Sunday Summary – Music: June 21, 2009

OK, you’ve heard me drone on and on about having something ENGAGING at the top of the service. Sometimes it’s a peppy Opener, or at least a semi-captivating individual doing a welcome. Followed by some great worship featuring some kickin’ tunes. Of course

This week was no exception. To celebrate Father’s Day we did something that we first did at DRIVE, and that we stole from the show “Ellen”.

Yep – Blindfolded Musical Chairs, hosted by the always funny, engaging, and occasionally pleasantly irreverent Clay “Scrog Dog” Scroggins.

We had pre-selected 4 fathers out of the audience – not plants or ringers, just guys that we asked to play about 10 minutes before each service.

The best part were the pictures of funny eyes on the blindfolds!

You can’t NOT laugh. Good times…

WORSHIP:

So once everyone’s had their funny bone tickled, it’s a whole lot easier to sing. It seems like crowds come alive after something in the opening slot has really caught their fancy and helped them let their hair down. That’s another great reason to have something light, fun and engaging right at the top of the service – it actually HELPS worship!

However, Blindfolded Musical Chairs and a video welcome by Andy, streamed from Browns Bridge, ate up a lot of time, so we only did two songs. But every once in a while, that okie dokey.

So we did:

All Because of Jesus

Everything

It was a great mix of energy and passion, old and new. A song that’s getting a little old in the tooth and another that’s caught on over the last couple months. And strong songs for each worship leader – always a plus!

EAST BAND – Mike Gleason, Brad Long, Danny Grady, Scott Meeder, Pat Malone, Jared Hamilton, Ryan Stuart

WEST BAND – Todd Fields, Brad Avery, Brad Gage, Brad Bretz, Chris Arias, Karyn List

So yeah, we had 4 Brads – 1 on East and 3 on West. Next time we’ll shoot for all on one stage

3 Faves I’m Diggin’

Hey kids!

So here are 1 old fave podcast and 2 new other things I’m really diggin’ on right now, and you might too!

#1 – Macbreak Weekly

This is a podcast I’ve listened to for about 2 years, and can’t wait for each weekly episode to come out. It’s hosted by Leo Laporte (anyone remember Tech TV?), and he’s joined by a usual cast of very knowledgeable – and very funny people. And after just one listen, I was enjoying their camaraderie even more than the content they provided!

The content is their review, analysis and projections of Apple technologies (Macs, iPhones, etc.), as well as how they relate to the rest of the industry as a whole. Always good – and entertaining stuff.

#2 – History of Jazz – iTunes U

These are a series of FREE audio downloads (podcast) from iTunes U. The content is a very entertaining and well put together by its presenter, Dr. Gordon Vernick. This is a MUST for any musician, whether you’re familiar with playing jazz or not. It’s always important to know where our music has come and evolved from. It’s almost a Jazz for Dummies, but with some depth.

#3 – Pitchmen

Definitely one of my favorite new shows! You know Billy Mays – the guy who pitches Oxy Clean, Kaboom, Mighty Putty, etc. on TV. Well, he and other famous pitchman Anthony Sullivan have worked together for 20 years, and now Discovery Channel is taking a look behind the scenes of what they do and how they do it. And it’s really interesting! And, like most Discovery “reality” shows like Mythbusters or American Chopper, the entertainment value is really high. I’m really diggin’ it.

Sunday Summary – Music: June 14, 2009

Redneck’s Famous Last Words: “Hey Y’all, watch this!!”

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Yeah kids, it was Bluegrass Sunday at North Point.

And I don’t mean we just added a fiddle to a couple tunes – I mean we went all out Bluegrass on both East and West stages for the Opener and all the worship tunes.

Each side had two acoustic guitars, mandolin, fiddle, scaled down drums, upright bass, and 3 fantastic three-part-harmonyin’ sangurs…

(OK, we had electric bass in East – so only a little cheating…)

Each side opened with an old tune called “The Fox”. It’s a Bluegrass standard, and we copied a version that Nickel Creek did a few years ago.

That song has, without a doubt, WAY too many words in it. But that’s part of what makes it a great, fun tune! Give it a listen on iTunes – see if you could spit those out!

Todd sang it in East, and Mike Hines did it in West, and both dudes did an amazing job!

WORSHIP:

I Saw The Light

- yep, an old tune made famous by Hank Williams, Sr. 130 bpm’s of hoedownin’ joy!

Let God Arise

- put your metronome on 140, play a double-time train beat (boom chug, boom chug, boom chug, boom chug), and flat-pick yer fingers off! Now straighten out the “Let God Arise” lyric leading into the chorus in 3 part harmony and you’ve got a heap load of fun. Add a fiddle and mandolin solo for taste, and you’ve got a recipe to burn the barn down!

Jesus Reigns

We did this one far closer to the original, but obviously substituted instrumentation. So the rhythms and melody were familiar, but it had a sweet twist with some beautiful fiddle and tasty mandolin fills. Think a lovely Alison Krauss tune…

Now was it as deep and spiritual experience as some may have liked? Maybe not. But it accomplished our goal of engaging the audience with something that put a smile on their faces and amazed them musically. It was such a treat to let some of our most accomplished players and singers really let loose – like unbridled stallions!

You will gain an audience’s respect when they are presented with a quality that is beyond their expectations, no matter the genre.

While can’t post video of this past Sunday, there’s an old video floating around YouTube of the old 7:22 band playing “I Saw The Light”, including Todd singing lead and Jason Hoard on mandolin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utMeR7IdLgk

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East Band – Todd Fields, Jason Hoard, Bethany Olds, Ashley Appling, Pat Malone, Danny Grady

West Band – Mike Gleason, Mike Hines, Rachael Gillis, Tim Huffman, Tiffany Watson, Scott Meeder, Steve Florczykowski

West – Check out Tim’s “Uncle Earl” outfit, complete with suspenders and straw cowboy hat

East – Bethany taking a solo…

When Does Creativity Strike?

Today I’m pondering the thought of WHEN DOES CREATIVITY STRIKE?

Meaning, when does it not just kind of happen, but when does it come with a whirlwind of force?

Now I’m certainly no expert, but in analyzing that concept this morning, I think I’ve narrowed it down to 3 specific predictable times or situations. I’m interested to see if any of you feel the same.

#1 – FORCED

With my job or with freelance assignments I’ll accept, the occasion arrises where something (usually a music bed, song track or a soundtrack/score for a video of sorts in my case) needs to be created. There’s usually a goal in mind, such as a desired emotion or an existing video that needs to be enhanced emphasized through music.

So that – at least for me – is actually easier than having a blank canvas. It becomes a task to build off an existing item or desired result. There’s also a DEADLINE that exists, so that, for some reason, seems to get the creative juices flowing. Not to mention that I’ll put in some crazy hours (nights, weekends) to meet that deadline.

There’s also a REFINEMENT in the creative process as you collaborate back and forth with the assignor. You give them a version, they comment, you refine, and that cycle continues until everyone is happy. (That process is a whole ‘nother topic – believe you me!)

So there’s #1 – a reason to do something because someone has put their trust in you and your creative interpretation, and is counting on you to complete the task within a certain timeframe.

#2 – SPONTANEOUS

Every once in a while this happens, at least for me. It’s not planned or forced, but almost happens by accident due to your surroundings. You happen to be alone and sit at the piano or pick up a guitar to work on something else, and before you know it, you’re off to the races in a total different direction.

This happened for me a TON when I was in middle and high school, practicing piano for hours a day. You talk about a situation ripe for musical tangents! But Mom would let me go for a while before reigning in those creative juices. But from that, it nurtured the creative side of music for me, not just the discipline of practicing.

Spontaneous creativity for many musicians also comes when we’re doing music of some kinds with other musicians – especially those we respect and trust creatively. The instantly gratifying exchange of ideas and feeding off each others’ energy is great – not to mention the real-time critique of what’s being created. You might like something a lot, but the look on the rest of the faces will let you know when you’re right – or wrong!

#3 – PLANNED

This is the toughest for me. It’s a whole new discipline that I’m only starting to learn. The other concepts come natural – like a byproduct of my job and hobbies. But the concept of planned creativity without a real deadline is foreign to my nature.

And guilt. That’s another issue I struggle with in this regards. Taking a planned time away from my work or family so that I can attempt to be creative? I’m pretty sure that’s not part of any MBA program or marriage book…

Or maybe it is. One of the things that doing The Artist’s Way helped me realize is that I’m not going to ever be satisfied with me – as a whole person – unless I have a specific outlet for my creative side. And that without that, over time, I’m not going to be nearly the man (and husband and father) that I could be.

So that’s where I am today. Only starting to follow the example set by some great friends and respected colleagues, and set aside disciplined time to create.

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So what about YOU – do any of these match your creative lifestyle?

Is one harder than the others?

Are you presenting yourself opportunities to exercise your creative energy?

Let me know what you think!

Late Night Pizza

Yep, this sign is for real – I saw it in a restroom at Andrews Upstairs in Buckhead.

Read that bottom line very carefully…