
hey y’all do tonight yes good thank you for having me
for having me
for having me I apologize if I seem awkward up here
I apologize if I seem awkward up here
I apologize if I seem awkward up here I’m used to having a guitar and a little
I’m used to having a guitar and a little
I’m used to having a guitar and a little bit of whiskey in me I would start off
bit of whiskey in me I would start off
bit of whiskey in me I would start off by telling you guys a story it’s as as
by telling you guys a story it’s as as
by telling you guys a story it’s as as you guys heard I’m a transplant here so
you guys heard I’m a transplant here so
you guys heard I’m a transplant here so I came out here and 11 years old had not
I came out here and 11 years old had not
I came out here and 11 years old had not worked my way into the music side of my
worked my way into the music side of my
worked my way into the music side of my life it I always wanted to do it it was
life it I always wanted to do it it was
life it I always wanted to do it it was a dream but as I got older when I was 23
a dream but as I got older when I was 23
a dream but as I got older when I was 23 I started playing music here in town and
I started playing music here in town and
I started playing music here in town and I started out with the idea that I
I started out with the idea that I
I started out with the idea that I needed to sound a certain way I needed
needed to sound a certain way I needed
needed to sound a certain way I needed to be a certain thing play certain songs
to be a certain thing play certain songs
to be a certain thing play certain songs have a I don’t know how to explain it
have a I don’t know how to explain it
have a I don’t know how to explain it maybe a like a commercial feel about
maybe a like a commercial feel about
maybe a like a commercial feel about myself and I toiled away for three years
myself and I toiled away for three years
myself and I toiled away for three years in local bars here in town with really
in local bars here in town with really
in local bars here in town with really empty bars my first my very first gig I
empty bars my first my very first gig I
empty bars my first my very first gig I think I played two I started out with
think I played two I started out with
think I played two I started out with three people I ended up with no one in
three people I ended up with no one in
three people I ended up with no one in the bar the second gig started out with
the bar the second gig started out with
the bar the second gig started out with 12 people ended with no one in the bar
12 people ended with no one in the bar
12 people ended with no one in the bar and then my third gig my parents finally
and then my third gig my parents finally
and then my third gig my parents finally came out and they stayed for most of the
came out and they stayed for most of the
came out and they stayed for most of the show and then they had to go home too
show and then they had to go home too
show and then they had to go home too because they have jobs at least that’s
because they have jobs at least that’s
because they have jobs at least that’s what they told me this was a Saturday
what they told me this was a Saturday
what they told me this was a Saturday night so but I so I I plugged around
night so but I so I I plugged around
night so but I so I I plugged around town for three years and slowly built a
town for three years and slowly built a
town for three years and slowly built a small following of friends and family
small following of friends and family
small following of friends and family and I don’t know if they were there
and I don’t know if they were there
and I don’t know if they were there because they enjoy the music or because
because they enjoy the music or because
because they enjoy the music or because they felt bad for me because I was I was
they felt bad for me because I was I was
they felt bad for me because I was I was working my way through the music not as
working my way through the music not as
working my way through the music not as myself I was when I was playing a Kenny
myself I was when I was playing a Kenny
myself I was when I was playing a Kenny Chesney song I was trying to be Kenny
Chesney song I was trying to be Kenny
Chesney song I was trying to be Kenny Chesney if I was playing Garth Brooks I
Chesney if I was playing Garth Brooks I
Chesney if I was playing Garth Brooks I was trying to be Garth Brooks and one
was trying to be Garth Brooks and one
was trying to be Garth Brooks and one night I’m sitting in
night I’m sitting in
night I’m sitting in bar here in town called the cow pony I
bar here in town called the cow pony I
bar here in town called the cow pony I used to work there as a bouncer I know
used to work there as a bouncer I know
used to work there as a bouncer I know I’m a small guy for a bouncer but uh
I’m a small guy for a bouncer but uh
I’m a small guy for a bouncer but uh they let me do it anyway so I’m playing
they let me do it anyway so I’m playing
they let me do it anyway so I’m playing there one night the owner of the bar
there one night the owner of the bar
there one night the owner of the bar says hey what are you gonna start
says hey what are you gonna start
says hey what are you gonna start singing this song the way you sound and
singing this song the way you sound and
singing this song the way you sound and I go what this is the way I sound he
I go what this is the way I sound he
I go what this is the way I sound he goes no no when you start singing this
goes no no when you start singing this
goes no no when you start singing this song the way you sound and so I started
song the way you sound and so I started
song the way you sound and so I started belting a song out and I went from
belting a song out and I went from
belting a song out and I went from trying to sound like somebody to
trying to sound like somebody to
trying to sound like somebody to sounding like me and and there’s a very
sounding like me and and there’s a very
sounding like me and and there’s a very interesting feeling that comes along
interesting feeling that comes along
interesting feeling that comes along with that there’s a piece there’s a I
with that there’s a piece there’s a I
with that there’s a piece there’s a I don’t wanna say calm there’s a
don’t wanna say calm there’s a
don’t wanna say calm there’s a confidence that comes over you and it
confidence that comes over you and it
confidence that comes over you and it didn’t sound good then either I mean it
didn’t sound good then either I mean it
didn’t sound good then either I mean it wasn’t like it this started sounding
wasn’t like it this started sounding
wasn’t like it this started sounding great right away it was uh but it was
great right away it was uh but it was
great right away it was uh but it was something that I knew I could I could
something that I knew I could I could
something that I knew I could I could improve on it was something I could
improve on it was something I could
improve on it was something I could recreate that was my sound that was
recreate that was my sound that was
recreate that was my sound that was something very specific to me and so you
something very specific to me and so you
something very specific to me and so you know six years later after doing that
know six years later after doing that
know six years later after doing that you know I’m 20 28 29 years all the time
you know I’m 20 28 29 years all the time
you know I’m 20 28 29 years all the time I started branching out of Tucson and
I started branching out of Tucson and
I started branching out of Tucson and I’m playing in little bars clubs venues
I’m playing in little bars clubs venues
I’m playing in little bars clubs venues all around the state and I come across
all around the state and I come across
all around the state and I come across other musicians and it here’s a crazy
other musicians and it here’s a crazy
other musicians and it here’s a crazy thing about Tucson the the in Tucson in
thing about Tucson the the in Tucson in
thing about Tucson the the in Tucson in Arizona in general we are a very very
Arizona in general we are a very very
Arizona in general we are a very very talented melting pot of artists you have
talented melting pot of artists you have
talented melting pot of artists you have mariachis that we heard tonight that
mariachis that we heard tonight that
mariachis that we heard tonight that were great people like Roger myself all
were great people like Roger myself all
were great people like Roger myself all this talent that is not the same but
this talent that is not the same but
this talent that is not the same but there’s one thing in common we have we
there’s one thing in common we have we
there’s one thing in common we have we all grew up in this environment this
all grew up in this environment this
all grew up in this environment this community and this community’s bait it’s
community and this community’s bait it’s
community and this community’s bait it’s it’s an odd community you go to Texas
it’s an odd community you go to Texas
it’s an odd community you go to Texas you go to other states and you have a
you go to other states and you have a
you go to other states and you have a very fervent listen listenership you
very fervent listen listenership you
very fervent listen listenership you have a crowds of people who love music
have a crowds of people who love music
have a crowds of people who love music who will travel miles upon miles upon
who will travel miles upon miles upon
who will travel miles upon miles upon miles Arizona we are we are very much
miles Arizona we are we are very much
miles Arizona we are we are very much home bodies if you’re not
home bodies if you’re not
home bodies if you’re not come into our town if you’re not coming
come into our town if you’re not coming
come into our town if you’re not coming to our side of town our side it’s not
to our side of town our side it’s not
to our side of town our side it’s not even our town our side of town
even our town our side of town
even our town our side of town especially in two songs who don’t have
especially in two songs who don’t have
especially in two songs who don’t have any freeways we’re not gonna go that far
any freeways we’re not gonna go that far
any freeways we’re not gonna go that far you know because we got to get home for
you know because we got to get home for
you know because we got to get home for the 10 o’clock news and do things in the
the 10 o’clock news and do things in the
the 10 o’clock news and do things in the morning like my parents would say when
morning like my parents would say when
morning like my parents would say when we left my shows but what what this is
we left my shows but what what this is
we left my shows but what what this is brought to the Arizona attitude and the
brought to the Arizona attitude and the
brought to the Arizona attitude and the line of the scene I speak of is you get
line of the scene I speak of is you get
line of the scene I speak of is you get to that point where you say for lack of
to that point where you say for lack of
to that point where you say for lack of a better term here’s Who I am you were
a better term here’s Who I am you were
a better term here’s Who I am you were going to like this or you’re not going
going to like this or you’re not going
going to like this or you’re not going to like this I’m going to show up I’m
to like this I’m going to show up I’m
to like this I’m going to show up I’m going to do what I do and if you don’t
going to do what I do and if you don’t
going to do what I do and if you don’t want to be a part of it I’m gonna play
want to be a part of it I’m gonna play
want to be a part of it I’m gonna play I’ll play those two people I’ll play to
I’ll play those two people I’ll play to
I’ll play those two people I’ll play to two hundred people and it and because of
two hundred people and it and because of
two hundred people and it and because of that we have built this community and
that we have built this community and
that we have built this community and attitude that it is bled out of the
attitude that it is bled out of the
attitude that it is bled out of the state people I’ve been lucky enough to
state people I’ve been lucky enough to
state people I’ve been lucky enough to be traveling the last few years play all
be traveling the last few years play all
be traveling the last few years play all over the country and you’ll talk to
over the country and you’ll talk to
over the country and you’ll talk to something go hey where’re you from from
something go hey where’re you from from
something go hey where’re you from from Arizona oh it’s pretty rough out there
Arizona oh it’s pretty rough out there
Arizona oh it’s pretty rough out there huh and it is it’s a hard place to
huh and it is it’s a hard place to
huh and it is it’s a hard place to operate a hard place to grow but you
operate a hard place to grow but you
operate a hard place to grow but you know what they know that because you’re
know what they know that because you’re
know what they know that because you’re there because you’ve made it to that
there because you’ve made it to that
there because you’ve made it to that point that you have this attitude you
point that you have this attitude you
point that you have this attitude you have this ability of this confidence
have this ability of this confidence
have this ability of this confidence this unique uniqueness that is so hard
this unique uniqueness that is so hard
this unique uniqueness that is so hard to find but even harder to find here
to find but even harder to find here
to find but even harder to find here because just like just like the weather
because just like just like the weather
because just like just like the weather here we don’t get a lot of rain we don’t
here we don’t get a lot of rain we don’t
here we don’t get a lot of rain we don’t have a lot of uh we don’t have a lot of
have a lot of uh we don’t have a lot of
have a lot of uh we don’t have a lot of nourishment because there’s not the
nourishment because there’s not the
nourishment because there’s not the venue’s aren’t there the people aren’t
venue’s aren’t there the people aren’t
venue’s aren’t there the people aren’t always there because no one goes outside
always there because no one goes outside
always there because no one goes outside when it’s 110 degrees whether I’m
when it’s 110 degrees whether I’m
when it’s 110 degrees whether I’m playing in an air-conditioned place or
playing in an air-conditioned place or
playing in an air-conditioned place or not no one wants to get the car and
not no one wants to get the car and
not no one wants to get the car and drive there
drive there
drive there well it’s 110 degrees so what Arizona
well it’s 110 degrees so what Arizona
well it’s 110 degrees so what Arizona has become is it’s its own it’s a
has become is it’s its own it’s a
has become is it’s its own it’s a persona
persona
persona it’s a we walk onstage with hey here’s
it’s a we walk onstage with hey here’s
it’s a we walk onstage with hey here’s Who I am if you like it great I’m happy
Who I am if you like it great I’m happy
Who I am if you like it great I’m happy you’re here if you don’t like it I’m
you’re here if you don’t like it I’m
you’re here if you don’t like it I’m gonna make you like me if you don’t like
gonna make you like me if you don’t like
gonna make you like me if you don’t like me please leave
me please leave
me please leave like that’s that we we are very
like that’s that we we are very
like that’s that we we are very passionate about what we do and and it’s
passionate about what we do and and it’s
passionate about what we do and and it’s it’s really it’s you could see that in
it’s really it’s you could see that in
it’s really it’s you could see that in the people to come around from the state
the people to come around from the state
the people to come around from the state there is no one here that doesn’t love
there is no one here that doesn’t love
there is no one here that doesn’t love what they do
what they do
what they do there’s passionate music everywhere you
there’s passionate music everywhere you
there’s passionate music everywhere you go but the passion here you bleed you
go but the passion here you bleed you
go but the passion here you bleed you continually believe your passion because
continually believe your passion because
continually believe your passion because from the day you start playing in
from the day you start playing in
from the day you start playing in Arizona for the day you stop playing
Arizona for the day you stop playing
Arizona for the day you stop playing Arizona you’re working you’re always
Arizona you’re working you’re always
Arizona you’re working you’re always working and I get that most people do
working and I get that most people do
working and I get that most people do that but your truck we’re trying to pump
that but your truck we’re trying to pump
that but your truck we’re trying to pump water out of an oil tank here and it’s
water out of an oil tank here and it’s
water out of an oil tank here and it’s it’s really a it really turns us into
it’s really a it really turns us into
it’s really a it really turns us into great
great
great hard-working musicians that really
hard-working musicians that really
hard-working musicians that really appreciate what they have so I’ve guys
appreciate what they have so I’ve guys
appreciate what they have so I’ve guys on mine we’ll play a couple songs for
on mine we’ll play a couple songs for
on mine we’ll play a couple songs for you tonight this is my first time
you tonight this is my first time
you tonight this is my first time playing for you guys tonight so please
playing for you guys tonight so please
playing for you guys tonight so please be kind you don’t like it you can leave
all right there so I wrote this song
all right there so I wrote this song about actually driving home for playing
about actually driving home for playing
about actually driving home for playing a show out here and actually three
a show out here and actually three
a show out here and actually three points which is the mecca of music in
points which is the mecca of music in
points which is the mecca of music in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona so let’s call Whitehorse hope y’all
so let’s call Whitehorse hope y’all
so let’s call Whitehorse hope y’all enjoy you won’t either Wahoo’s I had no
enjoy you won’t either Wahoo’s I had no
enjoy you won’t either Wahoo’s I had no holes in the floor you can see the glass
holes in the floor you can see the glass
holes in the floor you can see the glass slippers and crowd the quited is talk
slippers and crowd the quited is talk
slippers and crowd the quited is talk you were looking down smile still your
you were looking down smile still your
you were looking down smile still your harmful little feet your sims sit you
harmful little feet your sims sit you
harmful little feet your sims sit you free
free
two patties boy like me
two patties boy like me get a girl like you
get a girl like you
get a girl like you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] would be in a lifetime dream come true
would be in a lifetime dream come true
would be in a lifetime dream come true [Music]
[Music]
[Music] I was steering the Wahoo’s
Mima forty needs to steal your hide
Mima forty needs to steal your hide make you stay tip your dreams and you
make you stay tip your dreams and you
make you stay tip your dreams and you guys leaving you drove away to Paddy’s
guys leaving you drove away to Paddy’s
guys leaving you drove away to Paddy’s boy like me
boy like me
boy like me get it girl like you
would see in a lifetime
would see in a lifetime [Music]
you won’t beat Charlie I will snow air
you won’t beat Charlie I will snow air to be found
the one who’s giving a wider penis
the one who’s giving a wider penis one-horse town
thank y’all so much Thank You TEDx thank
thank y’all so much Thank You TEDx thank you Miss Mary my name is drew Cooper
you Miss Mary my name is drew Cooper
you Miss Mary my name is drew Cooper thank you so much
”
Be First to Comment