Tim Fite Recent News

OUT TODAY: Tim Fite and Ersi Arvizu

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:05:00 -0700

Tim Fite Fair Ain't Fair - Tim Fite is a busy man. His new record comes out today and he leaves on tour with Adam Green on Saturday. And he's making appearances, getting reviews and all sorts of stuff:

"It's bluesy, it's folksy and it's funky at times, but it's a record that just makes you want to smile," says Esquire magazine music critic Andy Langer on NPR's Bryant Park Project. Click here to listen to the rest of the review.

See Tim and Dr Leisure being interviewed on the IFC's music program "The Independent Ear"

Ersi Arvizu Friend For Life - True life tales from a true child of the barrio. Produced by Ry Cooder. The LA Weekly did a piece where John Payne writes "There is a kind of sound that delivers you back to a place and time that you loved - or that you imagine you would have loved if given the opportunity. Ersi Arvizu's new Friend for Life is just such an experience."

Tim Fite in Daytrotter Sessions

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:05:00 -0700

He Who Puts The Cream In The Calf

Words by Sean Moeller // Illustration by Johnnie Cluney // Sound engineering by Brad Kopplin

The truly healthy and happy person is one who can witness - even play victim to the many carcinogens and ruinous offerings that get tossed out and in front of them like glossy beach balls or nervous squirrels getting from one tree to another collecting nuts - while still permitting themselves to stop and smell the flowers. They don’t have to be roses, because that’s getting picky, that’s getting greedy, just any flower, any sprig of colorful beauty amidst the damaged, scratch and dent sale that most of everything’s become will work fine for the noses... [Story Continues at Daytrotter.com. Click Here.]

Free MP3: Tim Fite, "Yesterday's Garden" at SPIN.com

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:04:00 -0700

From an imaginative storybook fairytale about Beans, to an acoustic ditty describing "a wife taking man," Tim Fite's artistic mind has interpreted a smorgasbord of topics, and "Yesterday's Garden," a tune off his forthcoming record Fair Ain't Fair (out May 6 via Anti-), locates a happy medium in his assorted oeuvre with a humorous, confessional recollection of an automobile mishap.

"I guess you know that yesterday / I ran your garden over girl," Fite tunefully admits as jolly ivories pluck in the background, and gleeful backing vocals of "yesterday" collide against yodelayeehhheees, ironically punctuating his destructive blunder. Stuttered by the occasional instrumental high jinks, Fite's silly and topical "Yesterday's Garden" merrily balances with equal parts production gloss and eclecticism -- despite the destroyed flower patch. -SPIN.COM

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD "Yesterday's Garden"

Check out Time Fite's "Yum Yum" video promo!

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:04:00 -0700

You may have seen his original performance at SXSW or caught his track “Big Mistake” on Stereogum, but here is another chance to enjoy some of Tim Fite’s originality. Check out the first of many videos in support of the 5.6.08 release, Fair Ain't Fair.

Click here to watch it.

ANTI at South By Southwest

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:03:00 -0700

Check out the following live performances captured at our SXSW showcase.

Billy Bragg - I Keep Faith

DeVotchKa - Along the Way

The Weakerthans - Night Windows

Man Man - Doo Right

Tim Fite - More Clothes

Islands - The Arm

TIM FITE TO RELEASE FAIR AIN'T FAIR MAY 6TH

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:02:00 -0800

The Inimitable Fite's First Commercial Release in 2+ Years Proceeded by U.S Tour with Primus Vet Les Claypool

Tim Fite, the genre-bending craftsman called a "cultural gadfly" by the New York Times, has announced the release of the follow-up to his 2005 album Gone Ain't Gone. The Brooklyn-based Fite put out several web-only, critically acclaimed releases in 2007, but Fair Ain't Fair is his first studio recording since his heralded Anti- Records debut.

Anyone familiar with Fite's work knows that the term "studio recording" is used in the loosest sense of the word. He famously mines long-forgotten records for useful scraps of music, which he then forges into his own tunes, often rendering them indistinguishable from, and unrelated to, their former selves. Fair Ain't Fair again sees a large amount of musical chop-shopping, but the samples are utilized in a more restrained, mature way. An example: Fite recorded violist Marla Hansen (of Sufjan Stevens' Illinoisemakers and My Brightest Diamond), and from that, created a sweetly discordant loop on which to anchor his sharp, self-effacing lyrics. Fair Ain't Fair also finds Fite expanding on the use of his voice, layering track upon track to create a Pet Sounds-esque vocal performance. Still, each was painstakingly recorded in his bedroom.

Fair Ain't Fair is a natural progression of Fite's earlier work, but feels much more expansive. The topics of greed and consumerism so wittily expounded upon on his self-released Over the Counter Culture are in there, but surrounded by catchy pop (yes, pop!) songs and sweet two minute modern hymns, they seem less vitriolic, more forgivably human.

Fite also recently announced a three week tour with fellow nonconformist Les Claypool. The Fite/Claypool tour kicks off on March 18th in Denver, CO. In preparation, Tim Fite will be playing a number of shows at the famed South By Southwest Music festival, including the Anti Records showcase on March 13th at Cedar Street Courtyard with labelmates Devotchka, Man Man and Billy Bragg, among others.

Tim Fite tour dates:

Mar-12 to Mar-16 - Austin TX - SXSW
Mar-18 - Denver CO - Ogden Theatre
Mar-20 - Minneapolis MN - First Avenue
Mar-21 - Milwaukee WI - Eagles Club
Mar-22 - Chicago IL - Vic Theatre
Mar-25 - Tulsa OK - Cain's Ballroom
Mar-27 - Dallas TX - House of Blues
Mar-28 - Houston TX - Warehouse Live
Mar-29 - Austin TX - Stubb's BBQ
Apr-01 - Tuscon AZ - Rialto Theater
Apr-02 - San Diego CA - House of Blues
Apr-04 - Los Angeles CA - The Wiltern
Apr-05 - San Francisco CA - The Warfield

OVER THE COUNTER CULTURE - ONE OF THE BEST RECORDS OF 2007 IS NOT AVAILABLE IN A STORE NEAR YOU

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:01:00 -0800

TIM FITE'S FREE LP TOPS MANY CRITICS "BEST OF" LISTS

Tim Fite, the critically acclaimed Anti recording artist and maverick multi-genrist, released Over the Counter Culture in early 2007, and made it available for free, exclusively on his website (www.timfite.com). A scathing topical diatribe against consumerism, greed and the lows of commercial hip hop, the record went on to score a number of coveted spots in several pre-eminent critics' Top 10 lists for 2007.

Todd Martens of the Los Angeles Times awarded Over the Counter Culture the number one spot in his year end wrap up, writing "Fite comes off as a folksy activist masquerading as a hip-hop artist, and delivered the working man's reaction to an increasingly confusing political and cultural climate."

Over at the Chicago Sun Times, Jim DeRogatis put the record at number three, observing "Fite has been a novelty rapper and a postmodern, Beck-like acoustic bluesman. Here, he combined both approaches for a searing indictment of rampant consumerism, charging that the result of our fascination with bling has been a nation blindly led to war."

The Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot placed the record at number seven, saying "A critique and celebration of hip-hop packed with crackling beats, outrageous humor and rage. Best of all, it's free."

Eric R Danton at the Hartford Courant put the record at number eight, enthusing "on his scathing, wickedly funny indictment of unthinking consumerism and vacuous pop culture, Brooklyn rapper Tim Fite laces his rhymes with slashing beats and an eclectic jumble of guitars, keyboards and bass. He outdoes himself on "I've Been Shot" when he touts (with tongue in cheek) the career-enhancing benefits of taking a bullet or two. "Not every rapper does it," he observes. "But every rapper should.'"

Additionally, Dan DeLuca at the Philadelphia Inquirer included Over the Counter Culture in his year-end wrap up on digital-only, free and alternative-method releases.

Fans hoping to hear new material from Fite's highly anticipated new record may be in for a treat as he kicks off the new year with a show at Joe's Pub in NYC on Jan 19. Over the next few months Fite will spend time in the studio, finalizing the recording of the follow-up to his last commercial release and Anti- Records debut, Gone Ain't Gone. The yet-untitled record is slated for a late Spring 2008 release.

ANTI- To Present One-Of-A-Kind Hootenanny at SXSW

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:03:00 -0800

March 18 at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX

Collaborative performance featuring Billy Bragg, Jolie Holland, Ramblin Jack Elliott, Joe Henry , Tim Fite plus special guests

This year at SXSW Anti- Records is presenting its first Hootenanny, a one-of-a-kind collaborative performance by a diverse group of artists, trading off songs and verses in the true spirit of musical community. The Hootenanny will take place on Saturday, March 18 at 12midnight at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX.

Billy Bragg�s proactive brand of populist post punk, pop and folk has been engaging us since the 80s and today he is more inspiring than ever. His appearance at the Hootenanny as well as his other SXSW shows are part of a rare US tour and a break from his recent involvement in UK politics, but anyone who has seen him knows he is not to be missed.

Ramblin Jack Elliott, who is preparing to release his Anti- debut �I Stand Alone� is certainly no stranger to this kind of show, having shared stages with everyone from Woody Guthrie to Ralph Stanley to Bob Dylan in the course of his remarkable career.

Jolie Holland who�s haunting yet jubilant blend of folk, jazz and pop has won many-a-heart in these last couple of years will also be performing. She will be in town in preparation for her upcoming album �Springtime Can Kill You�, due out on Anti- this spring.. Jolie, who has always been at home in this type of environment, has been part of some really interesting collaborations lately, notably, sitting in w/ rapper Sage Francis on a recent LA gig and harmonizing with Bad Religion singer, Greg Graffin on his upcoming solo album.

Joe Henry is the consummate musical Renaissance man. From his acclaimed solo albums, to his vivid songwriting to his recent emergence as producer of soul legends like Solomon Burke and Bettye Lavette, Henry always surprises and never disappoints. He embraces, Rock, R&B, Country and Jazz seamlessly which makes him perfect for this kind of ensemble.

Tim Fite is a true original. Raised on hip hop, but in his early 20s his discovery of Hank Williams and Woody Guthrie changed his life. He is a one-man mash up of folk, rap, spoken word and really catchy songs that delights everyone who sees him. His debut album, �Gone Ain�t Gone� just came out this fall and it has been receiving raves around the world.

The idea is that each of the artists will be featured on a couple of their own tunes backed at times by the other artists on the stage. There will also be more collaborative performances of songs that everyone knows. In addition to these great artists, we are also expecting some special guests to drop by. We are talking to folks from across the musical spectrum, so we are hoping for some really crazy surprises.

Tim Fite signs with ANTI-

Thu, 02 Jun 2005 00:06:00 -0700

Anti Records, home to such legendary artists as Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Jolie Holland, Neko Case, and Daniel Lanois, is proud to announce the signing of Brooklynite artist TIM FITE. FITE�s debut album Gone Ain�t Gone is set for release on September 13, 2005.

Gone Ain�t Gone, a wry, anachronistic, copyright-defying, country/hip-hop collage, was made mostly from cds rescued from dollar bins; Australian bar bands, DC garage-punks, and demos from up-and-never coming rock bands. It�s all sampled, looped and laid down as the blueprint for FITE�s intriguing avant-folk vision of musical crime and resuscitation.

While FITE is by no means a virtuosic instrumentalist, he knows how to build a compelling song. His primary talent lies in his knack for finding, stealing and transforming other people's music into his own, utilizing his resonant voice to lend a disquieting emotional sincerity to the mix. It is impossible to ignore that his liberal pilfering flies in the face of intellectual property laws, but FITE doesn't feel as though he is doing anything questionable: �Everybody steals. The important question is how you steal, who you steal from, and whether or not there is an adverse effect as a result of your thievery.�

FITE�s thievery and DIY ethic ultimately find and express their cultural roots in the traditions of both hip-hop and country music � two genres birthed from adversity, given life when necessity forced folks to make art by using the elements around them (like the plank of a diddly bo or a set of old turntables). In the same way, FITE approaches music-making with little more than his four favorite chords, a love of Woody Guthrie and Public Enemy, and a stack of other people�s sadly forgotten records�the emerging sound is like no other: natural, unique and teeming with fresh blood.