FOR RICHER OR POORER

FOR RICHER OR POORER

The latest reports on the news say the recession is over, but I'll bet we all know more people now out of work than we did 2 years ago when this madness started.

We've had a close to a month home and have been catching up on all those things we left untouched while on the road. A month to catch our breath has given us time to think through where we stand as musicians, partners, spirits as well as members of our beloved Texas family.

On the road we talked to so many people in transition, whether it be from a job loss or a change in geography; I can't help but think we are in the middle of major cultural shift.

With the new album coming out as an independent release we are buckling down to make sure we can do it right. We are eating rice and beans, riding our bikes around town whenever possible rather than in the car, and focusing more and more on time doing things instead of time spending things.

As I look around at the world that surrounds me I look at my generation that are now in their early and mid thirties I realize that while we are breaking the "standard of living" on the low side of the income bracket, we are coming out on the high side as far as quality of life goes if you ask me.

As we gear up for a new set of Texas shows, I feel an excited tingle in my stomach for what lies ahead. There are so many friends in music we haven't seen since we've been gone, and so many new friends to make. We all know that money can only buy you so many friends, and they are usually bought on credit...and as we are realizing here in the US that credit can only get you so far.

So rice and beans it is, biking in the beautiful fall breezes of Austin, and many wonderful memories are waiting for us to make with friends and family in the months ahead.

Oh yeah, and that new album to release in January.

Life is good.

FOR RICHER OR POORER?

I think in life and love we're on the rich end, even if the Flying A Productions bank account doesn't make the "Fortune 500" list.

Top Ten List after 3 months on the road!

We are spending our last week on the road in Nashville making phone calls, meeting with people, making phone calls, meeting with more people, smiling, thanking, and making new friends!

My smile muscles are fatigued, my taco bell belly is full, and while it has been a full out blast across this beautiful country...that Texas Border is calling our names. Here are the top ten highlights of our tour:

10. Discovering McDonald's serves pretty darn good coffee on a musician's budget.

9. Realizing that the sun comes up at 4 a.m. in Minnesota this time of the year, and

being thankful there is plenty of time left to snooooooze till coffee time.

8. The look on John Jennings face when we surprised in Minneapolis at his show with Mary Chapin

Carpenter.

6. Meeting "Humpy" the security guard at the MCC Concert and almost getting tackled b/c he didn't see

John wave me over! (yep, that's his real name!)

5. Laughing at the phrase "...I need something healthy, let's go to Taco Bell."

4. Meeting Keith Urban and having him introduce himself to me as "Keith"...crazy.

3. Laughing for 20 minutes strait after hearing myself say the phrase "...I need something healthy, let's go to Taco Bell."

2. Hearing my husband say..."It's ten more pounds to love."

1. Having new and old friends come out to see us, and even some that loved us enough to let us stay

extra 2-4 days because you landed a last minute gig/radio show/meeting when we least expected it!

(You know who you are...and we LOVE YOU!!!)

JUMPING OFF THE HIGH DIVE OF LIFE!!!

JUMPING OFF THE HIGH DIVE OF LIFE!

2010 we will be looking for adventure

in uncharted waters!!!

2010 our motto is stepping outside the comfort zone by

"taking that leap off the high dive of life with both arms ready to swim!!!"

Creatively we need a push, and stepping outside the Austin City Limits is our focus this year.

Stuart spent 7 years writing in Nashville, and he had no problem stepping back into the rhythm of things there last month as we started work on the new album in Music City. This was my first real project to do in Nashville, and I worked hard not to give into my nerves! The unknown is so scary, but exhilarating once you jump off edge and feel the excitement of taking it to the next level. Work will continue over the next 2 months on the music end of the album...we hope to have it in our hands by May to start radio promotions and get ready for a Sept. official release!

2010 TOURS will reflect our focus!

We will do our usual Rocky Mountain tour, and will be heading back to the Midwest. This year we will be adding Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin to the the Midwest Tour. We also plan to do our Southern Fried Pickin' Tour with an East Coast element added onto the end! We will structure this tour well with radio promotions for the new album.

We also will be attending several conferences within the Folk/Songwriting and Americana vain. So far we have the International Folk Alliance Conference on the schedule, and hope to add the Americana Music Festival in Sept. on the schedule. We realize we may be small fish in a big sea, but it's time to get our name out there and focus on broadening exposure!

GRAMMY ASSOCIATION is also something we plan on getting more involved in this year. Christine Albert and Chris Gage are two people who have mentored us since day one, and they were kind enough to encourage us to join as voting members 2 years ago; it has been a great opportunity. There are so many social events as well as panels and speakers that have been a great resource. We hope to get more involved and make a point to go to more of the events! Starting with the Grammy Watching party in Houston this year.

I can't wait to see if the people I voted for win their categories!

Wouldn't it be cool to get to vote for ourselves???

Hey why not...you gotta dream it before you can see it!

So that our is focus for the days ahead. Some of you may think we've gone off the deep end...and that's okay. Life is about taking chances, and you have to be willing to take risks if you wanna stretch yourself. So are you ready to jump off the high dive with us?

Stepping outside the comfort zone is something that isn't easy, but can have great rewards!!!

One thing you guys should know about us by now, we're not afraid to fall, cause sometimes that is the best way to learn to fly!

Love,

Hilary

From The Flyin' A's

www.TheFlyinAs.com

DAY 2-

Day 2 in Nashville

All here has been great. We have LOVED our time here, and can't believe we still have 2 days of recording left. Quad Studios is top notch, and the players have been great.

It's been a smooth start to our sophomore album and all of our hard work is paying off in the studio. We had a surprise appearance by Delbert McClinton, and he came in and played harmonica on the Joe Tex "I Want To" tune.

I got footage of Delbert laying down his track, and then accidentally erased it, but oh well. What is a girl to do? I am sure it nothing to do with the fact that I was sooooo excited to be in the same studio with him, let alone having it be our project he was so willing to come play on!

Today we head back into the studio to cut 4 more songs. We are looking at a total of 13 tunes for the new album. More to come about the song list for the album. We are waiting to make sure all goes as planned!

John Jennings had some challenges getting to Nashville from VA due to an a giant blizzard, but was in great form yesterday despite a drive that was 12 hours longer than it should have been.

He is a master in the studio. He is focused, pointed with his direction and gentle all at the same time. He is focused on getting the best sound for the project, and is so smooth at getting the best sound out of us. One small comment and a track sounds 10 times better than the first take. I have been taking mental notes the whole time, and am loving learning so much. There is a reason he has the reputation he does, and his kind heart and eagle ears are rocking awesome. It's like warm butter on perfectly toasted sour doe bread, a real tasty treat.

Check out footage from DAY 2 at www.youtube.com/theflyinas .

I will post more tomorrow!

Till then...honky tonk it till the cows come home!

DAY 1- Recording in Nashville. Check out the video to get the inside scoop! I'll type more tomorrow...some funny developments! We are having a blast as promised!!!

The Jersey Shore's like free air conditioning!

We had a great time out in New Jersey.

There were flowers of every color blooming in the highway median, and the beaches were flawless. It was beautiful, everyone was so nice, and the weather was amazing!

I have come to decide that New Jersey has been taking notes from Icelandians these past years, and that they knew what they were doing the whole time as outsiders have allowed their beautiful state to get a bad wrap. It's a great way to keep their beauty from being trampled I'll bet you!

We did just one private show out there, and it was a blast. The other 4 days were spent at the beach, building sand sculptures, body surfing and doing our best to stay pale!

I still think I am holding the title of palest of Puerto Escondido, but New Jersey had a good representation of us less pigmented...darn.

What were those pills Michael Jackson took? Nah, that's too much work even for me to win the palest award. I'll take my chances with the 70 spf!

So many guitars, so little time!

So many guitars, so little time

We are back home in Austin, and this is a picture of a sculpture Stuart ran across in DC a few months ago.  Man, look at all those lonely guitars??? 

So many guitars, so little time- As many of you know I have electrical tape covering the brand of my guitar.  It's not only for asthetic reasons...the company that made Bessie doesn't stand up to the test when it comes to backing their instruments and workmanship. So rather than bad mouth them and spread bad carma...i just refuse to advertise for them.

Bessie my guitar is doing well after some hard work from my "guitar Jesus" Ed Reynolds, who resurrected her after being mutilated by the "company" while working hard NOT to uphold her lifetime warranty on the workmanship of her sleek lines. 

After a lot of frustration at first, some heart broken tears after seeing the horrible work done, and then sighs of relief and joy after seeing Ed save her...the final decision has been made.

We are designing a new headstock for her.;after a long lamented  process, I've decided to keep her, and not trade her in for a new one.

After all, we've traveled thousands of miles together, written some great music together, and sang our hearts out together for 5 great years!!!  

We will make the decision to keep Bessie official when the new head stock is designed and applied. Then no more electrical tape (my first choice was duct tape, but Stuart convinced me that was just plain mean to Bessie, she can't help who her parents are).

So, in an effort to save one more tree, and hold on the the instrument I love, Bessie will have a new look in the next few months!

So many guitars, so little time...but when you have one that plays as sweet as Bessie, why trade her in when you can just pretty her up a bit???

Consider it a name change if you will!!!