http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1648901/tim-obrien-talks-about-latest-album-touring-with-mark-knopfler.jhtmlhttp://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1648901/tim-obrien-talks-about-latest-album-touring-with-mark-knopfler.jhtmlPertinent quote:
O'Brien's instrumental prowess netted him an invitation to join Mark Knopfler's band for its North American tour this past April and May. "It was the holy grail of sideman gigs," he says.
The job called for him to play fiddle, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitars, bouzouki and banjo, as well as chime in on vocals.
"I got the gig because my friend, John McCusker, was out on [paternity] leave," O'Brien explains. "I think he recommended me, which was real nice of him. It was a glimpse into another world."
That other world included three weeks of paid and posh rehearsal time in London and touring in a private jet. O'Brien admits he had some reservations about accepting the gig.
"Quite honestly, I wasn't going to take it," he says. "I saw the show [Knopfler] did in Nashville, and I tried to imagine it through the eyes of the guy I ended up replacing. I thought, 'Why does he need that guy? Everybody wants to hear Mark play guitar and sing his songs, and they want to sing along to the songs.'"
There was another qualm, too.
"I didn't know if I could be a sideman," O'Brien admits. "It's a much smaller cog than I'm used to being anymore. I haven't been a sideman or worked for anyone else for close to 30 years, probably. It was a little bit scary to contemplate that. I thought I might do the wrong thing. I also thought I really like fronting the band, and I like playing a lot, and this is not going to be that way.
"I almost felt like telling Mark, 'You don't really need this. You don't really need a fiddle on a song or a bouzouki. It's totally full without it.' But when I got to the rehearsals, after several days, I realized he just likes the textures. He's been using folk instruments in recent years to sort of broaden the sound and keep him occupied, keep him interested. He's expanding his vision."
