Ryan Tilby: News

I've been surprised with some work lately doing (and I use the term loosely) "New Age" piano albums. First with the wonderous David Tolk, and now with the fantastic Paul Cardall. It's been fun, and interesting, and a nice stretch for me.

So here's a lyric from a favorite tune of mine, off the Us3 album:

Well it's the lazy days, what? The lazy days
I'm sittin' back in my lounge chair stone cold maxin'
Thinkin' 'bout the next MC I'm gonna wax
In concert, goin' beserk, but not today
Today I'm cold chillin' right around my way
A dip-dipperty-doo-dah-a dipperty-day
Say partner would you run to the store and buy me a philly
Roll up the ism and get illy
Coolin' while I rule 'cos I went to school
I'm lampin' with my girl travel round the world
I'm ------------------- hay, the nubian way
So parlez parlez parlez 'cos it's a lazy day.

We're just hangin' out here in the Holiday Inn, which is under mega-renovation (i.e. no pool.......), waiting for the next gig. So far we've played the Oriental Theater (home to Kung Fu movies during the week, and Cuban-jazz bands on the weekends), and then the Denver Convention Center (Stampin' Up!!).

We've perfected the sport of Urban Frisbee, we've got a national park or two to see, the Denver mint (free money?), and I'd frankly like to see Transformers again, because, I mean, cool cars that turn into awesome robots that blow stuff up to protect earth from evil, what could possibly be cooler than that?

Three is a magic number. Maybe School-House Rock is long forgotten, but when it comes to the power of 3, I’m all about trios. It occurred to me the other day that a lot of my favorite groups of all time are trios. Jazz, trios, rock trios, folk trios, it doesn’t matter. I just think when you can get three people together who know what their job is and how to do it, the music just flows out, pure and unencumbered. Nothing to hide behind. So I went though my iPod and compiled a list of all the trios I’m a fan of. I’m also including a few trio’s with lead singer, ‘cause that counts too. Here it is (in iTunes alphabetical order):

• The Beastie Boys. Sorta counts.
• Bela Fleck and the Flecktones – Three Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest (I LOVE this record).
• Chick Corea Akoustic Band
• Green Day (I can’t believe I own this….)
• Jimi Hendrix
• John Mayer Trio (Try!)
• Karate (New favorite of mine)
• Matisyahu (live at Stubbs)
• Medeski Martin and Wood
• Nickel Creek
• Oysterhead
• Pat Metheny Trio
• The Police (that show changed my life!!)
• Primus (A secret weakness of mine. Big fan.)
• Rush
• Rage Against the Machine. Another sorta trio.
• The Sam Payne Trio. Vintage……
• The Spin Doctors
• Vince Guaraldi Trio

Well, I’m sure some of you might argue with some of that. It looks like a lot more rock than I originally suspected. Maybe acoustic music has more people to make up for less amps.
Check out some cool trios.

So I'm no expert, but I've ridden a lot of the great trails in Utah, and I've decided that the slickrock trail in Moab can be in my top 10, but maybe not even my top 5. See, the slickrock is 45% climbing for all you're worth, 45% braking for all you're worth, and only 10% "some technical skills required" riding. The views are unbeatable, let me say that.
But I prefer my trails more like 50% technical "I-wonder-if-I-can-get up/down/over/through-that". Maybe this is all an elaborate excuse for being out of shape.
Drew and I just returned from a trip to Moab, where we were passed on the trail by 11 year-olds and 60 year olds. We did have the best of times, though. I even spent my first night in a U-Haul trailer. Surprisingly pleasant lodging.
Then to Tuacahn in Ivins for Pete Breinholts annual show. Another fantastic concert. Maybe I'll get some pictures up soon.
Maybe.

My wife's birthday, sprouting flowers, Easter, taxes, what's not to love? Not to mention a little involuntary time off for musicians!
It's actually a nice chance to get my wits about me before summer. I'm starting a mandolin building project (yeah, I may never post pictures from that little Frankenstein experiment), I'm getting my biking muscles back into shape, and I'm having really lofty thoughts about eating all organic foods, living off renewable energy sources, and biking everywhere I go (that I don't have to carry gear to).
Most of that is just lofty thinking. But I'm working on it!

There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who get Far-Side Comics, and those who don't. There are lots of other kinds, too, but I think that's a pretty huge deviding line.

In the immortal words of K.C., “I’m worse at what I do best, and for this gift I feel blessed, Our little group has always been, And always will until the end.” He later goes on to say “Here we are now, Entertain us, I feel stupid and contagious, Here we are now, Entertain us, A mulatto, An albino, A mosquito, My burrito, Yea.”
I guess what I’m saying is, that means something to me. It means a lot to me. There was a time when I thought it should mean something to the whole world, but that time has passed.
You see, I’ve reached an age where for the first time in my life, there’s a new generation of competent, intelligent adults younger than me who have their own anthems of revolution, their own Black Albums, their own Mario Brothers, their own Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (although I guess they’re coming back, so that doesn’t count). A part of me has always held to the notion that those things that changed my life were somehow the most influential things the world would ever know, and that time would prove them, and thusly my generation to be the last word in social evolution.

D’oh.

I think what really drove the point home was Ryan Shupe telling me that upon popping his treasured Dave Matthews Band CD into the player, the response elicited from his travel companion was not “righteous” or “sick” or “radical” or even “cool”, but instead “Old School”. Dave? Satellite? Crash? Ants? Say it ain’t so.

Which brings me to this: We only change the world by doing one thing that leads to the next. I suppose my whole life has been one small change leading to the next, and I like where I’m at now, so why shouldn’t I view the world the same way? No, things are like they were in 1983 (Is John Mayer still cool?), but that’s OK. 1983 played it’s part, and now it’s time for 2007. I’m here now, and I’m happy and honored to be playing my part.
May we all play our parts well, and may they always be funky and cool.

Just finishing final Mixes on Neil Owens new record "Peace & Harmony". That's the title at the moment, at least. It's a crafty little acoustiblues record with great songwriting, subtle playing, and a few political jabs that make me smile a lot.
Check it out sometime. I think I've got Neil linked on the link page.

PS - Westons new development is a sound not unlike the seagulls on "finding Nemo" - "MINE?" or "NOW?" which, coming from him isn't really a question at all.

Weston, my son, turns one today. A whole year. That kid is going to change this world. Just wait.
In other news, I've been working with Neil Bradley Owen on his new blues project - it's sounding GREAT. Less is more, as we've finally discovered. Also about to go into the studio with Debra Fotheringham, doing some bass work. She writes a song, let me tell you, that makes you want to hear it again, immediately.
Oh, yeah, and rocking out with Ryan Shupe & Co. is way too much fun. I wish everyone could have a job like that. Not like rocking bass in the Rubberband, but rocking whatever they want to most in whatever field they choose. It just feels great to do what you love. I'm rambling.
Well, thanks for the read and I'll see you at a show sometime.

December is a fun month for a musician. I think the Corporate gigs are my favorite; they're always wierd in some strange way. At an undisclosed gig last week the MC of the event got up and said "Thanks for all being great employees! You're bonus checks are by the back door, and now, as a special treat, Peter Breinholt and Big Parade!!" at which point everyone got up, picked up their check, and left. We played our set for about 15 people. I thought that was awesome.

The infamous Deering Crossfire is now sporting a custom paint job done by my friend Steve Flaig in St. George. It's metallic copper (think that cool Nissan 350Z color), and it rocks harder than ever before.
I mean, for a banjo. I'll get a pic up soon.

I just got the call to play bass for the amazing Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband. I'm excited - I've counted these guys as friends for fifteen years, but for all sorts of reasons, I haven't played music with them for about seven. Now, I'm in the band! I'll tell you what I'm learning, though: Wally, Jeremy, and Colin are all fantastic bass players whose shoes are hard to fill.

The Peter Breinholt Sundance shows were unreal. 'Nuff said. If you didn't go this year, go next year, and remember that weather is NOT an excuse.
In other news, Behind These Walls is getting rave reviews from friends, fans, and family.
Thanks to everyone.

Nothing like knowing other people (besides my wife) like the music I'm making to make me feel good. The Tilby Williams band just did a couple sets and the Bannock County Bluegrass Festival and recieved a very warm welcome. Our music was slightly more progressive and "newgrass" than the other bands at the fest, and for a while I thought we were going to be run out of town.
But, in the end, nothin' but love.
So, I'm up again. I'm writing more, itching to play, and of course, want to buy more instruments.

Well, a successful move, a good job change, cooler temeratures, and I found a pocketknife in the move that I thought I had lost years ago. That's always good.
Drew and I are in the midst of mixing our next record. It's pretty cool, if I do say so myself. Not as bluegrass as you might expect, but close enough. You're going to love it.

The Tilby Williams Band just gigged Evanston, Wyoming (yeah, sweet, I know) and had a first: A kid broke his ankle from dancing too hard to our music.
Never underestimate the power of bluegrass. The U.S.S.R. and Iraq both had to ban Bluegrass during the 80's because of the riots that were breaking out amongst the common-folk, who would use bluegrass songs such as "Nine-Pound Hammer" to start revolutions. The government would host giant Banjo-Burnings to keep the peace.
And yet, the people danced on. Broken ankles and all.

Is that spelled with a Z?
Anyway, those of you who choose to read this page and yet continue to fail to sign the Guestbook in any way, consider yourselves reprimanded. Please, contribute to your culture no matter its size, scope, or musical preference.

I just performed for a Scrappin' Up Convention in Salt Lake. Whoa. What a bunch of wild scrappers. I guess everyone on earth had heard of them but me. I also learned not to use the word "stickers" around them. They are self-adhesive-stampin'up-die-cuts, and don't you forget it.

Well, I'm looking at relocating to Utah Valley (yeah, wierd, I know) to play more music and do some engineering for Dan Carlisle and Soularium Studios. I'll prep my self with some U of U bumperstickers or something.

Well, this is me doing my best to make a place for myself in this ol' world. Wish me luck, and may we all spend our lives doing what we love and are blessed to be able to do.