Photo by Dusdin Condren
Timothy Showalter started his musical life like a lot of teenagers: playing air guitar in his bedroom, metal and Smashing Pumpkins at full blast. For years, though, his music under the moniker Strand Of Oaks didn’t reflect this at all. He wrote three albums of hard-to-grasp, shadowy folk, all while his life got increasingly darker due to addiction and a souring marriage.
For his fourth album, Showalter simplified and rediscovered himself in rock ‘n’ roll. Unsurprisingly, it’s called HEAL, the big block letters tipping off what a cathartic experience it was. Right out of the gate, “Goshen ’97” spells out his journey. “I was lonely, but I was having fun,” he bellows over rip-roaring guitars. That fun and healing isn’t past-tense anymore. Download a Studio 1A version of the song below.
–Art Levy
Catch Strand Of Oaks at ACL Fest 2015:
*Sunday, October 4, 3:30 p.m., Austin Ventures stage
*Sunday, October 11, 3:30 p.m., Austin Ventures stage
