I'm sitting here tonight in an empty coffee shop in Tampa Florida, wondering about the future of independent music and the musicians who try so hard to keep it rolling. It's true that some people are blessed with the type of talent that when you hear it, you immediately are sucked in. But even those people had to trudge along in the trenches for a while before they found their true voice.

What I'm getting at is... tonight I played a show for about 4 people. I'm in this super cool space called Sacred Grounds Coffee House. I've played shows for 1 person before, and I've been lucky enough to perform in front of thousands... and so I'm used to both sides of it. It's not me feeling sorry for myself that makes me write this either.

What I'm trying to say is: I was talking to the owner of the coffee shop tonight, getting to know her, and she said that business has been so slow lately that she may have to shut down. In a world with starbucks and mcdonald's, it's impossible for her to stay afloat without the support of the community around her. Yet, the community around her has been somewhat unsupportive.

So, here's my unsolicited advice for the evening :-). go find a cool local place that hosts indie music. Stop by at least once a week and purchase something. Even if the music sucks on one night, know that by supporting the business you will be cultivating a place where every now and then, you might be lucky enough to catch one of those incredibly talented musicians who've been in the trenches for years, and you may find a reason to support something you've never heard on the radio or the tv... because you believe it belongs there, even if it never gets there. You will in turn reward the peeps who are providing this invaluable service to indie music, and to us, the community.

Martin Sexton is one of those people. You've probably never heard of him via mainstream, but go to a show, and see what he has created by captivating people... us, in the many indie venues around the country.

Thanks for listening to my rant :-)

Cheers, and much love from Tampa.
Isaac