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Aug
31st 2007 Conversations II.We’ve posted part two of my interview with freelance writer Jenni Simmons. The conversation continues with more insights into the creative process and discussion on some of my influences: Daniel Lanois, Wes Anderson and Flannery O’Connor. Aug
15th 2007 Why I believe.Brent Thomas has a great blog that focuses on the collision of theology, culture and music. His post today was especially wonderful. Read it here. Aug
15th 2007 Touring Update.I wanted to post here regarding fall tour dates as a general answer to some of your emails regarding the whens and the wheres. Some of you have seen the promo posters around your area but are confused because nothing is listed on the website. Sorry about that…here’s the deal: We’re still tweaking the tour page layout here on the site but everything should be posted with a week’s time. Things have been progressing steadily here in the office and we’re really looking forward to being back out on the road again. It’s not too late to book a show. We still have some dates available so please contact us here. Aug
12th 2007 100 degrees.
Nashville is always hot in August but lately it has seemed more so than usual. We’ve had close to a solid week of 100-102 degree days and the fact that we’ve had no rain in three weeks doesn’t help anything. I just checked the weather channel and we’ve got three more days of 100 degrees entering into next week. Yikes. Last summer, we planted a nice garden in our backyard and this heat has killed a good number of our plants while literally frying to a crisp some of the leaves on our beloved Japanese Maple. I water all the time but the plants can’t seem to catch up with the dryness. Everything is so thirsty. I’ve learned a lot from gardening. Some years are better than others. Some years are dry. Some years are too hot. But the seasons always change and time moves along regardless. Planting anything in the ground is an act of faith in itself. But still there is the practical side of knowing that with the right ingredients in the soil along with the right amount of water and sunlight that the seeds will grow. Even still, once they sprout you can’t control how the weather will be. I am not as strong as I think I am. And I’m definitely not in control. Aug
10th 2007 Francis Schaeffer quote.“The Lordship of Christ over the whole of life means that there are no Platonic areas in Christianity, no dichotomy or hierarchy between the body and the soul. God made the body as well as the soul, and redemption is for the whole man.” Aug
8th 2007 [uh-loo-siv].Al·lu·sive [uh-loo-siv] 1. having reference to something implied or inferred; containing, abounding in, or characterized by allusions. Aug
8th 2007 Breaking the glass case.Had a great trip to Cincinnati. There is a very interesting arts community up there and it’s such a cool city. Seven hills. The short story is that my some of my wild ideas for performing these new songs live will indeed be possible but it will take me some time and fiddling about with gear and software to get it all happening. The whole world of electronic music is so interesting and the artists I’ve met so far are all very intellectual and philosophical about using technology musically. I’ve yet to have a conversation with an electronically oriented musician who doesn’t want to drastically bend and stretch the definition of what music is. I am very much in love with melody, form and content when it comes to song-writing but it’s always interesting to hear other people’s perspectives. I’ve been getting a few emails from some folks who read this blog about not abandoning my “acoustic roots”. I appreciate your concern. And believe it or not, I feel like what I am trying to grow into (and out of) will benefit both my music and my audience. Perhaps the changes won’t be so drastic. It’s too early for me to know. I just know it needs to change. The front half of Recovery is very much about “breaking the glass case” (there was a reason for that title) while the back half of the record settles into more familiar territory but still wrapped up in a mostly classical mindset. I think this was the right record to make and now I am knee deep in figuring out how to tour it in such a way that the songs can stretch their legs. Afterall…we live in the age of the iPhone. Why wouldn’t I do this? Three chords and the truth. …well maybe more than just three chords. Aug
4th 2007 Cincinnati.I’m leaving for Cincinnati early tomorrow morning. I’ll be there for the day studying under an electronica whiz named Tony Miracle. Tony is in Venus Hum and he’s a programming/sonic-manipulation guru who Ken Lewis introduced me to. I’ve been learning new software and Tony is going to give me some tips and tricks. It’ll be like a creative field trip… Consulting with Tony will help me figure out whether or not my ideas will work for performing these new songs live in the ways I’ve been dreaming up. It’s exciting to put time, money and effort into my live show after years of just traveling with me and my acoustic guitar. I have to confess my boredom with those limitations lately. Maybe it’s just a phase or maybe I’m deep into a new season as an artist. What worked before is pretty much done I think. It’s time to grow up and push harder. I’m much more interested in music than in trying to convince people that I am interesting and that they should dig me. Let the music be what it is. That’s my agenda. I want to connect with the songs in front of an audience so that they can feel what I am feeling. This new collection of material is special to me. More so than any of my other albums and I think it merits taking a hard look at my live performance and doing everything I can to make it amazing. Tall order….but I’m swinging for the fences. |
