Planning Your Dream Wedding? Wedding planning is a whirlwind of venue selections, cake tastings, and endless Pinterest scrolling. While the focus is on creating a beautiful celebration, it’s easy to forget that this day is truly about the love story. That’s why a Wishbox is a must-have alternative wedding guestbook idea. Imagine a virtual time … Continue reading This is the Best Alternative Wedding Guestbook Idea

So, I went to go see Dave Matthews Band at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre on Tuesday. They played a 2+ hour set where they covered 5 songs, including 3 where they brought out Chuck Leavell (which was easily the highlight of the entire show, since he didn’t play a single Dave Matthews song anyone recognized at … Continue reading Dave Matthews Cover Band – Not What You Think

Two weeks ago, I walked into the newest, legitimate live music venue in my neighborhood, Avondale Town Cinema. It’s a fantastically unique, old movie theater that has recently been converted into a live music venue and bar. Like most things in the Avondale neighborhood (as opposed to its neighboring city, Decatur, GA), there wasn’t much … Continue reading Introducing: Victoria Canal

Hey friends. I wanted to say a few quick words about the #ConfederateFlag and all its goings ons of late. Obviously, it has become a hot button item, and I feel like I’ve read just about everything both sides has had to say about it. I grew up in rural, metro Atlanta, so I have … Continue reading #ConfederateFlag

After seeing this particular graphic on several different people’s Facebook feeds today, I decided I’d like to chime in here with what I think some of you might find to be an interesting and unexpected perspective on this mentality. In case, for whatever reason, you are unable to see the graphic I’m referring to, it … Continue reading Respect the Artist. Buy Yourself Some Coffee!

And The Winner Is…

A few weeks ago, I asked you all to vote on your favorite from a collection of three recent, potential, official Troy Cono Band press images. I’m overwhelmingly grateful to have received over 100 votes in total for such an incredibly insignificant concept without so much as an official, preconceived prize. The voting was close … Continue reading And The Winner Is…

Remember What I Said About Photoshoots?

For those who may be reading this and may not have been keeping up with what’s been going on in my musical life lately, I have officially retired from cover music. But returning to the glorious world of original music from whence I came does have it’s share of drawbacks. The most immediate of such … Continue reading Remember What I Said About Photoshoots?

I promised everyone I’d eventually get around to sharing my story from my recent trip to the Motown Museum in Detroit this past May. I was in town visiting dear family who just had their first child. After a long day today of helping reveal to the world, via Facebook, just how cuckoo for cocoa … Continue reading Hitsville U.S.A. Still the Greatest Hit in the Motor City? – Part 1

Today marks the 5-year anniversary since the untimely, and potentially intentional, death of arguably the greatest live performer of all time, Michael Jackson. The level of talent and originality he displayed in his live shows is yet to be out done, and all too infrequently even rivaled. And with my recent trip to the Motown … Continue reading Remembering the “Man in the Mirror”

What I’m Listening To – Spring, 2014

Guilty Pleasures Katy Perry – “International Smile”  Ever wondered what the back half of a Katy Perry record sounded like, beyond the front-loaded, homogenized radio singles? Me either…until now. “Roar” is such an incredibly catchy song (that almost immediately got played to death) that I had to check out what Katy Perry was singing about … Continue reading What I’m Listening To – Spring, 2014

The image for this post was captured at a recent gig. The names and faces of those present have been omitted to protect the innocent. The names and faces of the guilty who are responsible for this negligence have also been omitted, as has their presence and discipline in this child’s life. Far be it … Continue reading Who Needs a Babysitter When You’ve Got a Professional Musician?

I’m A Total Moron, And I Might Be Intellectually Challenged

Ever had one of those moments where you realized as you were talking that the comment to which you were currently responding was the logical end to the conversation, and that your incredibly detailed response was now becoming one of the most loathsome things that’s happened in this poor stranger’s day so far? Anyone? No? … Continue reading I’m A Total Moron, And I Might Be Intellectually Challenged

Things People Think/Say/Do To Me Because I’m a Professional Musician – PART 2

If you’re wondering what happened to PART 1, wondering why this post starts with Dialog #6, wondering what this whole thing is all about, or wondering where in the world that smell is coming from, please read PART 1 here first, then come on back over here for PART 2. If you’re already caught up, … Continue reading Things People Think/Say/Do To Me Because I’m a Professional Musician – PART 2

Things People Think/Say/Do To Me Because I’m a Professional Musician – PART 1

I’ve never been a fan of forwards, but that doesn’t seem to stop them from finding their way across my path from time to time. One such forward has, not surprisingly, crossed my path several times, and in several different versions. It is a forward about the most common misconceptions and/or things people say to … Continue reading Things People Think/Say/Do To Me Because I’m a Professional Musician – PART 1

Who Do You Want to Cater Your Funeral?

Two weeks ago, my percussionist, Nathan Lathouse, and I played our longest standing, suburban, Mexican Restaurant house duo gig. For those of you not familiar with such industry lingo, the term “house” applied to the term “gig” refers to the fact that you are a regularly featured act at that particular establishment/location. In our case, … Continue reading Who Do You Want to Cater Your Funeral?

I’ve worked with a considerable number of restaurant and bar owners in my career, yet it never ceases to amaze me how pretentious and pompous many of them can be. What is it about that industry that attracts such types? Owning a restaurant is a grueling, thankless, exhausting job ideally suited for masochists or the … Continue reading Manage This, Partner!

What I’m Listening To – Fall 2013

Guilty Pleasures Robyn – “Call Your Girlfriend”  My best friend and far superior DJ Greg Harding introduced me to this incredibly Swedish artist and her then hit song nearly a year ago. I purposefully didn’t wear it out at the time, and now it’s striking a chord all over again.  I particularly love the hauntingness … Continue reading What I’m Listening To – Fall 2013

If it’s been a while since my last post, and I know it has been, it’s because I went to Italy for 12 days and I’ve simply not been the same since coming back. To elaborate, I mean to say that reality is no longer the same for me. You see, I used to think … Continue reading Vacation: All I Ever Wanted

“What Have We Always Said is the Most Important Thing?”

Breakfast? Family? Neither. It’s WATER! Contrary to what the Bluth’s would have us believe, when you’re playing on an uncovered patio at 6:30PM E.D.T., facing due west, and there isn’t a cloud in the sky, water is, without a doubt, the most important thing. Now, if you’ve been anywhere around the Atlanta area these past … Continue reading “What Have We Always Said is the Most Important Thing?”

Last Friday evening I got the all-too-rare opportunity to play a full band gig at a venue that was not a Mexican restaurant. On the Thursday prior, I was asked by the owner to put together a flyer for the show the following evening. Being that this was the first time our band had played … Continue reading Mr. Burns – Bass Player

This past Saturday, I deejayed for a wedding in the Roswell/Marietta area. Every thing prior to this day had been arranged over the phone, so I would be actually meeting the bride, as well as her mother (my boss for the day) for the first time, face-to-face, on her wedding day. Now, I’ve either deejayed … Continue reading You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a Bad, First Impression

How Common Observation Can Cost You a Job

So I’m reaching into the distant archives of my memory for this one, but I’ve always thought this story was well worth sharing. A few months after Obama had been inaugurated to his first term,  I was playing a gig at, of all places, a suburban Mexican restaurant. During my first break, I was summoned … Continue reading How Common Observation Can Cost You a Job

So my brother was in town from Philly for Cinco de Mayo this past weekend. He had to borrow my PA for all his gigs while he was in town. Tonight at my gig, something kept poking me in the mouth as I was singing into the mic. It was a hair. Most likely facial. … Continue reading Short, Sweet, and Gross as Hell!

Every Girl Crazy ‘Bout a Well-trained Man

There is no denying it; I became a musician to impress females. In fact, everything I’ve ever done, every decision I’ve ever made in my entire life has been with those intentions in mind. “What is going to get me the largest pool of women from which to choose a suitable mate,” is the barbaric … Continue reading Every Girl Crazy ‘Bout a Well-trained Man

As the title suggests, this one won’t be. Oddly enough, in spite of the several funny and ridiculous things that happened to me at my regular gigs this week, I felt more compelled to write about something seriously cool and fun instead. This past Saturday, I had the privilege of participating in the very first of what … Continue reading Sometimes it Doesn’t Have to be Funny

So it’s Wednesday, it’s 11 o’clock, and the dance floor is covered with business people I managed to keep around long after happy hour with my “incredible DJ skills.” I was in the middle of a foolproof dance music block which I started with “Wobble” by V.I.C., into “Yeah” By Usher and Lil’ Jon ftg. … Continue reading I Give Up

The Official Request of a Drunken Redneck

If you’re going to exercise freedom of speech to the point that it violates the rights of those around you, while lacking the intelligence and research required to furnish a reasonable argument in favor of your alienating opinions, you should at least be prepared to suffer the consequences of that behavior, and by all means, … Continue reading The Official Request of a Drunken Redneck

Any true professional musician will tell you, “the show must go on!” Never have those words been harder for me to live by than at my duo gig with Nathan this past Friday. All was going rather well. Tips were coming in. The bar was 3 deep with people waiting for a table, and almost … Continue reading Lay Lady Lay

The most important thing to remember as a musician when getting ready to conduct a photo shoot for you and/or your band is to fight the urge to do anything original or different. Do exactly what’s expected. Do what every other musician and band has done since the beginning of time. Go outside. Bring your … Continue reading It All Starts With a Great Photo Shoot!

If you’ve bothered to read the “About This Blog” page, you’ll already know how often I play at suburban Mexican restaurants. To be exact, as of this moment, I have 3 gigs a week, every week at one. The only saving grace to the monotony of constantly coming home smelling like fried tortilla chips, besides the money, … Continue reading When One Thing Leads to Another