Tuesday
Dec042007
on the way to Sadie's party
Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 01:27PM
Last night's show in Austin might have been the best yet. The audience was great and I felt the performances were particularly inspired. Maybe it's because we were looking forward to getting home today for our one day off in the midst of the tour.
Jeff Miller, our bass player in Caedmon's, lives in Austin and last minute he sat in with me, Cason and Garett on "Hold the Light". It felt pretty great and he did an awesome job. Bass is one of those instruments you can easily not notice, but when you're playing a song that all of a sudden has it, you realize how much more freedom everybody has to be melodic because that part of the chord is being voiced. All that to say, Jeff rules, as do Cason and Garett, and it was really fun to play that with them last night. Makes me look forward to the Spring Caedmon's tour when we'll do that song fully realized. The forecast shows some long guitar solos.
Today is Sadie's birthday, she's a year old now, I can't believe it. We'll have a little party but mostly just hang out as a family. We're maybe 100 miles out right now, and I'm a bit antsy to just get there.
So my attempt to make Euchre the official tour game seems to have been overturned by Sara's suggestion that we join her in a game of Speed Scrabble. I'm not too beat up about it, though, cause Speed Scrabble rules. And I'm pretty good (to toot my own horn).
So I've been thinking that maybe some of you don't know exactly how the Christmas show works, so I want to tell you about it. The show is in two halves. Andy P starts off with a song of his own then brings out the other artists, who are Bebo Norman, Sara Groves, Jill Phillips, Andy Gullahorn and myself. We do two rounds of songs, meaning everybody plays one, then goes around and plays another. People get up and sing on each other's tunes and it's a good time.
Then Bebo talks about Compassion International, which is an amazing organization if you've never looked into it, while the rest of us sneak backstage to play Speed Scrabble. Then we take an intermission, hopefully some kids are sponsored and we sell some cd's, and then we come back out to perform Andrew's Christmas record in its entirety, from start to finish, no stops. It's a pretty amazing work of art and it's an honor to get to be a part of it every year.
I was sitting on stage last night looking at yet another sold-out crowd and thinking, "What a great guy. Most artists who get this many people to a show bring out some new artist that pays to be on the tour, instead Andy brings out his friends and lets them all play and sell records, cutting into what he'll sell." It really is incredible of Andrew, but I think it's what makes the show so inspiring. It's such an obviously different kind of show than you'll see anywhere else. It is a real honor to be a part of it.
Anyway, there's that. I'm going to publish this and look out the window for a bit, watching Nashville grow ever closer.
Last Night's Songs:
Swing Wide the Glimmering Gates
Hold the Light
Jeff Miller, our bass player in Caedmon's, lives in Austin and last minute he sat in with me, Cason and Garett on "Hold the Light". It felt pretty great and he did an awesome job. Bass is one of those instruments you can easily not notice, but when you're playing a song that all of a sudden has it, you realize how much more freedom everybody has to be melodic because that part of the chord is being voiced. All that to say, Jeff rules, as do Cason and Garett, and it was really fun to play that with them last night. Makes me look forward to the Spring Caedmon's tour when we'll do that song fully realized. The forecast shows some long guitar solos.
Today is Sadie's birthday, she's a year old now, I can't believe it. We'll have a little party but mostly just hang out as a family. We're maybe 100 miles out right now, and I'm a bit antsy to just get there.
So my attempt to make Euchre the official tour game seems to have been overturned by Sara's suggestion that we join her in a game of Speed Scrabble. I'm not too beat up about it, though, cause Speed Scrabble rules. And I'm pretty good (to toot my own horn).
So I've been thinking that maybe some of you don't know exactly how the Christmas show works, so I want to tell you about it. The show is in two halves. Andy P starts off with a song of his own then brings out the other artists, who are Bebo Norman, Sara Groves, Jill Phillips, Andy Gullahorn and myself. We do two rounds of songs, meaning everybody plays one, then goes around and plays another. People get up and sing on each other's tunes and it's a good time.
Then Bebo talks about Compassion International, which is an amazing organization if you've never looked into it, while the rest of us sneak backstage to play Speed Scrabble. Then we take an intermission, hopefully some kids are sponsored and we sell some cd's, and then we come back out to perform Andrew's Christmas record in its entirety, from start to finish, no stops. It's a pretty amazing work of art and it's an honor to get to be a part of it every year.
I was sitting on stage last night looking at yet another sold-out crowd and thinking, "What a great guy. Most artists who get this many people to a show bring out some new artist that pays to be on the tour, instead Andy brings out his friends and lets them all play and sell records, cutting into what he'll sell." It really is incredible of Andrew, but I think it's what makes the show so inspiring. It's such an obviously different kind of show than you'll see anywhere else. It is a real honor to be a part of it.
Anyway, there's that. I'm going to publish this and look out the window for a bit, watching Nashville grow ever closer.
Last Night's Songs:
Swing Wide the Glimmering Gates
Hold the Light
Reader Comments (15)
Well deserved day off Andrew O. thanks so much for all the effort you guys put out on stage in Sugar Land. Anyway, you guys were awesome.
Here are some pictures I took from that concert - some a bit fuzzy as I didn't want to distract you guys with a flash.
[url]http://picasaweb.google.com/jim.d.andrews/BtLOGConcertSugarLand?authkey=LI6jL-dTmgs[/url]
I was in your show last night, about 5 rows in front of you. I'll keep it short and just say it was the best. show. ever. On the way home, we lamented how many Christmas shows we'd been to that told a story of shepherds and wisemen, but didn't build up to the phenomenal event that is the birth and how that whole story of redemption is woven throughout the Bible.
Thank you very much for your spirit of worship and for sharing your gifts.
A new fan,
jeremy
Hey Andy, It’s Katy, Chris Merritt’s wife. Just wanted to say that we loved meeting you and watching the show in Dallas. I’m glad you took the time to explain the Christmas tour. It really was such a different experience than any other show I’ve attended. There’s a candor in each of the performances that you don’t find many other places, the (whole) story of Jesus hits home in a new way, and the musicianship is just amazing. I want to write something (on the blog) about the community between the artists, how there’s something compelling about witnessing you guys working together (and sacrificing some of what you might generate on individual tours) to create something beautiful and how that lines up with what my friends and I have been saying lately about following Jesus and (somewhat) inadvertently bringing about lasting change. But I haven’t had the time to put my thoughts together yet. Anyway, if any of you blog readers get a chance to catch this show, don’t miss it.
And you’re so right about the bass. Its ability to be simultaneously subtle and powerful surprises me every time. “Hold the Light� is gorgeous too, an emotive force both musically and lyrically.
And Happy Birthday, Sadie! We prayed your daddy would make it home in time for your party!
I just wanted to say thanks for a great show last night in Austin Andy! I especially enjoyed your moving rendition of "Swing Wide the Glimmering Gates" and my friend Andrea enjoyed it even more because she wanted you to play it but she thought you wouldn't. I hope you and yours are safe and blessed and that you get to Nashville super soon! I hope Sadie has a great birthday!
In Christ,
Tom Bubb
p.s. I was the one wearing the "I like Andy T-shirt" last night.
Are Derek and Sandra on the Christmas tour this year?
No Bebo Norman and Sara Groves are on the tour instead of Derek and Sandra this year.
Just wanted to add my thanks for the fantastic show last night in Austin! It was my first time to see Behold the Lamb of God in person, and it was really a wonderful experience from start to finish. God bless you and everyone else on the tour!
I think Derek and Sandra will be at the Nashville show.
I'm looking forward to it and will be hitting the road from Jersey to see it as well as Saturdays show in CT. It sound like an incredible evening. Keep up the good work!
I will be at the Milford, OH (near Cincy) show and I have never seen it before. I am really excited about it. Last time I saw Andy in concert was in Dayton with Caedmon's before he was an official member (circa 2003). Can't wait!
I went to the Austin show and have never enjoyed a concert more in my life! (And that includes my own brother's concerts!) Thanks for your honesty about your faith and your willingness to share your gifts. You guys rock!
will derek and sandra really be at the nashville show???
Quite the complement from Shaun Groves today. Also excited to see you listed as alongside David Gray as an influence of Jeremy Casella's music at Christianity Today!
I just hope that you didn't think I was ducking you last night in Huntsville, 'cause I'm like 700 miles from home right now. I'll see ya Monday, though.
So as Bebo comes up to speak about Compassion International and you all leave the stage should we start chanting "Speed Scrabble, speed scrabble, speed scrabble?" At least this way you would know how many people in the audience have read your blog posts:-) Can't wait to attend the final show of the tour in Jacksonville, FL. Safe travels.
hi andy! i am the promoter for the SOLD OUT tampa show on the 14th. we can't wait to see you all and have you at our church. we are praying for you and looking forward to this friday. oh...and euchre IS official game at the henley household!!!!