Teitur
The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ - October 29, 2003

His name is Teitur (Tie-turr), and his name is just about as unique as his music.  Read on to learn more about this rising folk star.

I'd heard of this emerging folk legend from Faroes Island, a self-governing region of Denmark located in the heart of the North Atlantic's Gulf Stream, halfway between Norway and Iceland.  So when I heard he'd be in Asbury Park, NJ, well, I just had to go see for myself what all the hype was about.  (Plus, I was digging his debut hit, "You're an Ocean," and I was craving more.)

Let me say it here, right off the bat.  People nowadays call every male folk singer the next Nick Drake, or a James Taylor prodigy.  But this guy is the real comparison, with lyrics so colorfully poetic, so poignantly heartfelt...well, he's classic material.  He proved throughout this performance that his songwriting is nothing short of quality, and his music is blissfully sophisticated. 

He opened with "Josephine," a romantic violin-inspired tune featuring his salty, not gritty, vocals.  This guy can strum an acoustic guitar that could rock Bob Dylan to sleep, or keep him awake.  With a shy stage presence, Teitur warmed up to the intimate audience during the performance of his rhythm-filled hit, "I Still Sleep With the Lights On." 

It was then on to a song not on his debut album, Poetry and Aeroplanes.  Teitur played the finger-picked whimsical delight, "Cloud Formations", and in it, sang "Life me up and don't explain/I want you to come down like rain."  "I Was Just Thinking" is my favorite song by him, and he sang it affectionately and deeply.  The slow, love-torn song boasts amazing lyrics and begs to be heard live. 

And as a Duncan Sheik fan, may I bring to light that Rupert Hine, who has worked with Sheik in the past, produced his album.  And speaking of Sheik, which I usually do 17 times a day, he is also comparable to Teitur.  Anyway, back to the show.

Teitur pulled up his opening act, Tommy Anton (check this guy out at www.tommyanton.com), to play the bongos, and the unrehearsed musicians gave a breathtaking performance of the up-tempoed "Rough Around the Edges" and the folk gem, "Poetry and Aeroplanes."    It was as if James Taylor was in the room, but it was even better, to be honest.  Teitur was pleased to jam with this bongo-bammin' dude, and the two created a great vibe.

Teitur also mentioned that he was just about to head on tour with John Mayer. 

"He's a big fan apparently, he just invited me to come along," said Lassen (that's his last name)."  "Not a lot of people like me and it's good that way."  Well, certainly touring with Mayer will give him the recognition he deserves, though I think his music is far to mature to appeal to the pop crowd. 

By the middle of the show, he had the audience lured with his comical, simple stage banter phrases.

"This is good," he repeatedly said of the intimate, light-hearted crowed.

He also played  "One and Only", "Shade of a Shadow" and "Amanda's Dream", to name a few.  He closed with an improv song he created based on the book "Trout Fishing in America" by Richard Brautigan.  The strange, obscure lyrics were no match for the young foreigners wailing, organic guitar jams, which again featured Anton on the bongos.

"I was trying to describe you to someone/You don't look like any girl I've seen before/I couldn't say but she looks like just like Jane Fonda/You don't look like Jane Fonda at all," he sang. 

The crowd roared at the comical show conclusion, and it was clear to me that this guy knows how to rock out, be sincere and keep things light at the same time.  If you can see him, do.  His stage presence captures you, as do his simple yet intense collection of folk-driven tunes. 

Nick Drake would be proud.

Reviewed by Kristen Fischer
DiscoveringArtists.com