Theo Tams • Unexpected on iTunes

Before he was voted Canadian Idol, a young Theo Tams was a student at the University of Lethbridge, majoring in both Classical Music and Psychology. In 2005, he recorded and released Unexpected, an EP that has been out of print for some time. (I will admit I got my copy last year, via a cool Canadian connection who had Theo's permission to get it to me.) In 2008, he auditioned for Canadian Idol, after taking a break from school to pursue a career in music. In September of that year, Tams was voted the winner and began work on Give It All Away. I love the album, and have openly whined about the need to import the album, as it wasn't available in the US.



So imagine my delight when I discovered Theo's Unexpected just became available to the American audience on iTunes! The 5-song effort includes the gorgeous ballad, Broken. I love this song. When I heard him sing it live, I got a bit choked up. Cause I've been there. We all have.



The EP begins with Let Go, a song that skirts the edges of anger and disappointment, yet still delivering a soaring chorus. On One Of Them, there is no skirting the anger. There is some hurt, and a bit of vengeance. All with a sweet rock guitar. On Trying To Make You Proud, Theo combines a folk sensibility with a strong blues base to create a strong sound. And, finally there is first cut off the EP, Blacklight. This is where Theo's youth pays off so very well. He captures the pain of that first love, the first betrayal, beautifully. I can't tell you how much I loved hearing this song when I was in Toronto.



You can find it on iTunes here. For less than $5, you can have some amazing music from a brilliant and talented young Canadian. He is also the only out performer to win on the Idol franchise in North America, and from the way the voting has gone, it seems unlikely to happen anytime soon. Unexpected would be great way to acquaint yourself with Theo's music before his next release in early 2012. For more about the handsome and sweet Canadian, you can find him on FaceBook here, and Twitter here.

Theo Tams - Taking It All Back Tour 3

Above: No, Theo wasn't trying to threaten me, although some thought my picture with the sign at Timothy's Pub in Etobicoke a bit odd.

Just one month ago, I started on my journey to Canada to complete a yearlong quest to see Theo Tams performing live. After working for a partial day on Wednesday, August 18, I hopped in the car and drove for about 8 hours. The next day, I completed the trip to the hotel, and made my way to the first show, in Stouffville. On Friday, I found a mall and printed up some pictures, and went to the show in Oshawa. After that show, I went back to my hotel and kinda crashed. I woke up and it was a bit rainy, and I hung out at the hotel, caught up with a bit of sleep, and reveled in the experience, checking out the audio tracks from the last show, loving it all. So for the show Sunday, I was well rested and looking forward to the show in Etobicoke at Timothy's Pub. I was going to meet Sue & Melony, who had been at both earlier shows, as well as new friends Pam and Jen Cathryne. Thanks to the GPS, I had no problem finding the place, helped by the large sign, and I immediately knew I needed a picture by it.

Again, there was more good food - an essential part of the live music experience, at least for me! - and great company. StereoGoesStellar once again opened the show, and I realized I really liked them. For more about the band, check out the post I did here. But for me, the trip was all about Theo, and soon it was his turn in the spotlight, and again he impressed me. His show again consisted of a mix of fantastic original songs and fun covers. I decided I was feeling bolder, and took out my video camera and started to tape some songs. One of the originals he performed was Just A Little Longer, a song he had recently written. I was so pleased I was able be there to hear it.



Theo has an amazing way with cover songs, to take them apart and make them his own. I have always enjoyed Howie Day's charming song, Collide. I think it is quite lovely, with such a sweet sentiment. But once I heard Theo performing it, the song was taken to a new level for me. I really like the way he doesn't veer to the overly sentimental deliver, instead keeping it feeling intensely personal.



His final song at the show was another cover, this one Sometimes by Britney Spears. Yes, when he first announced it many in the crowd were laughing, some even scoffing, but it didn't take long for him to not only quiet the laughter, but earn a huge ovation when he was done.



Blacklight is a song that originally appeared on a pre-Canadian Idol EP he released, Unexpected. I am lucky enough to have that EP on my iTunes, so I was very excited when he started playing it.



After the show, we made sure to see Theo again. After all, in the morning I was going to be back on the road, driving for 10+ hours. So I saw him and got my hug - Theo is a fantastic hugger - and I gave him prints of a couple of shots I had taken at the first show. To my surprise, Theo gave me a kiss on the cheek when giving him the present, and I was grateful we were is a pub, because I don't think anyone noticed me blushing!




So I said my goodbyes to Theo, the ladies, and headed back to the hotel. In the morning I was heading out, having had a wonderful four days in Canada, already thinking about making a return trip next year when Theo tours with the release of his next album. More than 1,100 miles, close to 1,800 kilometers, three shows, new friendships and so many wonderful memories later, I am so glad I made the trip. I loved Theo Tams before, and now I love him even more.



Check out my other posts about the Theo Tams shows here, here, and here. You can also check out his official website here.

One Week & Counting till Theo Tams

In one weeks time, I will be basking in the post-show glow of my very first Theo Tams show. Next Thursday night, I have a ticket for his show at the Lebovic Centre for the Performing Arts, and I am so very excited. I will be driving to the Toronto area while his Taking It All Back tour is in the area. I plan to take advantage, and catch two or three shows while I am there. I will be bringing my Theo-stuff hoping to get it signed. You see, at heart, I am a big fan of Theo, and have been hoping to get the chance to see him perform live since first discovering the 2008 Canadian Idol winner. The first song I heard was the single Lazy Lovers, which you can see him performing live here.



I have his post-win release, Giving It All Away, as well as his pre-Idol EP, Unexpected. I also have the book that was published about him after the win. I was thinking of which songs I would enjoy hearing, and just about any will do. I really have so many favorites! I will be bringing my camera and a videocam, hoping to catch something worthwhile I might be too excited to get anything worthwhile, but will try. Here he is singing Blacklight, a song from the EP.



This will also mark my first time visiting Canada, so that is exciting as well. It seems strange, since I lived in Vermont, just about an hour from the border, and never made it there. I look forward to seeing Toronto, and am sure I will have a great time, meeting some Theo fan's I have met online!