Chicago Reader Critics’ Choice

“This local octet, drawn from jazz and rock bands (the Delafields, the Country Melvins, Patricia Barber's quartet, and lots of others), started out as a novelty act.” [Read Article]

GapersBlock.com, The Best We Heard in 2007

“It was full-on Waits-ian gravelly gold, I tell you. It was the perfect medicine for the steamy end to the weekend — full of bitterness and love and sex and alcohol (just like the '80s, really).” [Read Article]

Ageless-Northshore.com, Evil and Heartwarming

“After listening to Zebulun Barnow's gravel and cinder vocals on the B1G T1ME myspace page, I think this anonymous scribe at zvents got it right. Evil and heartwarming...a lovely way to usher in the Halloween weekend. Adding to this stew, percussionist Chris Anderson and Barnow bring 'theremin, trash cans, fire extinguishers, and all sorts of creatively employed junk into the mix.' How else do you pay tribute to Tom Waits, America's poet-iconoclast?.” [Visit Website]

Chicago Tribune, A Tom Waits Tribute Band?

“Since the emergence of Elvis Presley and the Beatles, cover bands have multiplied as rapidly as mosquitoes in a muggy Midwestern summer. Locally, Tributosaurus morphs into a different artist each month (most recently performing as Michael Jackson), while a quick Web search uncovers Chicagoland acts disguised as everyone from Heart (Heartless) to Metallica (Blackened). And while most of these masqueraders are critically ignored (Tributosaurus being an obvious exception) -- relegated to playing weddings and corporate banquets -- every now and again, something worthwhile emerges. Such is the case with B1g T1me...” [Read Article]

Real Detroit Weekly

“Probably the most remarkable thing about Tom Waits is his signature growl and his music, the perfect mixture of blues, jazz, and vaudeville. B1g T1me knows this, and encompasses it flawlessly. Formed in late 2006, B1g T1me has gone from simply imitating Waits signature style, to actually performing Waits originals exclusively. They'll be at the Belmont this Saturday, perfectly mimicking the gravely vocals and the impeccable instrumentation of Waits, and Waits only.”

Buffalo Rising

“If you know Tom Waits as a singer, songwriter, and musician who dabbled in blues, jazz, rock, and folk, then you likely already know about the upcoming performance by the Tom Waits tribute band, B1g T1me (aka Big Time). Waits' songs like 'Cold Cold Ground', 'Downtown Train', 'Whistlin' Past the Graveyard', 'Hold On', and 'Just the Right Bullets' show his poetic penchant for humor, heart, and humanity.

Big Time gives a Waits-worthy performance, incorporating unusual instrumentation such as tuned fire extinguishers, the beloved Theremin and trashcans. It is said that the Chicago-based band--named after Waits' 1988 live album--was originally a concept band performing radio hits from the 70s and 80s (like Prince's 'I Would Die For You' and Fleetwood Mac's 'Second Hand News') in the style of Tom Waits. After being asked repeatedly to play Waits covers, the band finally gave in and today does a remarkable job of playing Tom Waits' music exclusively.

As many fans as Waits may have, it is undeniable that many people only know Tom Waits as an actor. I'd be quick to agree he was a true highlight in movies like Mystery Men, Bram Stoker's Dracula, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and The Book of Eli. If you only know Waits as an actor, you owe it to yourself to check out Big Time. It will serve as a great hello to his work as a music artist. ”