country music we have a license to just be goofy, we鈥檙e more inspired by acts that go there鈥� bands that don鈥檛 care too much about being cool, but want to entertain, have fun and be real people as they do it.鈥�
They wanted to make a statement with the album, that being they鈥檙e here to have fun and give people at the show a good time. Describing being a touring musician as the best job in the world, Neufeld is glad they get to keep doing it.
鈥淥ur life on the road is such a party, but not in the classic rock and roll sense, we鈥檙e not Motley Crue.鈥�
They might be having a good time, but they鈥檙e also supporting others. The band works with child aid NGOs to help them over the tour, groups like World Vision, Unicef and Food For the Hungry.
鈥淲e鈥檝e tried to make it a pivotal part of what we do as artists. The reward there is just knowing we鈥檙e making a difference in a way that鈥檚 so tangible to people who really, really need it.鈥�
Tim and the Glory Boys will be taking their Buffalo Road Show to Yorkton on Oct. 16 at Heritage Baptist Church. Tickets are available at timandthegloryboys.com.
