Mercy Me and Bebo Norman were fantastic!

So, one of my good friends, Coldwell Banker West Shell Realor Greg Tassone, hands me these tickets a few weeks ago. He says, "Jim, I don't know if you know these guys, but they are coming the Underground Zone for a private concert." I about fell over when I saw that it was Mercy Me with Bebo Norman opening!

Fast forward to not knowing if we could even get a baby sitter, and then navigating around the OSU vs Michigan traffic (Go Bucks!), we walked in, and straight to the table to meet the band. What a great bunch of guys. They signed CD's, hung out, left with a copy of "Faith, Family and Friends" and then proceeded to deliver some incredible music.

I could have stood to hear a lot more of Bebo Norman, whose new CD is really, really good. His guitarist was solid and multi-talented, playing acoustic guitar, hammer dulcimer and keyboards. But "Pull Me Out" and his song about empathy for Britney Spears during her meltdown were really stand outs.

And despite having to do some starting and stopping for a presentation by the host ministry, Mercy Me delivered a really full set. Their opener, "Time" from their latest project was just amazing, especially in such a small venue. It was a wall of sound 100 miles thick, that had Tears for Fears, U2 and more all put in a high speed mixer and 10,000 watts!

Bart's voice was absolutely crystal clear and despite the small, reserved corporate crowd, he delivered energy and his passion for worship. Kim and I listened to the CD (autographed of course) all the back. Man, what a great night...makes me want to get out and play...wait a minute...I am playing with First Sunday in the morning and we are doing Mercy Me's "God with Us"!

Watch out for that kickball!

So this was a first for me...Worthington Christian Schools had a meet the teacher night at their Westview campus and the principal Jim Parrish asked me to do some praise and worship music. That was really cool...actually it was bloody hot out on the tarmac, but it is the first time that I have ever had to worry about my gear being hit by a kickball...did Come, Now is the Time to Worship, Open the Eyes of My Heart, Amazing Love and ended with traditional hymn Praise to the Almighty...revised for a solo guitar and singer...great night of meeting other parents, praying for our kids and teachers and music. Life is good.

Congrats Rob and Carol

So I have to tell you that I thought I was done doing weddings a long time ago, but Kim and I made a massive compromise to that when Carol Marie Montgomery (Petke now!) asked us. And man, was it a blast. It was great to get to work with them to create something that felt like them. The prelude included Stephen Curtis Chapman's "Cinderella" and I have to say that I hate to make people cry (like with an out of tune guitar) but this was a good cry! I actually had to hold it together myself since the song hits home. I also got to do Rascall Flatts "Broken Road". Nice song. The service didn't have any music inside of it but we got to rock and roll a bit on their recessional - her singluar request was "How Sweet It Is to be Loved by You" and with Kim on the piano, Brandon hustling over out of the wedding party to play lead guitar (on a killer mid 60's Gibson ES 335!), Jonathan Prenosil on bass and Aaron White on drums, we had a blast playing them out of the sanctuary. So that was probably a first for Linworth Baptist Church having a James Taylor song performed and blues guitar solo! Thanks and congrats again Rob and Carol.

2,300 views?

OK...so I don't know 2,300 people but the "Acadia Drive" video on YouTube from last year's Espresso Yourself concert just blew past that number...so thanks to whomever might be watching! Interesting thing going on in real music world...real artist taking over their real music and actually getting to control it. What a novel idea...so plans for the summer are playing with the First Sunday Band at Linworth, doing some wedding music for a friend, and working on new material. I know that sounds cliche, but I really am! I think the band will be getting back to doing a family and friends show this fall...maybe the new music will be ready by then too. Anyway, thank you!

Man! Lots going on...

So I got a new electric guitar...well, new to me anyway. It is a 1984 Yamaha SC300T. Really cool guitar that I always had my eye on in the 80's. Found it on Ebay and couldn't resist...got a great price on it and it required very little freshening...just took it apart, cleaned it, restrung it, and started playing it. I am blessed with great friends too...the guitarist in my band, Brandon Montgomery had been using my old Peavey Bandit 65 (more vintage 80's gear). It had developed some bad habits but through some electronic magic from Marc Guiett at Linworth Baptist, it screams as good as new now. Plus Brandon, built a distortion pedal for me...yes, built one. My Fishman Loudbox amp that I use to play out, was designed for acoustic playing so it does not have overdrive built in, but with this pedal I won't have to haul two amps...very cool...so stay tuned for some new live music this fall...no doubt with the new electric.

That was fun...

God has blessed me with some great musical experiences, but I have to say that this Sunday might have been a cake topper for me...while it was a humble little experience, I think that is what made it so great...

As the Lord would work it out, the regular band that plays this month's time slot was out of town and I got the late, pinch-hitting request to fill in...but I wanted to make it special and not just throw something together. I am always troubled when confronted with people who accept "good enough" too easily...so for this little set, I dusted off some old tunes and religious standards.

"Victory in Jesus", "I'll Fly Away", "How Great Thou Art." And I was going to play them without my guys in the band, and do a solo acoustic thing.

The main reason for Victory in Jesus was that it is the favorite song of one of our ailing saints, Fowler Hopkins who is wrestling cancer. I was not sure if he was going to be in church or not, but it didn't really matter since I wanted to do it either way.

Well after dedicating the song to Hoppy, one of the ushers, Don Sutton, ran and dialed up Hoppy on the lobby phone and held it up so he could hear it. Good thing I did not know that since it would have busted me up...anyway the set went really well...the spirit was there for sure. Don told me afterward and it really warmed my heart.

When I got home Hoppy had left a voicemail message for me thanking me and that it really lifted his spirits. And that is one of my life's greatest musical rewards. Godspeed Hoppy and you are already victorious.

Billy Joel at Nationwide Arena

Could one artist really have that many hits? What an amazing show last evening, April 20, 2008, in Columbus, Ohio, at the Nationwide Arena, home to the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets. I've followed his career almost all of my life since he represents in my mind what an artist really is...singer, songwriter, plays an instrument. I've already made some mention of Dan Fogelberg before, but this is a long list of artists that have stood the test of time and I believe it is for the above mentioned reasons! Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Gordon Lightfoot, bands like The Eagles...probably could not get a record deal today with this Miss America approach to searching out talent...but before I go off on that tirate, back to Billy at The Wide!

I'll put as complete of a set list as I can remember at the bottom of this but what a treat to hear "Prelude/Angry Young Man" to open the show! You stepped into a time machine and it was the 1970's! He just kept banging out the hits and the obscure album tracks for over two hours with no intermissions, and a few surprises like have "Chainsaw" the guitar tech come on stage and scream out AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" and inserting "Hang on Sloopy" in the middle of "River of Souls."

The band was pretty straight forward as well. Of course Billy on piano, or as he introduced himself, Billy's Dad due to the gray and lack of hair, lead guitar, keyboards/synth, percussionionist who did vocals and some woodwinds, a dedicated woodwinds/brass player, bass and set drums. Really simple set up but tight, tight, tight.

For me the highlights were "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant", his closer "Piano Man", "My Life" and "You May Be Right". His voice stayed strong all night, and I forgot just how much of a rebel this guy was and still is! He thumbed his nose at a lot of establishments in his day, but did it in such an intelligent and entertaining way that I am not sure everyone noticed!

Well here are some of the songs I can remember, and no they are not in order!

Prelude/Angry Young Man
The Entertainer
Innocent Man
You May Be Right
Movin' Out/Anthony's Song
Allentown
Just the Way You Are
Only the Good Die Young
Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
River of Dreams
New York State of Mind
It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
She's Always a Woman
Matter of Trust
Summer, Highland Falls
We Didn't Start the Fire
Zanzibar
Don't Ask Me Why

More on Fogelberg

So I was reading on some Dan Fogelberg tribute sites that PBS was going to re-air some of his Soundstage gig. I went trolling and found it, hit the DVR and finally got to see it...amazing stuff. His concert was from 2004ish and it was immediately prior to getting his diagnosis.

Opened with Part of the Plan, did some new stuff, lots of greatest hits and the band was really amazing...and I heard Power of Gold with new ears...I got the idea of introducing it to the band...the message is so right on that it qualifies as "spiritual" in a lot of ways...either way, I really was impressed with his arrangement.

His right hand is practically a metronome! What a great sense of timing he has. One of other thing that struck me was his reverance to Leader of the Band which was of course written for his Dad. But he said that out of all of the songs he has written, if he had only been permitted to write one, that would be it....

You are missed, Dan...RIP and I hope we get to jam someday on the other side.

I miss Dan Fogelberg

It has been a few weeks and I am still not used to the fact that Dan Fogelberg has passed away. I never met the man, but the void is real and significant in a lot of ways. He taught me how to play guitar. Showed me how to write a song. Made me think about music in different ways.



Maybe it sounds a bit dramatic, but Dan Fogelberg respected music on so many levels that were only rarely recognized by mainstream pop music. Sure, he sold a few million "hits" with Leader of the Band, Longer, Power of Gold, Language of Love, Run for the Roses and on and on the list goes. But he penned songs that were better than these that never saw airplay. And quietly took stages in front of adoring fans worldwide who understood what they were witnessing was a man that had a channel to another world that few of would have ever gotten to hear if it were not for him.



I read once that Longer visited him and decided that he would make a good home for it...amazing songwriter on so many levels...I guess I was a nerd...when I was 12 years old, my contemporaries were listening to the hits of 1980 like REO Speedwagon and Journey...fine bands but I just didn't feel any depth there. I could pick up my guitar and play along with it instantly...even keep up with most of the electric solos. Fun but not nourishing. Then I wandered into my older brother Jeff's room and he was listening to Dan Fogelberg's Phoenix album...



What's this I thought? I don't understand what I am hearing...mysterious but recognizable instruments. Thoughtful lyrics that I had to read along with to vist the author's mood. From the opening instrumental to the pounding open tunings of Phoenix I was hooked...I couldn't learn it fast enough and even when I thought I did, I discovered a capo, open tuning, finger style that stumped me all over again.



The dive that I took into his music in 1980 at 12/13 lasts to today...I am still feel a sense of accomplishment when I get a little glimpse into how one of his songs is constructed. He has inspired almost every song that I have written...and I guess that is a little piece of why I miss someone that I have never even met. Because in a strange way, we did meet. Time and time again. I think we'll meet again and again in his recordings, in my writing and hopefully we know the same maker so I can finally ask him about some of those awesome and tasty chords that I never have figured out. Farewell Dan. I miss you.