I have always thought that performing as an opening act requires a lot more nerve and courage than people realize. Sure, you’re not directly responsible for the success of the show, or the amount of tickets sold, and there are no certain expectations put on you. But you’re also not sure what the audience is expecting, because most of the time, they don’t even know what they’re expecting. But a Tim Atlas set, if you don’t know him, I believe will always be a happy surprise.
As I made my way through the crowd at Adelaide Hall, during Tim Atlas’ opening set on slenderbodies’ tour, I got mildly body-slammed by a 6-feet-something guy, who as soon as he saw me with a camera (and after apologizing) took the chance to ask excitedly: “Who are these guys?!” Tim had actually introduced himself, as soon as he came on stage, but naturally a lot of people became more curious about his name a couple songs into the night. Realizing that this guy thought this was a band –just like probably most people unfamiliar with the artist in front of them– I said “the guy is Tim Atlas!” To which he replied: “That is Tim Atlas?! No way, that’s why I know some of these songs.”
Timothy Ferguson, aka Tim Atlas, is a captivating and exciting emerging talent. Well, emerging because people are slowly realizing how good he really is (I have been here since 2016!!!) and the streaming gods are finally including him in their indie rotations. Having released his debut album Enchanté just this past May, Tim is at a new high in his career, establishing himself as a genre-bending artist, with a pronounced personal sound, and a sweet and boyish charisma on stage.
As he made his way through new and old songs, like “Tangerine” from his Together Lonely 2019 EP and the title-track from his new record, the The Voice alum moved seamlessly from his keyboard, to the guitar, and at times to just swaying and dancing as he sang to a delighted crowd, naturally and subtly showcasing all that he’s made of. “This is such a small room, I love it!” He kept thanking the audience for their welcoming energy, and he was actually so excited about the intimacy of the smaller venue. “You guys are so close…come closer!” he joked after a few songs.
This closeness wasn’t only physical, but Tim just seemed to be at ease with the Toronto crowd and its warmth. “I think, this is my favorite show of the tour so far” he admitted at one point, shocking his touring bassist Xina Rie, who took the time to talk to the audience as well and assure them that “he’s never said that before, at any show!” He truly had made the night his own at least for a little while, and showed that he belonged on that stage just as much.
A moment of realization seemed to fill the room when Tim and his bandmates began playing “Courtside,” his biggest song to date, the one that the streaming gods have decided to include in most alt-pop playlists, of course. People had been dancing for most of the night, but that was the track that made all go “oh! This is that guy.” As someone that has been following Tim’s music journey for a good eight years now, I guess I could’ve been like “ugh, of course they all know the one song,” but it actually felt more like “YES you guys, this is HIM! And you should know his name! And all his other songs too!”
Although a short supporting set, Tim Atlas’s time on the Adelaide Hall stage was full of an electric and soothing energy, the type that his music is always able to evoke through synths and groovy sounds. I am sure that it will be no time until he’s back to perform on his own headline tour, and that the Toronto crowd will be ready to welcome him back any time.
0 comments on “Tim Atlas Shows Off Debut Album ‘Enchanté’ in Toronto”