tag:tonyatyner.com,2005:/blogs/my-bloggette?p=1My bloggette2023-03-28T07:54:00-04:00tonya tynerfalsetag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/71798172023-03-28T07:54:00-04:002023-10-16T10:44:36-04:00How I Lost Me... and How I Lost YouSome of you know I’ve had an ongoing fist-fight with depression since the fall of 2019. No, the Covid Apocalypse didn’t help.<div> <br>Up until that time, I was writing and performing somewhat regularly (for the 2-3 years prior it was usually with my friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.a.largent?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVm7Ko7aarMrw2H4fjGP_rW6vap_ZZortCLSBDApRlYLKtGVtj0Db5tdZMK1aUTQcrNi-XslxcHgeqyZgScICrAx3dwPMc3CDAjVsCvbAxzE6V2Za0dU7-Zv2FIqG1Cz0s2A0mFrVOIzIIV89uTOJazEH4WA0DbVLkApqCDIwIu6ynUty-r91UolB-7udMr3jA&__tn__=-%5DK-R">Kenneth Largent</a> as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheLargentTynerDuo?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVm7Ko7aarMrw2H4fjGP_rW6vap_ZZortCLSBDApRlYLKtGVtj0Db5tdZMK1aUTQcrNi-XslxcHgeqyZgScICrAx3dwPMc3CDAjVsCvbAxzE6V2Za0dU7-Zv2FIqG1Cz0s2A0mFrVOIzIIV89uTOJazEH4WA0DbVLkApqCDIwIu6ynUty-r91UolB-7udMr3jA&__tn__=-%5DK-R">The LTD</a> (Largent Tyner Duo) or with our friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/carol.murray.944?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVm7Ko7aarMrw2H4fjGP_rW6vap_ZZortCLSBDApRlYLKtGVtj0Db5tdZMK1aUTQcrNi-XslxcHgeqyZgScICrAx3dwPMc3CDAjVsCvbAxzE6V2Za0dU7-Zv2FIqG1Cz0s2A0mFrVOIzIIV89uTOJazEH4WA0DbVLkApqCDIwIu6ynUty-r91UolB-7udMr3jA&__tn__=-%5DK-R">Carol Murray</a> as the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/scbandofpilgrims?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVm7Ko7aarMrw2H4fjGP_rW6vap_ZZortCLSBDApRlYLKtGVtj0Db5tdZMK1aUTQcrNi-XslxcHgeqyZgScICrAx3dwPMc3CDAjVsCvbAxzE6V2Za0dU7-Zv2FIqG1Cz0s2A0mFrVOIzIIV89uTOJazEH4WA0DbVLkApqCDIwIu6ynUty-r91UolB-7udMr3jA&__tn__=-%5DK-R">Band of Pilgrims</a> for the annual <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasAtRedBank?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVm7Ko7aarMrw2H4fjGP_rW6vap_ZZortCLSBDApRlYLKtGVtj0Db5tdZMK1aUTQcrNi-XslxcHgeqyZgScICrAx3dwPMc3CDAjVsCvbAxzE6V2Za0dU7-Zv2FIqG1Cz0s2A0mFrVOIzIIV89uTOJazEH4WA0DbVLkApqCDIwIu6ynUty-r91UolB-7udMr3jA&__tn__=-%5DK-R">Christmas At Red Bank</a> benefit concert for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MissionLexSC/?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVm7Ko7aarMrw2H4fjGP_rW6vap_ZZortCLSBDApRlYLKtGVtj0Db5tdZMK1aUTQcrNi-XslxcHgeqyZgScICrAx3dwPMc3CDAjVsCvbAxzE6V2Za0dU7-Zv2FIqG1Cz0s2A0mFrVOIzIIV89uTOJazEH4WA0DbVLkApqCDIwIu6ynUty-r91UolB-7udMr3jA&__tn__=kK-R">Mission Lexington</a>. Some of you know or even remember that I am / I was… a singer, a writer, a player, a performer. No, depression didn’t help.</div><div> <br>But Ken and I were writing up a storm for a while. Ken would start one, and together we would completely rework the lyrics. Or I would have a verse and a chorus, and Ken would supply a melody. We arm-wrestled every bridge and every turn of phrase with the only goal of just capturing the story we had invented for that moment. And it was the moment that was driving the song genre as well. They’re all over the place, but we weren’t writing an album, we were just writing.</div><div>
<br>But then I sank down into the deep and then Covid hit and the whole kit and kaboodle could have stayed in my dusty songbinder, but Ken wasn’t having it. He drove me crazy, ya’ll. Like a good friend will, he texted, he called, he texted again, he pushed and pushed and pushed me back into the studio with Elliot New (from Elliot and the Untouchables), Ken’s dear awesome friend who for some God-wink reason decided to DONATE all of his engineering and studio time. Our friends Jim, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/carol.murray.944?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVm7Ko7aarMrw2H4fjGP_rW6vap_ZZortCLSBDApRlYLKtGVtj0Db5tdZMK1aUTQcrNi-XslxcHgeqyZgScICrAx3dwPMc3CDAjVsCvbAxzE6V2Za0dU7-Zv2FIqG1Cz0s2A0mFrVOIzIIV89uTOJazEH4WA0DbVLkApqCDIwIu6ynUty-r91UolB-7udMr3jA&__tn__=-%5DK-R">Carol</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RichardMaxwellMusic?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVm7Ko7aarMrw2H4fjGP_rW6vap_ZZortCLSBDApRlYLKtGVtj0Db5tdZMK1aUTQcrNi-XslxcHgeqyZgScICrAx3dwPMc3CDAjVsCvbAxzE6V2Za0dU7-Zv2FIqG1Cz0s2A0mFrVOIzIIV89uTOJazEH4WA0DbVLkApqCDIwIu6ynUty-r91UolB-7udMr3jA&__tn__=-%5DK-R">Richard</a>, and Mike added their masterful layers in, and Ken coordinated it all.</div><div> <br>I resisted, as a blue person does, but he just kept after me, like a bulldog on a porkchop. He refused to let our songs die in the quicksand pluff-mud of my depressed apathy. I tell this story so you know that while these songs were 100% The Largent Tyner Duo, but they may never have seen the future light of day (like the Dawn Key Shotguns songs) if it hadn’t been for Ken. So this record, I dedicate to him and his lovely and supportive wife <a href="https://www.facebook.com/normajean.standishlargent?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVm7Ko7aarMrw2H4fjGP_rW6vap_ZZortCLSBDApRlYLKtGVtj0Db5tdZMK1aUTQcrNi-XslxcHgeqyZgScICrAx3dwPMc3CDAjVsCvbAxzE6V2Za0dU7-Zv2FIqG1Cz0s2A0mFrVOIzIIV89uTOJazEH4WA0DbVLkApqCDIwIu6ynUty-r91UolB-7udMr3jA&__tn__=-%5DK-R">NormaJean Standish-Largent</a>, and their daughter, who welcomed me into their home time and time again, and his mother, Shirley, who also listened and nodded and affirmed all of our sounds.</div><div> <br>And if you’ve lost something over the last few years, you may find something here. This is how I lost me and how I lost you, but I’m digging out now, exhuming and unearthing myself. Please pardon the construction.</div><div><br></div><div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesxjONf4jDrgmESk1B7FrQJV4Dw-XNl_O_ZjcwROqbJd9dRzhKfGypn2Z7HhgRMcIVkbVYkaB5bYUVn96_tT1cleM64gcfycU4HyyNOiJ4Q60Jp5p1SXyGfvG3MSsf8HjEqwMcNztRGgH7ZEWV-nvLX2GMjIlE6lg0c-yxnpxKhSir0ic7xhvq16d/s1500/CD%20cover%20Draft%203%201500.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesxjONf4jDrgmESk1B7FrQJV4Dw-XNl_O_ZjcwROqbJd9dRzhKfGypn2Z7HhgRMcIVkbVYkaB5bYUVn96_tT1cleM64gcfycU4HyyNOiJ4Q60Jp5p1SXyGfvG3MSsf8HjEqwMcNztRGgH7ZEWV-nvLX2GMjIlE6lg0c-yxnpxKhSir0ic7xhvq16d/w200-h200/CD%20cover%20Draft%203%201500.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="200" width="200" /></a><div><br></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.a.largent?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVm7Ko7aarMrw2H4fjGP_rW6vap_ZZortCLSBDApRlYLKtGVtj0Db5tdZMK1aUTQcrNi-XslxcHgeqyZgScICrAx3dwPMc3CDAjVsCvbAxzE6V2Za0dU7-Zv2FIqG1Cz0s2A0mFrVOIzIIV89uTOJazEH4WA0DbVLkApqCDIwIu6ynUty-r91UolB-7udMr3jA&__tn__=-%5DK-R">Ken Largent</a>- vocals, bass, acoustic and electric guitar, keyboard, mandolin</div>
</div><div>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002202155649&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVm7Ko7aarMrw2H4fjGP_rW6vap_ZZortCLSBDApRlYLKtGVtj0Db5tdZMK1aUTQcrNi-XslxcHgeqyZgScICrAx3dwPMc3CDAjVsCvbAxzE6V2Za0dU7-Zv2FIqG1Cz0s2A0mFrVOIzIIV89uTOJazEH4WA0DbVLkApqCDIwIu6ynUty-r91UolB-7udMr3jA&__tn__=-%5DK-R">Tonya Tyner</a> vocals<br>Jim Heidenreich- drums<br><a href="https://www.facebook.com/carol.murray.944?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVm7Ko7aarMrw2H4fjGP_rW6vap_ZZortCLSBDApRlYLKtGVtj0Db5tdZMK1aUTQcrNi-XslxcHgeqyZgScICrAx3dwPMc3CDAjVsCvbAxzE6V2Za0dU7-Zv2FIqG1Cz0s2A0mFrVOIzIIV89uTOJazEH4WA0DbVLkApqCDIwIu6ynUty-r91UolB-7udMr3jA&__tn__=-%5DK-R">Carol Murray</a>- cello<br><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RichardMaxwellMusic?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVm7Ko7aarMrw2H4fjGP_rW6vap_ZZortCLSBDApRlYLKtGVtj0Db5tdZMK1aUTQcrNi-XslxcHgeqyZgScICrAx3dwPMc3CDAjVsCvbAxzE6V2Za0dU7-Zv2FIqG1Cz0s2A0mFrVOIzIIV89uTOJazEH4WA0DbVLkApqCDIwIu6ynUty-r91UolB-7udMr3jA&__tn__=-%5DK-R">Richard Maxwell</a>- electric guitar on track 5<br>Mark McClane - electric guitar on track 5</div><span><a name="more"></a></span><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div>All songs written by Tonya Tyner and Ken Largent</div></div><div>Produced by Kenneth Largent and Tonya Tyner </div><div>Recorded, mixed and mastered by Elliot New, Ballentine, SC </div><div>Cover Photo by Tonya Tyner<br><br>
</div><div> Link to Record on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1Znz1LuCL3POUZg1XtFZsP?si=92vrYPnqRk2BIxq2LH2ITg">Spotify</a><br>Link to Record on <a href="https://www.pandora.com/artist/the-largent-tyner-duo/how-i-lost-you/ALgnPxhdw9fbV44">Pandora</a><br>Link to Record on <a href="https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-largent-tyner-duo/1669067907">Apple Music</a><br>Link to Record on <a href="https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0BSVNTB7C">Amazon Music</a>
</div>tonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/49070142017-10-25T22:39:00-04:002017-10-26T02:01:00-04:00Taking the Body for GrantedDon't we? Don't we just assume the eye is going to blink, the heart is going to beat, the tear duct is going to moisten, whatever. I mean, I know some of us have had health problems, but even then, the parts of us that don't have problems-- well, we just sort of wake up and do our thing and go to bed again and assume all those other parts are going to keep working, right? We hardly even think about it, do we? I don't.<br><br>These days, I've been a "little disappointed" (one might hypothesize, if one knew my mind, that this is the understatement of the year) in the 'Body' of Christ, His Church, His Bride. I can't seem to make sense of political affiliations that put Americans above all of God's children because the Truth is that we are ALL one. (In case you think I'm spouting nonsense, you can look it up yourself in Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.")<br><br>The converse is also true... some of my friends, which seem to be of a similar political mind, are filled with vitriol for anyone who has a different view. The thing is, I don't think this criticism- justified or not- is going to move anyone closer to God. I can only speak from my experience, but I have only moved closer to God through messages of LOVE because GOD IS LOVE (No literally, I'm not kidding: 1 John 4:8 "...God is love.") Certainly not through messages of FEAR...<br><br>And while I, too, have been and remain critical of His Church, (pausing here a second, am I critical of the Church or of the media's representation of it, OR just of the stuff I know about... because I do good things sometimes, but I don't always tell social media, but doesn't it still count???)<br><br>Back to my point though, I was just today moved to tears about how powerful, <b>even when dysfunctional</b>, this Church-- this Body is.<br><br>First, I learned that my local church, in a limbo state for over a year, has approved unanimously by the Council, the recommendation for a candidate to serve as our head pastor. I mean, JUST THIS MORNING, I was begging God to send us a Leader, so LET ME TELL YOU MY FRIENDS, this news is one of those "joyful tears" moments. While our interim pastor has been a Godsend and while our only other pastor on staff has literally saved my sanity, WE NEED MORE LEADERSHIP. And this new leadership has come in the form of someone who shares our value that "All Means All" when we welcome you to the communion table... And so it seems to me, in the conservative South, that His Body is so strong...<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ieeVI57OyEE/WfFBLrApq6I/AAAAAAAAAKw/n8EXdqoj6HwZi_0jsabA5dvikIBaPNzlACLcBGAs/s1600/kairos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ieeVI57OyEE/WfFBLrApq6I/AAAAAAAAAKw/n8EXdqoj6HwZi_0jsabA5dvikIBaPNzlACLcBGAs/s200/kairos.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="160" width="200" /></a></div>On another note (pun intended), and faced with other petty problems, I have struggled with my musical identity this last year. Working the Kairos circle with my trusted Christian friend, I decided to take a break-- to silence the voice my God gave me and to just BE. As someone who sees my identify as a part of this gift I have been given, I have struggled with how others perceive the decision, but never the decision itself which has always felt inspired by God.<br><br>Without going into the terribly #firstworld details, I was having a rough day today and another element of His body lifted me up. Two much-more-talented-than-me musicians I only know because of my church, were, through every wile I possess, somehow convinced to work with me on a short-term project. This persuasion has resulted in an original song being completed by one of them, and arriving in my email tonight, I have heard no sweeter sound. His Body is calling me back home...<br><br><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zBWWNcgamEo/WfFATei-EII/AAAAAAAAAKo/X65B1oD13fgkF3yA8Qw5JNKP7vLl-6svACEwYBhgL/s1600/being-the-body-of-christ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zBWWNcgamEo/WfFATei-EII/AAAAAAAAAKo/X65B1oD13fgkF3yA8Qw5JNKP7vLl-6svACEwYBhgL/s320/being-the-body-of-christ.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="201" width="320" /></a><br>And so He spoke to me, and so I share with you. This Body needs US to quit acting like its infected with an autoimmune disease. The last I checked, we have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. Quit attacking each other and listen to how God wants to use us to Heal, Restore, Help, and Love in our communities. Quit thinking we are not bigoted or racist and LISTEN, no matter the color of our skin, but seriously white people, I'm talking to you. AND quit judging the other sinners in the pews (if needed, please refer back to that whole 'we have all fallen short' thing I mentioned earlier.)<br><br>AND for the LOVE of GOD (literally...) QUIT tearing down His GREAT AND AWESOME Body because YOU are a part of it.<br><br>I love you... especially because "in that way, the parts of the body will not take sides. All of them will take care of one another. "<br>~<br><br>27 You are the body of Christ. Each one of you<br>1 Corinthians 12:12-27 12 There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. 13 We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body. It didn’t matter whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink. 14 So the body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts.<br><br>15 Suppose the foot says, “I am not a hand. So I don’t belong to the body.” By saying this, it cannot stop being part of the body. 16 And suppose the ear says, “I am not an eye. So I don’t belong to the body.” By saying this, it cannot stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If the whole body were an ear, how could it smell? 18 God has placed each part in the body just as he wanted it to be. 19 If all the parts were the same, how could there be a body? 20 As it is, there are many parts. But there is only one body.<br><br>21 The eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 In fact, it is just the opposite. The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are the ones we can’t do without. 23 The parts that we think are less important we treat with special honor. The private parts aren’t shown. But they are treated with special care. 24 The parts that can be shown don’t need special care. But God has put together all the parts of the body. And he has given more honor to the parts that didn’t have any. 25 In that way, the parts of the body will not take sides. All of them will take care of one another. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy.<br><br>27 You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.<br><div class="version-NIRV result-text-style-normal text-html " style='background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;'><div><span class="text 1Cor-12-27" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br></span></div></div><br><div style="text-align: left;"></div>tonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/22215622013-07-21T17:41:00-04:002017-01-13T19:33:22-05:00I Shall Be Released...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yHuV5YBDF9c/UexRkUdYPoI/AAAAAAAAAGk/V9pbkSxWX_A/s1600/IMG00027-20090717-1756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-yHuV5YBDF9c/UexRkUdYPoI/AAAAAAAAAGk/V9pbkSxWX_A/s320/IMG00027-20090717-1756.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a><br><br>"I've seen my light come shining...<br>from the west down to the east.<br><br>Any day now...<br>any day now...<br>I shall be released."<br><br><br><br>For almost 4 years, I've been carrying someone else's debt... almost $50K worth (not exactly small potatoes). In uncertain financial status myself during a lot of that time, I had no way to escape from the delinquent tax collection letters and threats from the mortgage holder. My only legal recourse would have been to strike out at this person, but my heart could not take me there. And then God whispered another plan to me. He said... "Give this to me. I will take care of you." <br><br>There were many days that the doubt crept in, and I fretted over what would happen. I worried about the asset being seized and foreclosed upon... about my strong credit that I had carefully built and was trying to hold on to... about shame and failure. But eventually, I would worry myself into a tearful bundle of nerves, hitting my knees to pray, and I would hear His whisper of assurance that I would be released.<br><br>It was so hard to let go and trust God, but I did. And... in God's time... almost 4 years later, I was released this past week. Released from financial liability and peril that I did not earn or deserve. Released from worry. Released from fear.<br><br>Sometimes it seems like the only way out is one that builds on anger and resentment. Sometimes what is "wrong seems oft so strong," and it feels like God isn't listening. The promise is not that we will be released in our lifetime, but we WILL be released. I think the true battle was not one of an unpaid debt or financial peril, but it was the battle within me to turn the other cheek when the world was telling me to strike back. By trusting God and being guided by my faith instead of my sense of the timing of justice, I was released from something much greater...<br><div><br></div>tonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/3075262013-02-11T22:07:00-05:002017-02-01T20:30:57-05:00Fake boobs... My Birthday Resolve<br>Hey my friends,<br><br>I turned 40 today. Yippee. No really, I'm certainly happy to be alive. I do treasure every day as a gift, and it's kind of fun seeing what direction the gray hairs sprout out from my head. It looks like I'll have a silver afro before it's all said and done. The wrinkles, the slowing metabolism, the gray-- I'm not really bothered by aging at all except for the whole 'I don't have a husband or children, and at this point, that's looking highly unlikely" part. As I wrote in my song <span style="color: red;">'</span><a _fcksavedurl="https://www.reverbnation.com/artist/downloads/557927" href="https://www.reverbnation.com/artist/downloads/557927"><span style="color: red;"><b>On Your Wall,</b></span></a><b>' :</b><br><br>"I may still be blessed with my own child, <br>a precious soul may pass through me. <br>But time has yet to turn that way, <br>so it may not come to be- <br>it may never come to be...." <br><br>So anyways, please spare me your "you're just a baby" crap. Seriously. And I mean this in the best possible way and with all the love in my heart, but you can stuff that.<br><br>Instead, I thought I would take the opportunity of my birthday to make some resolutions. New Year's never really does it for me. So here you are:<br><br><b>Inspired by my 40th birthday, I resolve...</b><br><b><br></b><b>- </b><b>to spend more time with God and for God.</b><br><b>- to spend less time thinking about how badly I need to exercise more.</b><br><b>- to forgive myself for my weaknesses and flaws... and to forgive others for theirs.</b><br><b>- t</b><b>o never compare myself to women with fake boobs and augmented faces.</b><br><b>- to speak the truth... with gentle kindness... but to speak it nonetheless.</b><br><b>- to start a band (*ahem... now accepting applications*)</b><br><b>- to make the perfect gluten free biscuit.</b><br><b>- to quit apologizing when I succeed.</b><br><b>- to spend more time with my dog.</b><br><b><b>- to wonder more and Google less.</b></b><br><b>- to live happily within my means.</b><br><b>- to sing with spiritual abandon.</b><br><b>- to dream more.</b><br><b>- to listen more.</b><br><b>- to write more.</b><br><b>- to help more.</b><br><b>- to love more.</b><br><br>Can you dig it? Will you join me? What do you resolve? <br><br>Love and Light to you and yours,<br><br>Tonyatonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/2290202012-10-09T06:20:00-04:002012-10-09T06:20:00-04:00Letting Go... It's not about me...I've been out of touch mostly, and I realize that you may have wondered if I have dropped off the face of the earth. There were days, when honestly, I felt like I had. So real talk: I've been going through some challenging transitions. Between losing love, leaving Austin and financial worries, my heart has been heavy, so I've been taking a break from my music.<br><br>When your life is topsy turvy, it is hard not to focus on yourself: What did I do wrong? What could I have done differently? Is this right? What do I do next? This weekend, I remembered God's favorite message for me: It's not about me. Let me tell you the story...<br><br>I was playing this past Sunday afternoon on a lovely shaded trail surrounded by painters, weavers and artists of many genres in a nature-inspired celebration of art. As I was singing, people strolled by with their dogs and children in tow-- some pausing to listen, some smiling, some applauding, and some even sat to listen. But nothing significant was really happening, at least not for me or from my perspective. It was only later that I learned my lesson.<br><br> My friend was listening along the trail and observed a trio of ladies walk through as I was singing "Letting Go." He observed two of the ladies link their arms with their friend in the middle as they heard the words... "You've gotta let go...," and one remarked to her friend, "You see, you have to let go... I told you this was your trail." It seemed to him that the lady in the middle was going through something difficult, and the words of my song spoke to them all as they walked along.<br><br>I offer this song now to you (free, of course if you join for my mailing list) and perhaps a lesson too. No matter where you are and what you're going through, there is a design at work. Sometimes, even with my own design, it's not about me. Sometimes, it's about you....<br><br>Love and Light, Tonyatonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/1580992012-04-16T15:15:00-04:002017-01-13T19:33:21-05:00the heart of austin<div style="text-align: left;">This past Saturday, I had my official debut CD release party, here in Austin, TX. I had pre-release shows in California and in South Carolina last year that were well-attended, but would you believe me if I told you I was terrified to have this party? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fjnmAkIYeDg/T4yzZfJ7zJI/AAAAAAAAADQ/16tLu8RERto/s1600/P1080479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-fjnmAkIYeDg/T4yzZfJ7zJI/AAAAAAAAADQ/16tLu8RERto/s320/P1080479.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="168" width="320" /></a></div>I've only been living in Austin a little over 2 years and have spent the majority of my time with one of many 'day jobs.' Sure, I've made some friends at my church and at the <a href="http://austinsongwritersgroup.com/" target="_blank">Austin Songwriter's Group (ASG)</a> events, but more often than not, I've been a little lonely in Austin. On top of that, there are an obscene amount of uber-talented artists in this town. The competition for the door is fierce in that respect. <br><br>I mailed my CD to every radio DJ, blogger, editor, and free-lance writer around. I assaulted the airwaves of <a href="http://www.twitter.com/tonyatyner" target="_blank">twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/tonyatyner" target="_blank">facebook</a>, you name it... I hung posters, I emailed, and I texted until my little thumbs were blue. My <a href="http://pamtx.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">sister</a> and brother-in-law offered to come up to help with merchandise, but honestly, I also needed the moral support. What if this was a big flop? I hired a band. I gave away beer. I decided to give a portion of the door to my beloved ASG-- maybe people would come out to support the organization? I begged almost a dozen of my friends to volunteer a song or two for a Hootenanny to open the show. Maybe their fans would come?<br><br>Mostly, though, I tried to keep my expectations low. What could I expect, really? I mean, I move to the Live Music Capital of the World as a relative nobody. Just last year, for example, I hosted an elaborate home-made Easter Brunch with all the fixings and invited almost 30 people. 2 people came.<br><br>But this past Saturday, nearly 100 people walked in the door of <a href="http://www.skinnysballroom.com/" target="_blank">Skinny's Ballroom</a> for the Tonya Tyner Farewell to Austin CD Release Hootenanny. And not just that-- but they didn't walk right back out, either! :) Students, ex-coworkers, church friends, neighbors, music friends, Carolina friends, old friends, new friends...they showed up. They had my back. They stayed, they listened, they hooted, they applauded. Did I mention they listened? If I had been in my sappy, quiet frame of mind, I'm sure I would have fallen apart. I was completely overwhelmed with the support and love in the room. What a night!<br><br>Next month, I must take my leave-- I'm Carolina bound-- but let me make one thing clear before I go. Austin has a gorgeous greenbelt, Town Lake, Barton Springs and many other lovely natural features, but none of these are the heart of Austin. Austin has some of the most incredible food on the planet, but these culinary delights are not the heart of Austin. Austin is the 'Live Music Capital of the World,' but <i>not even music</i> is the heart of Austin. <br><br><b>The heart of Austin is her people. </b><br><br>Their faith. Their encouragement. Their friendship. Their support. Their kindness. Their acceptance. Their love. <br><br>And so I offer this scant word of thanks as I bid adieu and fare thee well-- from the deepest nooks and crannies of my heart-- a heart that will be making her way back to her Carolina home, but a heart with a memory that will still... and always... find her home with the heart of Austin.tonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/1330092012-01-10T13:58:00-05:002012-01-10T13:58:00-05:00Why You Matter (or, more appropriately, 'Give Me Your Click')Someone using Facebook or Twitter just for fun must get annoyed with pleas from 'commercial' users like myself to 'follow,' 'like' and 'share.'<br><br>I hope you know it's not without reason that musicians ask for this. In this digital age, press kits are often requested to book gigs, and venues want to know things like:<br><ul>
<li>how many fans do you have?</li>
<li>how many people come to your shows?</li>
<li>how many shows do you play and where do you play?</li>
<li>how many people are on your email list?</li>
</ul>That list of questions truly does go on and on. <br><br>I'm sure that doesn't make it any less annoying to you, but at least it gives you some rationale behind why we do it and MAYBE, just maybe, it will give you that extra motivation to give me your click, man.<br><br>:)<br><br><a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/tonyatyner">Follow @tonyatyner</a><br><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); </script><br><a href="http://www.facebook.com/tonyatyner">http://www.facebook.com/tonyatyner</a>tonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/1036242011-06-22T15:27:00-04:002017-01-13T19:33:21-05:00New Mexico Sunset<div class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-diJSpu5OAhk/TgKlBslBOGI/AAAAAAAAAC0/UXfGHXkVDFs/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTEwNjIyLTAwMDE1LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-765073"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-diJSpu5OAhk/TgKlBslBOGI/AAAAAAAAAC0/UXfGHXkVDFs/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTEwNjIyLTAwMDE1LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-765073" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621236733476681826" /></a></div>Well this cell phone pic is actually of a better pic on my camera but somebody left her camera cord at home. I always have loved the colors of New Mexico. So far the NM playlist has included The Gypsy Kings and Paul Simon's Graceland.tonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/1035812011-06-22T06:13:00-04:002017-01-13T19:33:21-05:00Texas Hill Country<div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><br>I finally got my hands on a few of these! Available exclusively at my shows until the 9/12 release. <br>Left Austin this morning and plan to get at least to Las Cruces, New Mexico tonight but am taking my time.<br><br><div class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mj0uVawJ2CM/TgIjnaB5PXI/AAAAAAAAACc/UQWGrwabLC0/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTEwNjIxLTAwMDEwLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-736560" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-mj0uVawJ2CM/TgIjnaB5PXI/AAAAAAAAACc/UQWGrwabLC0/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTEwNjIxLTAwMDEwLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-736560" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621094444820938098" width="320" /></a></div><br><div class="mobile-photo"></div><br><br><div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lc1P-m65Tu0/TgIjnuMwTEI/AAAAAAAAACk/CBzoIUHg34A/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTEwNjIxLTAwMDExLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-738134"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lc1P-m65Tu0/TgIjnuMwTEI/AAAAAAAAACk/CBzoIUHg34A/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTEwNjIxLTAwMDExLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-738134" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621094450235198530" /></a></div><br><br> On the way out of town on 290, I saw this sign claiming the world's best chicken fried steak and wondered if they had tried my Mama's.<br><br><div class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IwdqaY-nB0g/TgIjoHxD4WI/AAAAAAAAACs/Ptf8hxluXhQ/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTEwNjIyLTAwMDEyLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-739432"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-IwdqaY-nB0g/TgIjoHxD4WI/AAAAAAAAACs/Ptf8hxluXhQ/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTEwNjIyLTAwMDEyLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-739432" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621094457098363234" /></a></div><br><br>But I was not long for that junction in the road, and moving beyond, Fredericksburg, TX (which is the cutest dang town ever by the way) is in my rear-view mirror now...tonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/756282011-06-10T05:27:00-04:002022-05-17T07:37:07-04:00California Bound-- not hopeful<p>Lots of things are changing and moving and shifting as I prepare to head out to California: gigs cancelled, gigs reborn, contacts renewed, plans constantly metamorphosing (ew that word looks funny but spell check told me to spell it this way... I was thinking something more along the lines of 'metamorphasizing')... In response to FB "likes" and comments and such from my California peeps after I posted a new Big Sur gig announcement last night, I found myself in tears.<br> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/photos-ak-ash1/v647/158/33/526793893/n526793893_2423595_2873325.jpg?dl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/photos-ak-ash1/v647/158/33/526793893/n526793893_2423595_2873325.jpg?dl=1" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>
<p>I think I had locked these feelings away. It's been 3 years, and my friends out in Cali are among some of the greatest I've ever known. Maybe I haven't allowed myself to feel how much I miss them or something, but knowing I'm about to be there in 2 weeks opened the flood gates.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B9voa2_zITk/TfJFc-7fgAI/AAAAAAAAACQ/vr9JKds5CgI/s1600/cori.tonya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-B9voa2_zITk/TfJFc-7fgAI/AAAAAAAAACQ/vr9JKds5CgI/s320/cori.tonya.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="245" /></a></div>
<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zyBxRHlE9oQ/TfJFuu1bXDI/AAAAAAAAACU/8464Xyi0Ap0/s1600/sunnie.cass.me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-zyBxRHlE9oQ/TfJFuu1bXDI/AAAAAAAAACU/8464Xyi0Ap0/s320/sunnie.cass.me.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>
<p>I was talking with CJ yesterday saying I was 'hopeful' that everything would turn out alright. I'm officially unemployed, and these travels I have planned are set to be costly (especially with gas at $3.50/gallon!). His response: "Don't be hopeful; be prayerful." <br><br>He's got it right.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>tonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/1008472011-05-25T01:28:00-04:002017-01-13T19:33:21-05:00WorryMy mantra for the day... "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt. 6:34)<br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kd4AudlXARc/Tdz1pqUQe1I/AAAAAAAAACE/RO-zDTB_LvA/s1600/P1000177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kd4AudlXARc/Tdz1pqUQe1I/AAAAAAAAACE/RO-zDTB_LvA/s320/P1000177.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>tonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/980762011-04-22T04:54:00-04:002017-01-13T19:33:21-05:00It's Only Words... "Good" Friday<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DZ1qiiRl-wQ/TbGUPIn69nI/AAAAAAAAAB0/mqMCuSe-D9A/s1600/P1030875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-DZ1qiiRl-wQ/TbGUPIn69nI/AAAAAAAAAB0/mqMCuSe-D9A/s200/P1030875.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric Johnson and Sonny Landreth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I know I promised the rest of my SXSW report, but really, who cares? I have some great pictures and all that, but then I just went to the Old Settler's Festival last weekend and got a whole new set of opinions that no one probably cares about... I didn't create this blog to review music anyways; I don't know what I was thinking. I mean, really. What are my credentials? I write Adult Contemporary Americana Folk Pop FFS.<br><br>But why did I (create this blog)? It's only words.<br><br>Self-love? Following the pack? I don't think either, but I don't know. Maybe it's the same reason I write songs. Sometimes it feels like I have something meaningful and significant to say, and I just want to put it out there. Example: during a particular cold spell, I was overwhelmed with compassion and pity for the homeless here in my town. It struck me as I was sprinting from a warm building to my car... How must it feel to have no shelter to run to? I posted some prattle about it on Facebook and decided to pass out some hats, hand-warmers, etc., but a few days later I received a message from a friend who had read my FB status. My words stirred within his heart and moved him to give away clothes and food to a homeless man he had seen huddled in an alley in the cold. How powerful words can be...<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRaGYj6B_5R0XmewlRNPxyGUt-AVxwtDKFKZKWHPY8vw57qojBP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRaGYj6B_5R0XmewlRNPxyGUt-AVxwtDKFKZKWHPY8vw57qojBP" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="150" width="200" /></a></div><br>I awoke today so very pleasantly without the chime of my alarm clock because I have the day off-- Good Friday, you know. I started to think about words again and how, indeed, it was a good Friday because I have the day off, and trying to think of something non-cliche but still to that same effect to slap up as a meaningless FB post. In nearly the same breath because that's how my mind works, I turned my thoughts to the history of Jesus and the significance of Good Friday.<br><br>When you think of the word 'good,' you may think "Yay!""Cocktails!" "Party!" what-have-you, but "Good Friday" historically began as "Holy Friday." "Good" Friday is not a celebratory event, you see. And whether you put the day on Wednesday or Friday is really insignificant, it represents the same bloody, awful thing: the crucifixion of the Son of God. Historically, the day is spent in fasting and prayer, in mourning... A beautiful, kind, loving man was murdered. Think of the kindest, bestest person you know. Someone that would take a punch for you... Go to jail for you...<br><br>Beaten. Mocked. Tortured. Murdered. <br><br>You might ask yourself, yes, but what does that have to do with me? Everything.... because, essentially, we suck. As hard as we try, we can't get it right. Not to say we don't have our moments, but we screw up. And often. A lot. No, really, think about it... Any mistakes you have lingering in the regret bucket in your brain? I know I have a few... It doesn't have to be really big, bad ones like murder or adultery or beating someone up-- things most everyone- Christians and non-Christians alike would probably agree on being "bad" or "wrong." There's also the little things we do everyday: not visiting that relative of ours stuck in a nursing home, being too harsh and quick with our tongue when someone irritates us (don't look at me like that; I'm not immune to sin either), avoiding eye contact with a beggar... I can think of an endless list where I fall short.<br><a href="http://www.edmontonagingsymposium.com/images/eas/lonely_elderly.jpg?0.5329768132072469" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//www.edmontonagingsymposium.com/images/eas/lonely_elderly.jpg?0.5329768132072469" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="299" width="400" /></a><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>So whether you believe it or not, as I understand it, the story goes that Jesus was murdered so that, despite the fact that we suck, we could still have a relationship with God. Atonement is the fancy word for it. Holy Friday is a reminder of His death-- a reminder of what God did for us. Because he loves us. (Yes, I can write in fragments; I'm an English teacher, and I'm using it for effect.) He loves us. He loves me. He loves you. Whether you believe in Him or not, He loves you. Whether you believe in Him or not, He was beaten and murdered for you on this Holy day. <br><br>There is "Good"-ness in that, of course, because without that sacrifice, we would all be totally screwed, but it doesn't feel like a party-type-of-"good." Again, think of your bestest friend taking that kind of hit for you. Not a party feeling really at all. So today, on this Good Friday, on this Holy Friday, I feel remorseful about the times that I fail. I feel inspired to try to BE better for my bestest friend... "good"... holy.... , and to do it the way that Jesus asked me to do it: <br><ol style="text-align: center;">
<li>Loving God. </li>
<li>Loving others. </li>
</ol>Read it for yourself if you don't believe me, but the central teaching of Jesus boils down to those two things. As awful as it is to think about someone being brutally murdered because I suck, I am thankful because... again, as I understand it, the story goes that 3 days later, my bestest friend (I'm talking about Jesus here) was brought back to life which means that the whole plan God had worked really well which means that even though we suck, we can have a close, personal relationship with God. If you don't have one of these, you should go out and get one because they are AWESOME... Side effects include joy, peace and all kinds of powerful things, not to mention eternal life, but again, see for yourself.<br><br>So THAT is what we get celebrate on Easter morning (well, that and the fact that I can drink wine again since I gave it up for Lent). And THAT is Good (the Salvation, not the wine, although who am I kidding? Yes, wine is good too). tonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/961902011-03-23T15:42:00-04:002017-02-01T15:44:52-05:00SXNot UnSW SXSo Whatever...Despite the fact that I still like- nay love- soft rock, and my opinions about music lean acoustic/country/lyric/melody-driven/organic and I didn't actually attend anything official SXSW (to my knowledge), some have asked- nay begged- for a recount of my SXSW experience this year, so I have obliged, but you should know first that massive amounts of people give me the heebie jeebies. And I over-commit to everything all the time. Enter overwhelming nausea that crashed over me in apprehension of SXSW a couple of weeks ago.<br><br>Let the jokes commence... skinny jeans blah blah blah... hipsters blah blah blah. Oh, yes. I let a few snide comments fly. After 13 years in the boondocks, I have a hard enough time trying to park downtown on a regular day/night let alone with an extra 40% of the population (according to this news clip, but don't watch it, it's like 8 minutes long, I'm just trying to be a responsible cite-quoting bloggetter). <br><br><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/9HYF284VX8Y/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/9HYF284VX8Y&fs=1&source=uds">
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF">
<embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/9HYF284VX8Y&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br><br><br> So since I had plenty to do, I planned to rise above SXSW... shun the fun... what have you. But Tuesday, the Austin Songwriter's Group was hosting a showcase at Threadgill's which was free and well, these are MY people, so I figured, free show, free parking, friends... it doesn't really count. I watched as Tracie Lynn, Marvin Dykhuis, Joe Manuel, Dave Halley, Rick Busby, Sonny Throckmorton, Teresa Neal, Will Sexton, Lee Duffy, Christy and Jimmy Joe (not in that order, but give me a break, I'm trying to remember this all a week later). It was relaxing, uncrowded, full of wonderful fun people, and if my camera took decent pictures at night, I would have more to show, but here's one of Sonny... Good times.<br><br><br><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d9kTq5kL3fo/TYqhe9iyjPI/AAAAAAAAABk/5owQDI38Zqk/s1600/P1030602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d9kTq5kL3fo/TYqhe9iyjPI/AAAAAAAAABk/5owQDI38Zqk/s200/P1030602.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="150" width="200" /></a><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Well, I was just so proud of myself at that point, to have witnessed a good 4 hours of music before the true madness began, and I fully expected to spend the rest of the week at home, over-working on other stuff I had over-committed to. And I did just that. On Wednesday.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YjHCQkA7lY0/TYqjZdH2mFI/AAAAAAAAABo/-A7DtPQr2go/s1600/P1030631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YjHCQkA7lY0/TYqjZdH2mFI/AAAAAAAAABo/-A7DtPQr2go/s200/P1030631.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>But then Thursday came around, and I had RSVPed to Rachael Ray's Feedback at the Greenhouse party (there's a million free things you can go to if you just give people your email address), and well, darnit, there was free Kind bars and free Deep Eddy sweet tea vodka and free beer and free music and I thought it would just be stupid not to at least check out a few things, so I cruised around the south end of town and managed to find a free parking spot about 1 block and a half away. I met up with some friends and saw The Civil Wars which were pretty darn good: <a href="http://www.thecivilwars.com/">www.thecivilwars.com</a> despite the lead singers kind of fairy-like, borderline-creepy stage presence. She has a kick butt voice, as does he, and their harmonies are tight... beautiful music indeed. Definitely an act I would see again.<br><br><br><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3AkQPNr1qVU/TYqoM7sAGaI/AAAAAAAAABw/pw9LvVN4HBE/s1600/P1030638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3AkQPNr1qVU/TYqoM7sAGaI/AAAAAAAAABw/pw9LvVN4HBE/s320/P1030638.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a><br><br><br>After The Civil Wars I saw Sean Rowe <a href="http://www.myspace.com/seanrowe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.myspace.com/sea<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>nrowe</a> who gave a soul-filled performance which seemed to almost channel the style of Van Morrison (until he announced that he had just covered a Van Morrison tune and then I couldn't figure out if he really DID sound like Van Morrison or if he was just TRYING to sound like Van Morrison.)<br><br><br><br><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c-5llmWsxMo/TYqlyXiJJfI/AAAAAAAAABs/OXmseLxZIRM/s1600/P1030643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c-5llmWsxMo/TYqlyXiJJfI/AAAAAAAAABs/OXmseLxZIRM/s1600/P1030643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c-5llmWsxMo/TYqlyXiJJfI/AAAAAAAAABs/OXmseLxZIRM/s200/P1030643.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="150" width="200" /></a><br>Well, despite having a few girlfriends there, I am just bound to wander, so off I went to meet another friend at Jo's where I parked only a few blocks away and saw a band I didn't care for called Hacienda. They had some cool classic (Jerry Lee Lewis classic not Eagles classic) rock sounds, and it may have just been the sound engineer, but I was not impressed with all the distortion. We went to mosey across the street to Home Slice Pizza, but on the way, we were captivated by this horrible band which can only be described as Beijing Blondie and I will just let them remain nameless for their own good. BUT, in their defense, I can say that her watch is quite possibly the 8th or 9th wonder of the world, and I'm not sure if you can see it, but she's wearing red spandex pants which in and of itself is notable.<br><br><br>Across the street, I saw the last few songs of Ivan and Alyosha <a href="http://ivanandalyosha.com/media">http://ivanandalyosha.com/media </a><br>who are self-described as 'Folk Pop Indie Rock' but what the hell is that??!! Great harmonies, interesting lyrics, good music. Check 'em out! I also saw the Great Lake Swimmers <a href="http://www.greatlakeswimmers.com/">www.greatlakeswimmers.com</a> who were excellent musicians, lyricists, etc. but VERY serious... good zone out and listen music, but not very good stay the hell awake music.<br><br>Wanderlust struck again, so after wolfing down a meatball sandwich sans the wich, I headed to G&S to see a couple more friends: Craig Marshall <a href="http://www.craigmarshall.com/">http://www.craigmarshall.com/</a> (a great, versatile songwriter whose voice almost has an Elvis Costello quality); Michael Fracasso <a href="http://www.michaelfracasso.com/">www.michaelfracasso.com</a> (a fabulous folk singer gone rock in his latest CD that has a Rodney Crowell vibe to it to me); and the ever lovely Betty Soo with Doug Cox in their duo Across the Borderline <a href="http://www.acrosstheborderline.org/">http://www.acrosstheborderline.org/</a>, <a href="http://www.bettysoo.com/">http://www.bettysoo.com/</a>.<br><br>I'll continue with Friday and Saturday soon, but as you can see, there's a lot of beautiful, wonderful music in Austin during SXSW whether you dish out loads of dough for a wristband or badge or whether you just approach it all with total disdain and then get swept up in all the amazing goodness around you because you just can't help it because you love music so much... and free beer.<br><br>xo,<br>TTtonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/952672011-03-19T03:43:00-04:002011-03-19T03:43:00-04:00New SongsIf you're looking to listen, you'll have to wait a bit. My producer, Stephen, recommended that I remove the old cuts of the songs that will be coming out on my CD this summer, and I gladly complied. Those tracks were embarrassing-- even granted they were one-take recordings. I wonder if there are any artists out there who actually like the sound of their own voice. I sound so much better in my head than I do through my ears, but inviting you all into my head is out of the question, so a CD it is...<br><br>All the recording is finished, so our attentions are now turning to mixing. My brilliant engineer, James, has had some sad happenings in his life, so this has been delayed for the time being, but I fully expect to resume work as soon as possible. We have so much talent to choose from as we recorded Chris Maresh, Dave Madden, and Dony Wynn on multiple layers of every track. I think we'll be pulling them out of a few though to create a more intimate sound. Thank God for Stephen's ear, because I wouldn't know where to start. I wish I could mix up about 50 different versions so I could capture all the sounds...<br><br>So stay tuned good peoples. I'm also flirting with a few titles for the project, and although I have it narrowed down to about 4 options, I haven't settled on any yet. Oh, and then there's the art... Plenty of work still to do, but I can't wait to share it with you...<br><br>Love,<br>T.tonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/952572011-03-07T13:39:00-05:002011-03-07T13:39:00-05:00Long Time in the MakingMaking a decent CD is a heck of a lot of work. That said, parts of me are ashamed that I have placed my music in such a low place of priority throughout my life to have waited this long. Other parts of me have low self-esteem and wonder what business I have doing this at all.<br><br>So why now? Well, why not? I'm not horrible. Drunk people seem to think I'm fantastic. My friends like me. Sometimes my songs make people cry although I wonder if it's more because they are sympathizing with the sometimes sad parts of my life. <br><br>Song selection has been an interesting process. In the most literal way, I have to thank God for my producer. He has asked many good questions and got me thinking. What if I never do this again? What if these 10 songs are all I leave behind me? What's important enough to say? The lyric pages of songs I thought I wanted to cut quickly fell to the floor-- temporarily discarded. Instead, I chose songs of hope. I even rewrote bridges and lines to focus more on the positive, the love, the light, the goodness that I wish we could all embrace as easily as we take in the bad. I hope I picked the right ones...tonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/952582011-02-01T07:12:00-05:002017-02-01T15:43:42-05:00Check out music from Tonya Tyner<img src="//c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTI5NjU5MTExMTUyNiZwdD*xMjk2NTkxMTMxNjA5JnA9MjcwODEmZD1*dW5lV2lkZ2V*X2ZpcnN*X2dlbiZuPWJsb2dnZXIm/Zz*xJm89ZDg3MTNhNTNkNWExNDZjYmE4MmJjYzFlZGRiODRjNzkmb2Y9MA==.gif" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="0" style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" width="0" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://cache.reverbnation.com/widgets/swf/19/tuneWidget.swf" height="415" width="434" align="top" bgcolor="#ffffff" loop="false" wmode="opaque" quality="best" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" allowfullscreen="true" seamlesstabbing="false" flashvars="twID=artist_557927&posted_by=artist_557927&shuffle=&autoPlay=false&blogBuzz=buzz"></embed><br><a href="https://www.reverbnation.com/rpk" onclick="javascript:window.location.href=" return false http:=""><img src="//c2sostatic.reverbnation.com/widgets/content/19/footer.png?1" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Music press kits" height="19" width="434" /></a><img src="//www.reverbnation.com/widgets/trk/19/artist_557927/artist_557927/t.gif" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="0" style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" width="0" /><a href="http://www.quantcast.com/p-05---xoNhTXVc" target="_blank"><img src="//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-05---xoNhTXVc.gif" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Quantcast" height="1" style="display: none" width="1" /></a>tonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/952592010-06-06T07:24:00-04:002010-06-06T07:24:00-04:00CRYING OVER SPILLED OIL...The Sunday school group I met with today was discussing the Gulf situation. I did a little investigation and found a few links to secular organizations promoting volunteer and donation opportunities. I'm not seeing these publicized very well... Why aren't they plastered all over Facebook? Can YOU help get them out?<br><br>http://www.oilspillvolunteers.com/<br>http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/<br>http://www.gnof.org/<br><br>I'll admit that I haven't done a lot of due diligence on the sites, but an initial investigation and a bit of prayer has convinced me that they are reputable. I wasn't able to immediately find a centralized faith-based center for offering assistance, but I'll also admit that I didn't do an exhaustive search.<br><br>We may not be able to wade out in the muck and rescue a bird. <br>We may not be able to punch a BP executive in the nose. <br>But we CAN pray.<br>And we CAN support alternative sources of energy.<br>And we CAN reduce our consumption to decrease demand.<br>And we CAN email and post these links.<br>And we CAN cough up some cash for all the men, women and children whose health and livelihoods are being snatched away from them.<br><br>Do what YOU can. <br><br>xo,<br>TTtonya tynertag:tonyatyner.com,2005:Post/952602010-04-14T03:08:00-04:002010-04-14T03:08:00-04:00BloggetteWho has the time to blog anyways? I'm renaming mine a bloggette. I do this-- make up words.<br><br>I would love to live a life of creative leisure and spawn random but more frequent musings for your delight, but I just don't see that happening.<br><br>At any rate, here begins my descent into the land of blogging...tonya tyner