So I've been complaining about my voice for about a year. I was playing a show in gadsden and ended up staying at the room being proivded for me and slept on the couch. I ended up getting sick and my voice has been slightly out of wack every since.

I started tuning the guitar a half step down to compensate for my voice not being up to par. It had pretty much taken care of the problem until about 2 months ago. So I've been really struggling here recently. 

Well it looks like my voice has finally started healing itself. I've started tuning the guitar to standard again. I was starting to struggle with songs again and the problem was my voice was getting better so it wasn't fitting the music anymore.


As a matter of fact the Lust Luck Love album was recorded when my voice wasn't up to par. So I wasn't at all satisfied when i recorded it but it was as good as I could sing at the time.

Well I'm happy to say my voice is getting better.

I meant to post this blog last week and just never got around to it. I played in Scottsboro last week opening for Adam Hood.

I was playing and I had someone ask me to "play something we know" which is a Adam Hood song. I thought it was kind of funny. The guy had thought I was Adam. 

Adam put on a really good show and was extremly gracious. I really recommend you checking out his music.



Thanks to everyone who has been coming out to my shows and buying S.W.A.G. It's Truly appreciated. You can now use the following widget to purchase the MP3's from iTunes.







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I'm on the top artist list for Folk Rock in the state of TN.

It's nice to be home. I've been gone since last Saturday.
I went down to Alabama last week to fill in for my friend Justin Johnson in Birmingham. The Venue was a really cool place and I enjoyed playing it. It was a bit of a hastle loading in but I managed to get it done. Had to carry equipment further than I would like. All said and done though it went well. Thanks to everyone who came out with such a last minute notice. Tonya you rock for inviting friends and coming out everytime I'm in B'ham. Also thanks to Jodi and his family for coming out. They own a really cool bar in Lagrange GA that I played a lot a year or so ago. It was nice to see them. I'm looking forward to playing back over there this summer some.
 
I played my little brother's B'day party Tuesday. It went well and I was glad that the reception was good. It was at a church so I had to watch my language and not play some songs that I normally would. I'm not sure how the youth pastor would have accept me saying fucking bitch....lol. He was a really cool guy and I enjoyed talking with him He went to music school in L.A. playing drums. He used to play the L.A. and Nashville scene.
 
Thursday I played in Gadsden at Chestnut Station. I wish I knew what I could do to get people in there on Thursdays. I really like playing there. One bad hing is it's so big that you can have 50 people in there and it looks like only 3. So if you live in Gadsden I would love for you to come out and show your support.
 
Friday I filled in for Adam Hood over at the Gridiron. He had double booked and couldn't play it. I really like playing there as well. They always treat me well there and the crowd is always receptive. I'm looking forward to being back there in a few weeks.
 
Saturday I went over to Jacksonville State and played at the Sig Ep fraternity house. Those guys are always great and always know how to have a good time. I played about 2 hours and hung around with them for a awhile. Adam Hood was playing there later that night. I had only met Adam once before in Gadsden about 6 months or so ago. We've have a lot of mutual friends so I'm suprised that our paths haven't crossed more than what it has. When he got there I hung out and talked to him about a hour before making my way back to TN. He ended up being a really laid back guy.  We swapped out CD's and I have to say that I'm enjoying them. I'm actually listening to them as I write this blog. So I recommend checking him out here on myspace and buying some of his tunes from iTunes or from his site.
 
I changed my myspace listing to TN this week. I usually go and check out my rankings in the state I'm in for my genre every few weeks or so. I was always floating in the top 10 in my categories. Well I didn't think I would really be ranked at all for TN because of them having so many musicians in the state. Well I'm happy to say that I'm listed in the top 100 in all the genres that I've listed my music as. I've always listed higher in the folk rock category than acoustic and rock. Happy to say that in TN I was listed as #3 in the unsigned category for folk rock. So thanks to everyone who comes out and checks out my page and listens to my music. It's truly appreciated.

Again thanks for everyone listening to my music. Peace* Ricky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_v7NzpVwJM

we were extremly lucky that this wasn't our house. This is the same street I live on but on the other end 10 houses down

So I went out earlier this week and went to a writer's night. Their were some very talented writers there. Well I came home and looked them up and added them to my friends list.
 
Well I was checking out one of their pages and He had a great blog about people that he's been listening to and their music. His name is Blake Whitworth. You can find him here on myspace and I recommend going to check out one of his shows.

So here is a list of people that have really influenced me and my music. I've been listening to their music constanly over the past several years.
Daniel Lee "DiEL"  has been a big influence for several years. I wore his superfish illumination CD slap out. He has been a dear friend and it has been such a honor to have him share shows with me over the past couple years. You really need to check him out. He's in my top friends on here.
Wayne Mills Wayne has been a dear friend from my first stage appearance when he let me open up for him. He has always been such a great guy and great person to call a friend.  You can also Find Wayne in my top friends
Alber Simpson Is one of the best musicians I know. He's always smiling and having a good time. He's just a happy Hippie. When I was recording my Cd he came in and played keys for me when I was really needing some one to fill in. His Band Highly Kind has just released his first album with Rockin Camel Music produced by Johnny Sandlin. I definitly recommend getting it.
Will Dooley I don't know what to say about this guy other than you just have to hear him sing. He is one hell of a song writer I met him 7 years ago on his front porch. We had a long jam session and have been friends ever since.  Check him out.
Suburban Love Junkies These guys rock. They're all dear friends and Their music speaks for itself.
Angie Aparo This guy's vocals are off the charts. I played a festival with him several years ago. If you haven't heard him check him out.
Harry Case is the most talented musician I've ever met. He is the best jazz player I've ever seen. He's toured all over the world and he shows more support to local music scenes than anyone I know. He used to come out and see me when I first started gigging and always had words of encouragment and wisdom for me.
Justin Howard  Justin found me on myspace about 2 years ago and sent me the most flattering message. He  had remembered me playing when he was in college at JSU. He said that I had impacted him as a musician and had motivated him to start playing shows b/c I was the only singer songwriter out there doing it and making a living of it. He is in my top friends if you go check him out you won't be disappointed.
Curtis Smith I met Curtis in front of the Blue Bird Cafe' in Nashville. He was from GA and was looking to move to Nashville. We struck up a friendship and have played many shows together. He's also in my top friends. He hasn't updated his page in forever but the songs up are great.
Justin Johnson Justin and I have just became friends this past year and he has been a great one. He's been in the music scene for a long time in Birmingham. He played in Wayne and still tours and plays with Adam Hood and Caddle. He's also in my top friends. Go check him out.
That's all for now. Go check all these artists out and their bands. They are extremely talented in what they do. Some of the artists are country and some are Rock. I don't think you'll be disappointed in any of them.