In a world where dreams often stay confined to the realm of slumber, Tim & The Glory Boys are revving up to make them a reality with their latest single, “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Truck.” This audacious reimagining of Billy Ocean’s 1988 classic isn’t just a song; it’s a full-throttle journey into the heart of country music’s playful spirit. As the band’s tour bus rolls through the Canadian landscape, leaving a trail of infectious melodies and laughter in its wake, it’s clear that these self-proclaimed “canoegrass” pioneers are steering their career in an exciting new direction.
The genesis of “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Truck” is as unconventional as the band itself. Tim Neufeld, the group’s frontman, explains with a chuckle, “We thought, what is the laziest way we can put out a song? What’s the least amount of work we can do? We figured we had to change three words to make this song into a country song, and that’s what we chose to do.” However, he quickly adds, “I’m just kidding. It sort of was that, but it was mostly just that I loved that song growing up and I’m old enough to have remembered when it came out. It’s always sort of been in me as one of my favorite eighties songs.”
The journey from concept to release was far from straightforward. Neufeld reveals, “We had the idea as a band maybe five or six years ago, and it was a long journey to sort of see it now being released as a single and as a song that’s had a few words changed. It’s been a wonderful journey that we didn’t ever think we’d get to the end of. But here we are.”
The process of adapting the song, which the band playfully refers to as “countrying,” involved more than just changing a few words. It required permission from the original writers, Billy Ocean and producer-writer Mutt Lange. Neufeld recounts, “It took about six months to track them down. Our record label, Sony Music, sent some people, I think, into the bush in New Zealand or Switzerland or something like that to find Mutt Lange. But eventually they did, and we got permission from the writers and here we are.”
The release of “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Truck” coincides perfectly with the summer season, making it an ideal addition to road trip playlists. When asked about their favorite road trip memories as a band, Colin Trask recalls a particularly memorable incident: “One time we were in Saskatchewan. Tim was driving the tour bus as he does a lot of the time, and all of a sudden we’re laying in our bunks and the bus just starts rumbling as if we’re driving on gravel. We all came out to see what was up. Google Maps had taken him on a gravel road for about ten miles. We were hoping it wasn’t going to rattle apart halfway through it, but it was one of the roughest and nastiest roads we’ve ever been stuck on.”
Brenton Thorvaldson chimes in with another cherished memory: “When we have been touring through the US, we went through Yellowstone National Park in the bus. That was kind of an awesome way to see that part.” For Neufeld, the best part of their road trips is the camaraderie: “We get to go on, like, two-week sleepovers together. It’s all amazing because we’re a bunch of dads with kids and all the same domestic responsibilities that any other parent has, yet we get to go out on the weekends and be rock stars. It’s a really weird life, but it’s amazing.”
The production of “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Truck” marked a new chapter in the band’s recording process. Collaborating with producer Alan Salmon, the track was created across multiple locations. Neufeld explains, “This is one of the first songs that was created in Nashville, where Alan lives, in Chilliwack, where I live, and in Selkirk, Manitoba, where Brenton has a studio. This was the first time we’ve collaboratively yet remotely made a song.”
When asked about the challenges of recording in different studios, Neufeld reflects, “It’s sort of the new way things are happening, but it is just with the Internet, it’s really quite easy. It just sort of feels like you’re still with the people. A lot of times, even in the biggest and best studios in the world, they have you in isolation booths away from everybody anyway, so it kind of feels similar.”
Tim & The Glory Boys have carved out a unique niche in the music industry with their self-described “canoegrass” sound, a blend of bluegrass with rustic, Canadian country elements. Neufeld attributes the evolution of this sound to their touring experiences: “I think it comes from touring Canada and allowing sort of the heartbeat of the genre to literally be inspiring us night after night as we hang out with beautiful hillbillies all over this great country.”
The band’s self-titled album, released with Sony Canada, features five top 40 radio hits. When asked which song holds the most personal significance, all three members unanimously choose “Float.” Colin Trask explains, “That’s a song that really kind of speaks from the heart of who we are as dads, being silly and having fun and not taking life too seriously all the time.” Neufeld adds, “I was trying to write from my life, and I was trying to think about what to write about while floating in my pool. And all of a sudden, it hit me. I can write about what I’m doing right now, my favorite pastime.”
Tim & The Glory Boys are known for their lyrics often having dual meanings, resonating with both spiritual and secular audiences. Neufeld reflects on this aspect of their songwriting: “I think there’s often dual meanings and often not. We kind of go in waves, but I do love a good lyric of depth. Triple and quadruple meanings, even. I think it’s an important sort of place for music to eventually get to or any artist’s career arc when it comes to their prose.”
Balancing faith with the demands of the music industry is a topic the band approaches with honesty and authenticity. Neufeld shares, “We just try to be as authentic as we can because fake faith is pretty lame, and that means being honest about our questions and doubts, too. And obviously, art has a really important role to play in peace and in helping us just have perspective on some of these issues. But that’s where, if you can just be honest and write from your life and your journey, those things can naturally kind of fall into place.”
As family men, creating music that all ages can enjoy is a priority for Tim & The Glory Boys. Colin Trask emphasizes, “I think that’s been a backbone for Tim and the Glory Boys our entire ten-plus years, always making music that even our own kids can listen to and enjoy. And the family dynamic of the show, I think, is always a special one and maybe one that doesn’t always happen at country shows.” Neufeld adds humorously, “We’re the clean comedy. We’re the Jerry Seinfeld of country music.”
With over a decade as a band, the secret to their longevity and creative partnership remains a mystery even to them. Colin Trask reflects, “We are like a brotherhood, and we’ve been a tight-knit road family. And there have been guys that have come and gone. Some have spent a year with us, some a few years, and they move on to do other things. And it’s sort of been this kind of ever-changing family. And for the last eight years, we’ve kind of landed this crew. I don’t know, we click well, we connect well, and we love each other, so it works.”
The band’s live shows are renowned for their energy and audience participation. Brenton Thorvaldson shares his perspective on performing live: “None of us want to do anything else besides play music. And so, when we get opportunities to play for crowds and just be our true selves and have a good time, there’s no better feeling than that. We all live for those moments. If it’s our favorite part about being in a band, it’s playing live.”
Tim & The Glory Boys’ music videos often showcase stunning Canadian landscapes, a choice that comes naturally to the band. Neufeld explains, “We live in British Columbia, in the Fraser Valley, so again, it’s more just kind of being authentic to who we are and trying to portray us in our natural environment. It just happens to be incredible. We’re so proud of where we live, so we get to show it off in these videos, and then everybody in Chilliwack and Agassiz and the Fraser Valley that lives sort of in our vicinity can be proud. That’s a fun part of this job, too, is just the regional pride that we get to sort of be cheerleaders for.”
As Tim & The Glory Boys continue to evolve and grow, they remain grounded in their commitment to authenticity, family, and the joy of making music. Their latest single, “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Truck,” is not just a clever reimagining of a classic hit; it’s a testament to their ability to blend nostalgia with fresh energy, creating a sound that resonates across generations.
