Its worth your time to check out the site. You can download some free music and maybe even support a great cause.

I did it. Right now I’m listening to ‘Sleeping At Last’.

PS – You won’t find TCG on the site, but maybe you will soon. We would be honored to participate.

-Tyler

I get it. I understand why it is this way. The gatekeepers of the music biz are naturally insecure people. They know that people’s taste and desire change frequently. Therefore, to keep certain bands on top, it works in their favor to keep discovery of new music difficult. I concede that it is easier than ever to find new music on the internet, but its harder than ever to find new good music. There is so much crap out there; I get frustrated at the time it takes and stop trying to find anything new.

The voice of the people seems to be the only real rating system. Yes, this system, in effect, does rate artists, but not efficiently. There are labels and indies throwing money at the system trying to get their music rated. They are trying to get feedback on their music. Most end up throwing their money away.

It’s a fight for attention. The music has to grab your attention and keep it. As artists, this is huge frustration, because it doesn’t seem to be the best song or the most talented artist wins this battle. It’s the most controversial artist or the one in the big scandal.

Finally, on a more personal note, it would be scary to be rated. In school it wasn’t so scary because one knew the parameters. There was a defined set of standards that one was tested on. In music, no one wants to define standards. And no one wants to say that someone sucks. You’ve seen the hundreds of thousands of people that were encouraged by someone to audition for American Idol. In the end, only one person, Simon, was really willing to tell someone they didn’t have what it takes. Rating would be scary, but wouldn’t we all like to have an unbiased, trusted rating system. One that is not based on radio plays, record sales, marketing dollars, how many friends you have, or the people you know – a system that is based on the music.

-Tyler

We’re on the edge. We’re looking down. And it’s a scary, exhilarating place to be. It’s a little like sky diving – “you got yourself up there, now there’s only one way to get down.” The waters are swirling. Nobody knows how deep it is. OK, here goes.

The music industry is the wild west. Everybody’s making up their own rules as they go, and it’s a race to find out whose rules are going to wind up on top. Like most of the rest of the country, record companies are trying to put food on the table for right now – perhaps at the expense of their future selves. For the first time, the average Joe with a guitar and a lyric can compete. BUT, there are a LOT of Joe’s that want to compete so it becomes a game of “rise through the noise” and be the only act that does what you do. I think it’s a good thing for creativity. The formula has been broken. It no longer works because it’s the swarm effect – when everyone is doing the same thing we crave something unique. We’ve always had a love affair with acts that break the conventions and rise above. After a gluttonous infatuation with the formulaic “hit machine” of the past 15 years, the market has changed – we want artists again. We want music that is never satisfied with its previous attempts – amazing as they may be. I think that’s what makes the best musicians and artists in a league of their own – they’re still reaching for the brass ring, they feel like their best is still in there somewhere, they just have to find it.

I want to learn. I want to be taught. I want to be friends with people who blow my mind and who approach music from a different angle than I do. A theologian commented that the closer you get to God, the further away you realize you are. I think in a lot of ways the same thing applies to music. The more competent an artist and musician I become, the more my inadequacies are revealed – and the more my thirst is stoked.

Sorry to be vague, but we’re closing our eyes and taking a breath…who knows what’s at the bottom of this

–jonathan

Be warned: I will probably be lacing most of these with sarcasm and sassy notes, but all in all I will attempt not to take up too much cyberspace and keep it PC…i also wink a lot to make sure ya’ll know i’m being playful…i’m also not a fan of taking the time to properly use Capitol Letters When Appropriate…annnnd…i say worrrrd quite a bit.

oh yeah, i usually can’t stay on just one topic so those of you who don’t even LIKE reading blogs will hopefully be entertained.

With that, I shall continue on to more pressing matters at hand: adventure.

ad·ven·ture

[ad-ven-cher] Show IPA noun, verb,-tured, -tur·ing.

Just wanted to take a quick second to let you know we’re going to be doing a live video video feed from the studio tomorrow (Thursday) evening at 8 PM CST and would love to have you tune in!

The address is http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tin-cup-gypsy/

You don’t have to be registered to watch, just show up and check it out. We’ll be recording a batch of three tunes for you all to vote on which one will be the next Tin Cup Gypsy single.

Check it out and let us know what you think!

– TCG

- Day 1: Jon, Cass, and Judy hit the Golden Greek (great Greek food in Glendale!)
- Day 3: I (Jonathan) successfully didn’t shoot Steve, nor get shot by him, whilst attempting to quail hunt (score: quail – 1, hunters – 0)
- Day 4: Cass overcame her fear of carnies and rode the big spinning tower cage-o-death ride at the AZ State Fair
- Day 5: Mexican Food (AZ Mexican Food is in a category of its own)
- Day 6: Proudly gave Don Derby (www.donderby.com) the nickel tour from Phoenix to Safford. Over the Superiors, through the sprawling metropolis of Globe/Miami, across the Apache Indian Nation, into the candy-cane forest, and out of the Lincoln Tunnel…
- Day 7: Attempted Mexican Food. Establishment closed. Backup Mexican Food settled on. 9 Holes of Golf. I shot a 48. Don’t laugh, I’m actually improving…
- Day 8: Mexican Food Encore. First place from day 7, open on day 8. Mmmmm. Cassandra risks life and limb by snakebite, to pillage through AZ junk (as well as nearly getting arrested for vandalism [all in the name of art])
- Day 9: Dune Buggy + Sharp Rocks = Flat Tire. Windshield + No Air Flow = Me trying not to puke in the back seat. Jordan enjoying the fine winter weather in Rochester, NY.
- Day 10: Safford Show! 500+ Attendance! Jordan, Tyler, and Derek (@DeeWeeZee) up at the crack o’dawn. Derek catches the flu, literally puking at soundcheck (the show goes on)
- Day 11: Jordan and Derek drive 3 hours to Phx, J flies to Dallas, D to Nashvegas. Jordan show with Josh Turner that night. Meanwhile, 2nd half of golf round finished up. 49 this time. Dang that 18th bunker. Repeat Mexican food from day 7.
- Day 12: Cattle Roundup. 600lb Ticked off Cow + Me standing between her and her calf = shoulder pain for the next few weeks. Private Party Concert that night. GOOD TIMES!
- Day 13: Phoenix Show! 200+ Attendance! Thanks to Skye Restaurant and Judy Marcum for making that possible!
- Day 14: Jordan, Tyler, and Don hike Camelback Mountain and then around the other side. Meanwhile Jonathan and Cass sleep until noon. MNF with Dave Herzog.
- Day 15: Catch the plane back to Nashvegas. WHAT A TRIP!

I love Riverbend. I make no bones about it. Many look for ways to tear it down; I look for ways to love it, and it isn’t hard to find the positive in the festival. Look no further then Tin Cup Gypsy, my favorite act at Riverbend this year, so far. Playing under the bridge last night, they just killed the huge crowd that showed up. A few people showed up looking for the “mystery guest” and ended up falling in love with these young and talented musicians from Nashville. They were light years beyond good. They were great.

The crowd loved them, many not even realizing “their story.” Allow me to give you some details. When the two brothers were 8 years old, their parents took away their television. I don’t mean they took it away after 9 p.m. or on school nights. I mean they took the televisions out of the house. For six years. No TV. Instead, the family would play music, practicing the guitar, fiddle and mandolin. They did this as a family. They went to a charter school and graduated from high school at a very young age. They graduated from college when they were 18. One received his master’s degree when he was 22.

With college completed, their parents gave them a few bucks and a cell phone and told them they were adults and needed to go out in the world and make their own way. “Give us a call and let us know how things are going, but don’t call for money,” they told the boys. You see, they prepared the boys for life. Talented and educated, they were ready for the world. The young men went out and got jobs most would die for. One is with Josh Turner, and one is with Sara Evans band. Well done, parents. Oh yeah, despite having the opportunity to see their kids at some of the nation’s largest concerts, they chose to drive their motor-home from Arizona and stop in Chattanooga to see them.

And, lets not forget Cassandra. She has spent her young life learning to be talented, also. And beautiful. So folks, you have the rest of the story. Last year, Trombone Shorty was my favorite act; unless something happens, Tin Cup Gypsy has it in the bag for this year.