Protocol and Tim Current are November's Favorite Songwriters!

There were two Favorite Song competitions held in November, and Tim Current, a contestant who submitted some of his other songs in recent months, finally struck gold as his acoustic gem of a song "Hard To Let Her Go" triumphed in the Male Solo Artist competition. Meanwhile, newcomers Protocol shot to the top of the Make A Star monthly charts and added $50 to their pockets with their victory in the Duo/Band competition for their song "Wall of Colors".


Tim Current,singer/songwriter, joined forces with local Vancouver, Washington band (The Martindales) in 2003 to record his first 12 song cd due to be finished in the spring of 2004. They currently have a large library of songs still yet to be recorded in the country/rock/pop/ballad genre.


Easy listening with an edge, its a must hear for fans of The Eagles to Blue Rodeo and everything in between! Here's what writer Jim Cooper had to say about Tim's new album: Why did Tim call this recording Convergence? Perhaps it’s because the songs converge lyrically and musically into radio-friendly numbers that will appeal to listeners who disdain the simplicity of most pop music. And what a convergence it is. Backed by the imitable Martindales, a band whose versatility and rock and roll credentials provide the perfect accompaniment to the rich material, Tim Current’s superb songwriting and vocals immediately capture the ear. From the opening chords of “Living a Lie” to the subtle harmonies that close “Till the End of Time,” you can practically hear the enthusiasm.


Add Kevin Nettleingham’s skillful production to the mix, and the result is an album that will easily withstand the test of time, sounding as fresh twenty years from now as it does today. Although most of Tim’s songs focus on the enduring topic of love and relationships, this album is not simply a collection of boy meets girl/boy loses girl songs. Relationships are never that simple; even the best ones are messy, complicated, and nuanced. Tim’s music reflects that reality brilliantly.


Who can’t relate to the cocktail of loss, bitterness and resignation served in “Living a Lie” or to Tim’s homage to love’s transformative power, “You Set Me Free?” And when, in the hard rocking “She Likes the Way,” Tim sings “She loves it when I tell her she’s so fine / I love it when she slips her little hand in mine,” who doesn’t agree that small gestures create strong bonds? In one of the album’s strongest cuts, “Malibu,” Tim demonstrates the hollowness of luxury without love when he croons “It’s gonna be 85 again and there’s not a cloud in sight / The major train wreck of the day is if the PH level’s right.” The fact is Tim understands human nature, and his ability to express that understanding in words and music bodes well for the discriminating listener. If you’re looking for authenticity and sophistication that transcends typical pop formulas, then you’ve come to the right place.


Listen to Tim Current 'Hard To Let Her Go'


Protocol is a well-rounded rock band from Connecticut. Joe (vocals, guitar, bass) and Tyler (guitar), began writing songs together in 2003. Ryan Laney soon joined on keyboard and mandolin, followed by Matt on bass and Emily on drums (and occasionally bass). Their good friend Nick occasionally plays with the band on baritone sax and vocals.


Throughout their high school careers, Protocol was mainly a recording group, performing a few times at Toquet Hall in Westport, CT, and in their high school's talent show. By the summer of 2007 (the graduating year of the majority of the band's members) Protocol had completed Faceless, their first full album, and by the summer of 2009 they finished work on their second, Verbatim, recording only during college breaks.


Protocol's music reflects its members' backgrounds in and love of both rock and classical music. When asked about their influences, they usually list Aerosmith, The Beatles, Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, Guns N' Roses, and Dispatch.


Protocol has a third album in the works and Joe and Ryan Laney are working on a musical about their experiences in high school as well.


Listen to Protocol 'Wall of Colors'