Make no mistake that the popular, local Tiptonians pop-alt rock band knows how to go with the creative flow, and their high-energy, live grooves offer more than proof.
But if you think a group of mostly engineers is simply going to go all rock ‘n’ roll in whatever direction the music muse blows, think again. Band members’ lives at Cummins Inc. are based on certifiable data.
And so, too, is their show set list, as wide ranging from Coldplay to the Zac Brown Band to Billie Eilish.
Members vote on songs for each performance — and stats and pie charts are kept.
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“We have a pretty methodical, drawn-out (selection) process,” said guitarist Dimitar Totkov, “so that we can have songs for a modern crowd as well as stuff for the older generation. We do our best to mix in songs from different decades, too.”
These days, their mix now includes the six-member ensemble’s original tunes released earlier on a three-song digital project representing a $2,000 investment. The first single, “Like Never Before,” is an upbeat, harmonies-heavy tune that’s part of what the band labels “power-pop” to get people on their feet.
The group worked in a couple of the originals at dates earlier this year.
“If you see that people aren’t looking at you with a weird face and still keep dancing, then that’s a win for us,” said lead singer Ilio Gonzalez. “That is when you know that you have made something decent enough.”
The group even has a polished video to showcase the first single and even its audience interaction. The COVID-19 pandemic brought their promotion and live bookings to a halt, unfortunately. Just before the pandemic, members were planning a downtown concert along Fourth Street.
Instead, Gonzalez, Totkov, drummer Caleb Denney, keyboardist/music composer Thyago Cruz, bassist Javier Leza, and vocalist Mai Ngo are waiting on the world to change, so they can bring their multi-ethnic musical worldview back to live performances.
Members represent six different countries, which made them a perfect fit for a past Ethnic Expo international festival appearance, shortly after they won the local 2015 Columbus Got Talent competition.
And the group’s following — at street concerts, fundraisers and even the Mill Race Marathon — is fairly broad, ranging from 20-somethings to 60-somethings. They want to build on that, and more via the original tunes — songs that they are encouraging listeners to catch on Spotify and elsewhere.
“We’d like to see this open up some new venues for us (to play),” Gonzalez said. “And we want to feel more like we are creating and giving our perspective and our spin on our world — and not exclusively playing everybody else’s stuff.”
Playing dead-on covers is what built The Tiptonians’ area popularity in the first place since the group was birthed in a Columbus basement six years ago. At some gatherings, attendees frequently talk over a band’s music. With this ensemble, event attendees often have been heard talking about the band and its music as it plays.
“People have been so supportive of us (with covers),” Gonzalez said. “I think that’s one reason they’ve been willing to give us a listen (on originals) positively and constructively. And that’s what we want.
“We want people to connect with us.”
While the pandemic slowed their plans to expand their reach, band members have patience on their side.
“We’re taking all this at exactly the pace that we want,” Totkov said. “Nothing has gone too fast nor too slow. We feel like we’re controlling the pace.
“We’re not trying to quit our jobs and become all-star musicians. We’re doing this for the passion and the love of music and the love of performing.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About the band” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Who: The Tiptonians, with the name taken from the city of Columbus’ original name of Tiptonia.
Together: Six years.
The band that works together: All at Cummins Inc.
Latest project: The release of three original tunes, including the upbeat, dance-oriented pop tune, "Like Never Before."
Aiming for: Moire regional shows in locales such as Cincinnati, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky, and Chicago.
Information: tiptonians.com and the Facebook page for Tiptonians.
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