PAGE 18 • APRIL 2012 • TABLE HOPPING SOUNDS OF SYRACUSE Tim Burns by JACK O. BOCCHINO Early on, Tim Burns


received advice from his Dad. “Don’t quit your day job.” This was easy advice for Tim as he considers himself a responsible mu- sician. Beyond that, Tim truly enjoys his day job. Among the many roles that Tim fulfills, he lists husband, father, singer, songwriter, guitarist, mechanical engineer and sometimes a coach. He notes that the music and the day job have provided him with a great balance in his life. He goes on to tell me that the trick is to be able to manage his time spent on either so


that his family (which is his first priority) does not feel neglected. Tim shares with me that his musical journey started as a kid; singing along with his Mom in the car. While she raised him on the Beatles, he also remembers hear- ing a lot of big band music as well as Frank Sinatra while spending time with his Grandparents. Tim went on to tell me that his Dad played guitar, causing him to aspire to play it too. Tim’s first performance in front of an audience came in first or second grade, when he had a solo part at a school concert. From then on, Tim con- tinued to be involved with school chorus and band. Tim learned to play trumpet and guitar as a teenager and admits to sneaking down to the practice room during study hall just to play guitar. He added that he had great music teachers, such as Maria Walton and Harvey Possemato. When Tim got to college, he started jamming with other musicians when he could. Sometimes it would be a band format and other just a jam. Tim went on to tell me about Brendan MacNaughton, a regular solo player on the RIT campus. Tim knew most of Brendan’s material and found himself belting out harmonies from the crowd. This led to Tim and Brendan play- ing together 3 or 4 nights a week in a band called The In-Betweens, while holding down a day job. After a couple of years, Tim wanted to settle down. Not being able to see himself having a family and potentially being on the road, he left the band.


Tim got his musical fix of performing in front of an audience by playing solo shows when he could. Occasionally, he would be joined by Joe Davoli on fiddle and Marcus Germonto on percussion. In 2005, Tim crossed paths with Bill Brownlee and Bill invited Tim to play in Four on the Floor. This afforded Tim the opportunity to get back out performing on a more regular basis. Tim continued to sing and play rhythm guitar with Four on the Floor as well as doing some solo shows for the next couple of years. Towards the end of his run with Four on the Floor, Tim met drummer Brian


Welch. Brian knew “a couple of guys”, so they all got together one night in 2007. Everything clicked and Two Hour Delay was formed. They continue to do regular shows since 2008. Tim refers to Bob Gaus (electric guitar) as “Mr. Color My World”. Bob has been


around the Syracuse music scene for some time and has been a Sammy nominee. Tim feels that Bob is the most tasteful guitarist he has ever played with. Bob finds a way to always color up a tune, either with different chord voicing or with blatant


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