Sunday
Dec112005
tomorrow is a big day
Sunday, December 11, 2005 at 02:04AM
I just got home from a couple of shows this weekend and wanted to drop in a little post before I go to bed. I played two shows in Kentucky, Friday in Louisville with Caedmon's and Saturday (tonight) in Bowling Green with the AP Christmas tour. Both shows were good, but very different.
Cliff was in town on Thursday for some press stuff for our new record so he rode up with Garett and I in my dad's minivan to Louisville. Jeremy Casella opened, and I thought he did really well. It was a very conservative crowd and he did really well getting them comfortable and into his performance. I just love that guy and am always so glad to see him, and was excited to see him doing so well! It was our last Caedmon's show for quite a while, and we may have a slightly different line-up the next time we play, so we had a good time just being together and playing these songs again before we take a little break. The amps they brought for me were what I always get with backline, a Vox AC30 and a Fender Blues Deville, but they sounded way better than usual, and that's always fun.
Tonight's show with the Christmas tour was good, but not the best. The rest of the band had a long, grueling drive from Pennsylvania so they were pretty tired, and the sound in the room was kind of tough to work with. Still, looking out at the audience at the end I saw so many people with tears streaming down their faces. The first half was a little more low-key and intimate, everybody seemed to play slower, more pensive, tunes. I loved it, though. I played "early in the morning" and "Too Far To Walk" off of Photographs. Andy Gullahorn played some song I'd never heard before that was just incredible. Jill played "Grand Design" again tonight, which is fast becoming one of my favorites of hers. Just a great tune, and they way she and Andy play it live is stellar.
Tomorrow is a big day, though, in a couple of ways. First of all, the Christmas tour is playing the Ryman. It's such a momentous occasion for me to get to perform there, and to get to be playing Andy's songs makes it so powerful. Mindy Smith, Phil Madiera, Randy Goodgame and Pierce Pettis are joining us, as well as a string section featuring Matt Slocum. I will once again this year attempt to not make a fool out of myself in front of him, and once again, I imagine I'll fail.
As big of a deal tomorrow, at least for my family, is Sunday morning when Alison and I are officially joining our church. Some of you may remember me writing (and occasionally sticking my foot in my mouth) about the struggle we've had finding and settling into a church. Let me tell you, we have found such a freedom in just deciding to join and get involved where we felt the Lord calling us. We decided that becoming members meant that we would then start becoming responsible for the church, as opposed to being critical from the outside. Instead of leaving and finding a new church if something happens we don't like, we are in a position to try and affect a positive change.
We attended a class for new members, and we really enjoyed that, learning the history of the church as a whole and ours specifically, as well as its doctrine and organization. It was mostly a refresher, but we really got a lot out of it. This Sunday they're going to announce all of the new members, and I guess we'll stand up front so people see who's joining. I get embarassed by that kind of stuff sometimes, but I'm so excited to stand up and say that my family and I are committing to this body of believers that I'm all right with it.
Well, I feel like I'm about to start rambling bad, and my eyes are trying to shut on me, so I'll be done. I hope to see some of you at both Church and the Ryman tomorrow. I'll write again after the dust of the busy-ness of tomorrow settles...
Cliff was in town on Thursday for some press stuff for our new record so he rode up with Garett and I in my dad's minivan to Louisville. Jeremy Casella opened, and I thought he did really well. It was a very conservative crowd and he did really well getting them comfortable and into his performance. I just love that guy and am always so glad to see him, and was excited to see him doing so well! It was our last Caedmon's show for quite a while, and we may have a slightly different line-up the next time we play, so we had a good time just being together and playing these songs again before we take a little break. The amps they brought for me were what I always get with backline, a Vox AC30 and a Fender Blues Deville, but they sounded way better than usual, and that's always fun.
Tonight's show with the Christmas tour was good, but not the best. The rest of the band had a long, grueling drive from Pennsylvania so they were pretty tired, and the sound in the room was kind of tough to work with. Still, looking out at the audience at the end I saw so many people with tears streaming down their faces. The first half was a little more low-key and intimate, everybody seemed to play slower, more pensive, tunes. I loved it, though. I played "early in the morning" and "Too Far To Walk" off of Photographs. Andy Gullahorn played some song I'd never heard before that was just incredible. Jill played "Grand Design" again tonight, which is fast becoming one of my favorites of hers. Just a great tune, and they way she and Andy play it live is stellar.
Tomorrow is a big day, though, in a couple of ways. First of all, the Christmas tour is playing the Ryman. It's such a momentous occasion for me to get to perform there, and to get to be playing Andy's songs makes it so powerful. Mindy Smith, Phil Madiera, Randy Goodgame and Pierce Pettis are joining us, as well as a string section featuring Matt Slocum. I will once again this year attempt to not make a fool out of myself in front of him, and once again, I imagine I'll fail.
As big of a deal tomorrow, at least for my family, is Sunday morning when Alison and I are officially joining our church. Some of you may remember me writing (and occasionally sticking my foot in my mouth) about the struggle we've had finding and settling into a church. Let me tell you, we have found such a freedom in just deciding to join and get involved where we felt the Lord calling us. We decided that becoming members meant that we would then start becoming responsible for the church, as opposed to being critical from the outside. Instead of leaving and finding a new church if something happens we don't like, we are in a position to try and affect a positive change.
We attended a class for new members, and we really enjoyed that, learning the history of the church as a whole and ours specifically, as well as its doctrine and organization. It was mostly a refresher, but we really got a lot out of it. This Sunday they're going to announce all of the new members, and I guess we'll stand up front so people see who's joining. I get embarassed by that kind of stuff sometimes, but I'm so excited to stand up and say that my family and I are committing to this body of believers that I'm all right with it.
Well, I feel like I'm about to start rambling bad, and my eyes are trying to shut on me, so I'll be done. I hope to see some of you at both Church and the Ryman tomorrow. I'll write again after the dust of the busy-ness of tomorrow settles...
Reader Comments (9)
See you at the show, Andy!
I saw Jeremy Casella last week open for Phil Keaggy. A very enjoyable evening of music.
I found out that Jeremy's wife as well as Aaron Tate and Derek Webb went to my high school. I thought that was pretty cool. Lyle Lovett also went to the same school (only a lot earlier).
I have enjoyed the Lamb of God DVD, I guess that is the closest as I am going to get to seeing the triple Andy threat for awhile.
Hey, this is Seth. Good seeing you again today (Sunday, at the Ryman).
Oh...since you've done the starving artist thing and lived through it, I was wondering if you can point me in the right direction as far as getting an EP recorded. I just need to find someone who will do a good job rather affordably. I know you're busy, I just wanted to know if you could drop a few names my way. I'm still working on getting plugged into this community of musicians at Midtown, and it's not easy since I suck at networking. Just asking you this right now makes me feel lame and stupid.
Hey Andy. I miss you. That's all.
Well, that was an awesome show! I even got a little tear-y eyed at the end. It was good to see you again Andy! I'm love'n "Early in the Morning" more and more each time I hear it.
Very Very disappointed the Christmas show here in Memphis was cancelled. Disappointed because the show was cancelled because of "poor ticket sales." Yet tickets were supposed to be available at the Christian bookstores here and they never received them.
That might exaplin the poor ticket sales. We had 24 people from church lined up to go.
Oh well.
I heard that you and Alison had joined Midtown from the guys in my hotel room. I meant to mention that when I saw you Sunday night, and I didn't. The lesson, as always, is that I'm an idiot.
Nick, I miss you too. Come to Nashville and let me produce your record. Then you won't miss me. That's all.
I was at the show you performed at in Louisville early this month and I loved hearing you and Caedmon's Call, as well as Jeremy C. "High School Band" was the highlight of the whole night- so touching; it was the first time I heard it but not the last because I bought your CD that night! For some reason you remind me of Tom Petty (this is a good thing-- I know your style isn't probably the same at all, but that's what I thought of when I heard you-- I should stop rambling soon.) We have a mutual friend in Stephen Cavness up here in Louisville, as he really enjoys your music like I do! Again, really enjoyed hearing you perform!