Hey you guys!

My name is Tyler Lance Walker Gill, and I'm making a gotdamn country record at the end of this month, come hell or high water.

A little bit about me if you don't know: I run the online store for Lebowski Fest by day, and bartend at the good ol' Nachbar by night. I like to say I'm a hard drinker with a working problem, but honestly, I couldn't ask for better employers.

For the past year or two, I've been writing what I consider to be some damn good, old school country music with a bit of an updated outlaw tinge to it. What do I mean by that? Well, the content of my songs ranges from my outright atheism, to telling "So Called Christian Politicians" to go straight to hell, death and heartbreak, to your classic song about blacking out drunk night after night - all with an old school honky tonk sound. My point is, this ain't your grandpa's country music, but at the same time, it sure as fuck is your grandpa's country music. I've got an album of 11 songs just itchin' to get recorded.

So, here's where I'm at right now. A while back, I heard about a musical compilation being put together by local Louisville muscians for the purpose of sending a message to KY Governor Matt Bevin. That message, of course, being go fuck yourself. I wrote So Called Christian Politicians for that compilation, which got me hooked up with Nellie Pearl, who had also put a song on there.

Well, long story short, Nellie Pearl decided they'd back me up for a few shows, and help me in the studio once I could scrape up enough money. We've been rehearsing quite a bit lately for a few shows we had planned for my birthday weekend. As it turns out, I heard just last week that La La Land (an amazing studio here in Louisville) had some free dates at the end of the month. So I said "what the hell" and went ahead and booked 'em. Last weekend, Nellie Pearl and I raised $650 for the record by playing only two shows, which is an amazing start! 

Now I'm not super fond of trying to get a handout, but what am I, rich?! Making a record the right way is some awfully expensive shit, but if I'm going to do it, you better bet it's gonna be the right way. So, I'm calling on you, my friends, to help me fill the gap to create what I'm confident could be the best goddamn country album of the year, and MAYBE EVEN OF ALL TIME! (Okay, probably not of all time, but I swear to ya it'll be damn good.) All 11 songs were written by yours truly, and Nellie Pearl has done a phenomenal job not only learning my songs, but adding their own unique texture as well. On top of that, I have a few more of Louisville's best musicians (whom I will announce at a later date) ready and waiting to add some extra instrumentation - pedal steel guitar, accordian, harmonica, etc. 

I chose to use GoFundMe for this project, as it's not an "all-or-nothing" platform, and really, the $2,000 goal I set is a little arbitrary. Shit, to be honest, I'm not exactly sure how much this damn thing might cost me at the end of the day. I've got to cover studio costs, mixing and mastering the record, paying musicians, pressing vinyl, and Lord knows what else. Aside from those things, I'm trying to raise this money within the next two or three weeks, so I didn't want to use kickstarter and set a goal to low or two high. Regardless, whatever money raised here will be going directly to making this record, and that is a guaran-damn-tee.

Now freinds, since GoFundMe doesn't have all the fancy donation-level-prize bullshit, let me just make it easier: if you donate to this campaign, I promise you, you'll get what's comin' to ya. Whether it be a TLWG record on vinyl or CD or fuckin' cassette tape, free digital downloads, a kiss on your mouth, free passes to every concert I ever play in the future, you want me to mow your lawn this weekend, whatever it is - I plan to dole out gifts on an individual basis. So when you donate, expect a text, call, or email from me discussing gifts.

Our first days in the studio will be April 21-23. After that, we're gonna have to play it by ear to see how much we got done, and how much we have left. So let's see how much money I can get out of you suckers between now and then! I love all of you, even if you don't donate (but SO much more if you do.) Every little bit helps!

In George Jones' Holy Name We Pray,

Amen,
Tyler Lance Walker Gill

UPDATE:

I've created some rewards! These are 100% real and redeemable. Here's the list and donation level for each one!

First of all, everyone who donates at any amount gets a mention somewhere on the back cover!

$10

Signed topless photo of me taken by a semi-professional photographer.

I'll refrain from a political Facebook post for one full day!

I'll read you one bedtime story of your choosing (over the phone if necessary).

I’ll wear a t-shirt with your face on it once a week for an entire year (you provide the t-shirt).

Unlimited high fives every time I see you until one of us dies.

Let's listen to the Dark Side of the Moon album and watch the Wizard of Oz at the same time. Let's see what that's all about. Is there anything to it, really? Takes place at my house.

$20

Horror movie marathon @ my house, we each pick half the movies.

I'll give you honest relationship advice for up to, but no longer than, one full hour.

I'll let you borrow one of my favorite books, and although I'll occasionally remember that I lent it to you, I won't hassle you about returning it for like a full year. Then when I do finally ask if you read it, when you're all like, "oh man, I actually just started it," I'll be like, "oh cool man!" but in my head I'll be like, "pfft sure okay," but I'll STILL give you like another six months with it before I demand it back.

Bill Nye marathon! This includes conducting any and all (relatively safe) science experiments performed in the show.

I'll let you borrow my life-size fake skeleton to scare the holy shit out of your significant other.

Let's go to a laser show at the planetarium at UofL. Why the fuck not, am I right? I'm buying (as long as it’s pretty cheap/free)!

$50

I come wash your car (but only whenever I want to and have the time).

Karaoke party @ either The Deuce or T. Eddies. No Akikos.

Private ping pong lessons from yours truly.

I'll walk your dog for a week.

I cook you breakfast. (DISCLAIMER - by "cook you breakfast" I mean "take you to Waffle House." I'm buying and I'll drive!)

Backyard firepit sing along at my house! Invite your friends. Everyone must sing along…

I'll build you a birdhouse out of Popsicle sticks.

I'll teach you how to juggle (poorly, but I mean, you'll definitely get the gist of it, basically).

Sloperation (which is a drinking game version of the popular children's board game, Operation, that I made up) party at my house!

$100

TLWG Prize package - including tshirt, coozie, bottle opener, bic lighter, vinyl record, CD, and any other cool merch I can afford to produce with funds raised!

I'll give you the shirt off my back. Literally, whichever shirt I'm wearing the moment you donate, you can have it.

I help you plan/pull off an elaborate prank against EITHER your mortal enemy OR your best friend, no one in between.

I write a song FROM you TO another person of your choosing.

I cook you an amazing seafood dinner. (DISCLAIMER - by "cook you an amazing seafood dinner" I mean "let's go to Red Lobster." I'm buying and I'll drive!)

I'll get you a small trophy, but I get to decide what it looks like and what it says.

I'll have my grandma make you some pancakes. They're seriously the best ever. We can go to her house for this one.

$250

We exchange house keys and feed each others cats when one of us is out of town. This does not include litter box duty, for either party.

$500

I’ll name my next cat after you (once one of my cats dies and I get a new one.)

$1000

I'll get a small tattoo of your initials inside a heart on my ass.