Album Notes

The Tea Merchants were formed a few years ago (2002, I think it was) by Chris, Charlie, and Rob as a method by which to procure grocery money and a free evening tab at the bar. We came together as a "jam band" with the purpose of having fun and playing the music that we love, and hey if we could make a few extra bucks doing it all the better, right?

The name of the group comes from a certain evening when Chris was asked by the local music newspaper what the name of the act was. Chris, having thought the matter through carefully, suggested that the name of the group was "The Boys of the Town". Rob, reacting to the possible implications of the name, reminded Chris that the local Austin fraternal establishment "The Boyz Cellar" was located just across from where the regular Tuesday gig occurred and that the association of names might result in legal matters of copyright infringement.

So, struggling to think something up, Chris chose the moniker "Delaney's Tea Merchants" (which was then shortened to just "Tea Merchants" due to limited print space for unknown acts in the music newspaper) because the name had nothing to do with anything at all.

Since our little group got together, we have played nearly 200 gigs in just under 3 years and have had our band name painted in golden letters on the wall at Fado. . . quite an honor that. All of these developements led us to realize that we were moving beyond the "grocery money" scenario and into the fast paced, hectic, "real world" lives of semi-professional musicians. This required things like business cards, a website, and lo and behold a CD! Well, we finally got our act together on the CD end of things, about six months later the website came along, and now a full year later we have business cards and yes even tee-shirts! So there you have it, now the cd itself. . .

The music is definitely Irish trad, but we mix it up a bit playing polkas with slides, playing a waltz into reels, and one track on the cd even has a bit of a Spanish flavor to it. Guess that's what happens when your label is "Puro Conjunto Records!"

One thing this cd is definitely not is over produced. The three of us sat in one room together and recorded the tracks as if we were sitting in a session at the local pub. Best way to do it if you ask me. The music is raw, pure, energetic, and totally heartfelt.

We are most certain that as a lover of Irish music you won't be dissapointed, and if you are new to the music we'll get you hooked! Enjoy and tell us what you think.

Cheers, the Tea Merchants