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Tim Reynolds. Photo by Rene Huemer Guitarist Tim Reynolds has been in Dave Matthews Band for decades. A prolific artist, Reynolds also has an extensive discography as a solo artist and leader of the trio TR3.
He’s also released about a dozen live albums as Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds. TR3 is Reynolds, Mick Vaughan on bass and drummer Dan Martier, and you can see them live at Bayside Bowl in Portland on Saturday. Fans can expect to hear an acoustic and electric set at the show.
I caught up with Reynolds at his home in Sarasota, Florida, to talk about the upcoming tour and the New Year’s Day release of the enthralling, genre-hopping TR3 album “Participation Mystique (in the Age of the Mushroom Bandit).” Reynolds, 67, said he came to understand the concept of “participation mystique” by reading books by Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist Carl Jung. “It was a concept of something that he came up with on how when you’re doing something you’re really involved with, you’re one with the thing, you’re participating and you’re really with it,” said Reynolds.
As for the “mushroom bandit” part of the name, Reynolds said that when the album was written 20 years ago, psychedelic mushrooms informed some of the music. “I used to actually smoke them in a bong so it wouldn’t be such a long experience.” When asked if the mushrooms influenced the writing of any specific “Participation” songs, Reynolds singled out the 18-minute long closing track “Spirit Molecule,” which features NASA recordings from outer space.
Reynolds said that on the current tour, his band may try to work the blistering opening track “Pathetic Propaganda Ploy” into the set, but the show will focus more on other albums, including 2022’s “Wild in the Sky.” Reynolds loves to play guitars more than collect them, and unlike other artists who have sometimes a dozen or more with them on the road, Reynolds limits his to five. Reynolds said that an acoustic 6-string and 12-string are essentials, as is a pair of Gibson guitars.
For sentimental reasons, Reynolds has held onto the first 12-string he ever owned, which cost him $125. He also has a Martin guitar that he said is now “old and sensitive.” Reynolds also talked about an acoustic guitar made for him by the same person who has made guitars for his friend Dave (Matthews).
It took a while to break in, but now Reynolds loves it. “It sounded new, but now I’ve had it a few years and it’s starting to have some really nice tone ’cause he makes these guitars with great care and skill.” TR3 has a show at Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club in Portsmouth on Friday, then the Bayside Bowl gig on Saturday.
Reynolds said that he hopes to have a little time to explore in Portland while he’s here. 8 p.m.
Saturday. Bayside Bowl, 58 Alder St., Portland, $30 in advance, $40 at the door.
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