For Whom the Lamb Beholds

Show was good last night. Don and Lori came out, brought their little ones. We all played "I'm Still Here" in honor. Whether it was good as a performance, I don't know, but it was fun.

All the shows have been sold out so far. Makes for a crowd that's involved. Always nice.

I played "Hold the Light" last night with Cason and Garett. One from the old band. One from the new. It seems profound but it just felt good.

We're in Houston now. I love a lot of people here, but I don't like this city. I like just about every city but Houston and Dallas. Too many people, too much food and too much money. But I still love my friends here.

Tried to not eat so poorly on the bus last night. Peanut butter and jelly and two and a half hours of Tom Petty. Went to sleep intimidated but inspired.

Had a long drive last night so we awoke still on the road. Dylan, our driver, is from New Orleans. The city that was. It's Dylan like Die-lan, not like Bob. He listens in on our conversations and yells through the curtain when he thinks of something funny. We're all glad to have him along. He fits in well and I hope he's having a good time.

And the time has come for soundcheck. Hope to see some of the Caedmon's gang tonight but everyone is very busy. We'll see.

Songs Last Night:
New Beginning
Hold the Light

Euchre

Every Christmas tour it happens. A game becomes THE game. Everybody plays it most of the time. This time it's threatening to be euchre; a midwestern card game generally dominated by grandmothers. Andy Gullahorn and I have been beating Marcus Myers and Bebo, but tonight we were overthrown in a highly contested 10 to 9 win.

Tomorrow shall be their reckoning.

Last night's songs:
High School Band
There is a Reason

One down, 18 to go

Well, the first show was awesome. A wonderful crowd, completely sold out. I thought we played really well and I just had a great time. Singing some of those lyrics just got me last night. I ended more than a few songs with tears in my eyes.

The people who put the show on gave us so much amazing food. I probably ate eight days worth yesterday. Here's just a tiny portion of the leftovers brought back to the bus that night...



After the show we stayed up way too late in the front lounge watching an amazing new documentary about Tom Petty. It's a four-hour movie and I had to go to sleep at some point in the middle, but I was sad. It was so good. You sort of forget how many amazing songs he wrote that you know every single word to. So fun to watch the simplicity of great rock and roll. You can find the trailer HERE.

All right, I never actually got to take that shower yesterday, so today it's a major goal. Thanks again to everybody who came out last night. So much fun. Can't wait for tonight's show. And thanks for all the suggestions!

Last night's songs:

The Ball Game
Early in the Morning

Don't call it a comeback (I've been here for years)

Well, the Sabbatical (part 1) is over. Â I'm in Elkhorn, Nebraska. Â Tonight we'll play the first of 19 Andrew Peterson Christmas shows. Â We spent the last two days in rehearsal in Nashville, trying to sneak out every time it looked like a lull was looming so we could spend a few more minutes with our families before we left.

It's the leaving that's the hardest part. Â Once you're gone you just deal, but trying to make those last few minutes count is tough. Â The pressure can often overwhelm the time, so you have to fight that and just be.

Lunch was in a gym today and a bunch of us played a basketball game called "Knockout" afterwards.  It is incredibly humbling to be the worst athlete in a group of musicians.  In honor I might have to play "the Ball Game" tonight. Â

Each of the artists gets to play two songs during the first half of the concert. Â I like to change it up, so I've made a list of songs I can play. Â Any suggestions to add to the list are welcomed, though I can't promise anything. Â (You've got to play the tunes that sell the records!) Â I'll post every night and let you know the tunes I played. Â

Well, I'm going to go grab a shower before soundcheck. Â Thanks for all the kind words and wishes during my little time off. Â It was nice to not think about blogging for a while. Â And fairly providential since I couldn't get internet at my parents' place in Illinois. Â (The neighbor put a password on their wireless!)

Oh, and a word of warning. Â If you play Knockout with us this year, Bebo plays dirty.Â

Sabbatical, Part 1

I've been blogging pretty much at least once every other day for almost two and a half years straight. It's been a good time, and I've been able to build up some loyal readers (you) who've really helped me with getting my music out there. And made. And written... But you may have noticed that my posts have been a little less frequent as of late, and maybe lacking a little spark.

Friends, I'm tired.

Between a roller coaster of a Fall season work-wise, two little girls, our community and my marriage, I just don't have any gas left for the blog right now.

So I'm going to take a Sabbatical. Albeit a short one. On November 27 I'll be playing the first of 19 Andrew Peterson Christmas shows (in 20 days). I'll have plenty to talk about and share with you, and some free time to write it in, when that tour hits. But from now until then, I'm going to go dark.

Or at least, I'm not going to feel any pressure to write anything. If something comes up, I'll post it, but I'm not making any promises. I'm going to go ahead and plan on doing this from the end of the Christmas tour until the New Year as well. That'll be Part 2.

I'm looking forward to having some thoughts pile up in the queue and I think not writing for a little while will make me more excited to write again when the time comes. And it might make some of you more excited to read it again.

So here are a couple things I want to mention to tide us all over:

- Tomorrow, Nov 15, Randall Goodgame and I will be playing a show at Montreat College, in Montreat, NC. We would love to see you there. Randall's one of my best friends, and my most frequent collaborator, but we've never done a show together. I really honestly can't wait.

We're also having a "conversation" with students, and whoever else wants to come, at 4:30. We'll be talking about writing, art, friendship, whatever. Be fun to have some of you guys there!

- The Christmas tour starts Nov 27. Special guests this year will be yours truly, Jill Phillips and Andy Gullahorn, Sara Groves and Bebo Norman. You won't want to miss it. You can see all the dates of the tour RIGHT HERE.

- The Caedmon's single, "There is a Reason", which Randall and I wrote, is still climbing radio charts. It's currently at #7 on the main chart, I believe. If you have a station in your area that plays christian music, please call them and ask for the song. You don't have to actually even listen to the station, but some people do and we'd love for them to hear our song.

- Also, dates are being filled currently for the Caedmons' "Overdressed" Tour. It's looking like we'll have about 24 shows. Derek will be opening and I'll have my own set within the show. I'm really excited for the opportunities to both play the new Caedmon's stuff live and to get to share more of my music with folks who might not have heard it before. As time comes I'll be putting some hare-brained schemes up here to help get the word out while I'm on the tour. And I'd love to hear your suggestions.

- The Andy O Rumor Forum is really starting to come into its own. I'll probably show up over there a little bit more in the coming weeks, and I hope you do too. CLICK HERE to visit.

- And lastly, many thanks to those of you who commented on my previous post. I really love that the comments have been both well-written and respectful. I learn so much from these discussions, and I'm still wrapping my head around all that's been said. You make me a better person. Or at least a more informed one. Thanks for giving me the grace to start the conversation with my half-formed opinions.

As Walter said to the Dude: "I myself dabbled in pacifism. Not in 'Nam, of course."

Wise words. Thanks for yours.

All right, that's it for me tonight, and for the next two weeks. Thanks for your following for so long and for your graciousness with this time of rest. Looking forward to seeing a bunch of you on the road here soon. Daily I see more and more how I can't do what I do without you guys. Thanks, thanks and more thanks.

See you soon.

Top Five Things Andy Could Do With His Free Time Now