Glow In The Dark.

Hung out with former Smalltown Poets drummer/producer Matt Goldman today at Glow In The Dark Studios in Atlanta.  Matt has worked with a million bands, including Atlanta artists like Third Day, Casting Crowns, and - of course - the Poets.  Some of his best work, IMHO, is with one my favorite bands, Copeland.  As usual, our whole time together was spent telling stories and talking about heady stuff like politics and religion.  The renovated studio is rumored to be where The Police recorded their first album.  Who knows? 

Back in the USA.

I’m back from China.  I’m tired, and I’m sick, so this will be a quick post.  But we had an amazing time with our friends over there.  Thanks to Michael Johnston for the previous post.  I’d encourage everyone to check out the post itself and the Awake My Soul documentary and CD.  Below are more pics from my trip.  Sorry a couple are blurry…

#376

No, it’s not the number of blog posts. Not a house number and not my ticket number at El Torero. Got it yet? Here’s a hint - B.F. White, 18th century. Don’t worry, three years ago I would not have known the answer.

My friend Matt Hinton reintroduced me to Sacred Harp music while he was filming the first ever documentary of America’s oldest original music - Awake My Soul. My mother sang Sacred Harp or “Shape Note” music as a child and teenager and I grew up in a small church in South Georgia so I had heard the Fa Sol La Mi but had never actually been to a singing.

Matt is working on the final touches of a companion cd to the film which contains reinterpretations of traditional Sacred Harp or songs inspired by this style of composing and singing. I was asked to come in and sing a harmony to Mac Powell’s version of #376 - Help Me To Sing. We recorded monday might at Matt Goldman’s studio (Glow In The Dark Studios). I had alot of fun learning the song and think Mac made a great choice with this song. Here’s a challenge to Danny to figure out why it was fitting that I was asked to sing on this particular hymn. Hint: search the words.

From the other side of the world….

Nothing new; just some reminders of some upcoming events.  One correction to the video.  When I mentioned groceries, I should’ve said 80,000 pounds.  That’s some serious grub.  Take a gander.

 

Internet…finally!

I’m in China.  This is my third day here, and I’ve finally had a chance to get online.  I have to make the most of my time, so I’ll be brief, which I should probably do a better job of all the time, actually.  

 

This is completely unrelated to my trip, but please go to http://www.ugclocal.com/wvfj/25136019.html and show 2nd Wave some love.  They’ve entered a contest held by J93.3, but I think they’re going to be disqualified because they’re too young.  

 

I know this is not my strongest post.  I’m still jetlagged!  More later.

P is for Panda

So my buddy Chad and his wife Candy moved to Atlanta not long ago from the West Coast.  Chad was co-founder of The Militia Group, which brought the world such bands as Copeland (one of my faves) and Atlanta’s Cartel.

 

Chad recently started a merchandise company called P is for Panda.  And now that company is adding to its arsenal, you guessed it, a record label.  Chad has a way of finding cool, new talent, so this new label should be pretty darn cool.  Love it when he gives me stuff to listen to.   So, attend Pandamonium Number One at the Highland Inn.  July 25th at 7pm.

 

Rumor has it (update)

A friend of mine who works with Louie Giglio at Passion told me today that the rumor about “a local expression of Passion in the form of a church,” as she put it, is true.  In fact, Louie talks about “planting an expression of [God’s] Church” in Atlanta in his podcast.  (Click the iTunes button below.)  This installment is appropriately titled, “The answer is yes.”  He gets into the topic about 30min,30sec in.  Exciting stuff.

  

A good day.

Today has been a good day.  Been hanging out in the studio, blogging while listening to Brad Fisher mix a band called Public Radio.  

 

Dan Hannon ran a song idea by us that he’s been working on with Aaron Shust.  And now the one and only Rudy Vaughn (check out the 1ATL player at right) is working with us on some songs in preparation of his upcoming project.  

 

Nothing earth-shattering to report.  Just a good day.  How was your day? 

 

The Sound and the Jury

For the second year in a row, Austin City Limits Festival (ACL Fest) is hosting an online band competition called the “Sound and the Jury.”  Presented by Dell Lounge, the Sound and the Jury contest gives emerging bands the opportunity to generate national exposure, compete for great prizes and launch a career by performing on the Dell Stage at the 2008 Austin City Limits Festival.  

 

Last year the Athens, Georgia-based band Blue Flashing Light entered the competition, made it to the Top 5, and headed to Austin, Texas for the finals.  The winner, however, was the band in the video below, Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys.

 

Contest information may be found at www.delllounge.com/soundandjury. Anyone got any Atlanta bands in mind that should give it a shot?  

 

Is Brad Delp rolling over in his grave?

Boston and Styx will be playing the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Alpharetta on August 17th.  I was shocked to read that Stryper frontman Michael Sweet is now singing with Boston.  Not sure if he’s on every date with them, as there’s another vocalist touring with them as well.

 

I was a Stryper fan in high school.  Saw them at the Atlanta Civic Center in ‘88(ish), among other venues.  But I’d have never thought of him as being a good fit.  Judge for yourself.

 

Any opinions on this?  And will anyone else admit to being a Stryper fan back in the day?

 

 

Thank this guy.

We Americans have guys like Frank Buckles to thank for our freedom.  He’s the last living American who is a World War 1 veteran.  Yes, I said 1, not 2.  

 

How amazing is that?  He’s 107.   Read all about it.

 

Happy 4th of July!  Thank a veteran.

 

Look familiar?

I’ve been doing music professionally all my adult life.  But there are seasons where it seems I spend more time in meetings than actually making music.  We’re having lots of meetings right now about some cool opportunites for ONE Atlanta (I’ll keep you posted).  Meetings can yield great ideas and results.  But we musicians generally have short attention spans, so meetings can be a grind.  Anyone out there, no matter what line of work you’re in, feel like you spend more time meeting about “doing” than actually “doing?”  

Convoy of Hope.

Our friends at Safehouse Outreach are hosting the Convoy of Hope event August 9th in the World Congress Center parking lot.  Safehouse needs 3000 volunteers to help pass out groceries, among other things.  Click here for contact info if you’d like to volunteer or just to find out more.  We will be there!  Will you?

Thank you, Jamie Pierce.

Our Tats For Tots party was a success.  I’ll let the video explain.  There are so many more people who want tats that we’re already planning another such party to benefit a different cause we believe in.  I’ll keep you posted.   Thanks to the raddest and baddest tat artist, Jamie Pierce.  

 

Btw, the musical underscore is an old Moxie Davis song I found that was never released.  I like it.

4 Things You Could Do This Weekend

Friday: Evan McHugh’s Show at Eddie’s Attic

 

Saturday: Tats for Tots party at my house to raise money for our trip to East Asia next month.  (Our team will be doing volunteer work in orphanages and children’s camps over there.)  Professional tattoo artist Jamie Pierce will be doing the honors and will give half his fees toward the trip.  There are only a few slots left; please contact us here to get a slot and directions.  Also, anyone is welcome just to come and hang out.  We’ll be going from noon to 11pm and will have refreshments.  Want to sign up for a tat?  

 

Saturday: Meghan Coffee opening for Edwin McCain at Chastain Park.  If Meghan brings it like she did last week at her album release concert (and she will), then this show will be amazing; great venue, too!  

 

Sunday: Browns Bridge Community Church in Cumming.  My Summer Vacation is the name of the new series beginning at BBCC.  I’ll be tinkling the ivories, so come see me.

Rumor has it…

I’ve been holding off on blogging about this for weeks in hopes of some official announcement.  But it’s already all over the net, so I’d love to get your thoughts.   Click here for the word on the street.  

 

If Louie Giglio/Passion is indeed involved in the alleged venture, I’m willing to bet that it will be intense, well-attended, and extremely well done.  If it’s true, will you be going to check it out?

Musicians gotta eat.

I know this is a music blog, but check this out.  Had lunch today with Dan Hannon and vocal coach to the stars Jan Smith.  We grabbed food at a decent restaurant that’s part of a big chain, after which I realized we were very near an El Torero (the best Mexican food in the ATL, IMHO).  Ouch.

 

Then, there was this article into today’s Atlanta Journal Constitution about an amazing, decades old restaurant that I used to frequent when I lived on the other side of town: Matthews in downtown Tucker.  

 

Another AJC article today tells of the passing today of longtime Varsity counterman, Erby Walker, who coined much of the Varsity lingo Atlantans know and love.

 

So, here are my Top 10 Atlanta-area restaurants, in no particular order (large chains excluded).  (I know I’m leaving out Mary Mac’s.  And the Majestic.  Somehow, I’ve never eaten at either!)

 

1. The Varsity (the original on North Ave)

 

2. El Torero (5 of them)

 

3. Matthews Cafeteria, Tucker

 

4. The Flying Biscuit Cafe (6 of them)

 

5. Einsteins, Midtown

 

6. Waffle House (It all started in the ATL so it counts.)

 

7. The Old Post Office Country Buffet, Stone Mountain

 

8. Buckhead Diner

 

9. Kurt’s, Duluth GA

 

10. Ippolito’s (6 of them)

 

Do you agree?  What would you change?

 

 

 

On this day…and some Atlanta trivia.

On this day in 1945, Paul Goddard, bassist for Atlanta Rhythm Section, came into this world.  But did you know that Goddard and others from ARS also, at one time, were in Mylon LeFevre’s band?  I was a big Mylon fan as a teen.

 

You want more? One of Mylon’s signature songs was Trains Up In The Sky (link to video), written by Jerome Olds.  Jerome’s three sons are in the Atlanta band Family Force 5.

 

You want more?  Mylon is father-in-law to Peter Furler, who fronts the Newsboys.  Many of you will remember that they, too, were an Atlanta band for a few years upon their arrival in the States from Australia.

 

You want more?  Atlanta’s Tim Huffman of iVideosongs, buddy to me and many of you, was also in Mylon’s band for a time.  I think that’s him in the picture below, on the far right.  Can anyone confirm?

 

Anyone have anymore degrees of Kevin Bacon?  I’m tired.

 

 

Today at BC.

Today was a long day, but a good day, at Buckhead Church.  Carlos led well.  Rachel sang like a bird.  I didn’t knock over any computers.  I saw too many of you guys to name.  Thanks to Carlos for the pics!  (Better, Adam?) 

 

Get Funky on the 4th.

 

ONE Atlanta Music is a sponsor for Instituto CanZion’s Funky 4th of July Event.  It features Seth Condrey, among others.  (To hear Seth, use the 1ATL player at right.)  Should be a great event.  Check it out.

Pasted.

48 hours til Meghan Coffee’s album release at Smith’s.  Yes, I’ve blogged about it already.  But, hey, I’m a fan.  Scroll down 2 entries for info ad nauseam.  Also, you can click here for her new site.

Meanwhile, today she shared a few songs with the staff at Paste Magazine.  If you read Paste, let us hear from you.  Tell us why.

Here’s what I’m missing…

…by not being at Bigstuf Camp. Every summer, many of my friends head off to Panama City Florida for several weeks to play for this thing. It appears they’re having a blast. Return safely, guys, and have a ridiculous summer.

Mad props (does anyone say that anymore?) to the first person who can name everyone in the picture.

Another season, another reason for Meghan Coffee.

Apologies to those who don’t “get” that title.  Anyway, Meghan’s CD release show is a week from tonight at Smith’s.  Says Meg, “ I can’t wait.  It’s going to be great.  Really.  I really, really can’t wait. Please click this link to watch a little video I made announcing a free mp3 download deal I am offering as an incentive to buy your tickets now instead of at the door.” (You must be logged into Facebook).  Click here for tickets.

 

Another cool thing is that Meghan has been doing house concerts, her most recent one being at her friends’ the Siebers this past Saturday.   To host one yourself, make an inquiry here which we will pass along to her manager Melissa.  

 

Finally, here’s a sneak peek at one of the background videos that were created for the upcoming show.  This is very cool.  It was created by my new friend Joe Wiggleston.  He’s for real.

 

Holla here if you’re going to the show.

 

 

The Write Stuff.

With Third Day being on the cover of the latest Billboard, it got me thinking about a song I wrote with Mac Powell of 3D and with Michael Johnston of Smalltown Poets.  Yes, I’m namedropping.  Seriously, though, I loved the song idea.  We were writing it for a particular compilation about the 23rd Psalm, as I recall.  But it got beat out by a DC Talk song.  An mp3 sample is below.  Hope you like it.  If not, act like you do, to make me feel good.

 

You’ll hear Michael on the verse, Mac on the chorus, and me on piano.

 

Songwriting Demo Clip

 

The Lighthouse.

Tonight I sat with a “small group” of friends as my buddy Casey (2nd from left in the 1ATL header above) shared about his trip last week to the Lighthouse Family Retreat, where he and his wife Anisa served families of children with cancer.  Here are his own words on the subject, from an email last week.   “We are at Seaside for the Lighhouse retreat…and by the way…IT’S  UNBELIEVABLE!!!  Baptized a 14 year old boy this morning with terminal cancer…Gave his heart to Jesus!”  A pic of that moment is included below.  Not much I can add to that, folks.  There were some teary eyes in the house tonight.  What a powerful thing Lighthouse is doing.

 

Speaking of Casey Darnell, his new record Words In Motion is out, and I recommend it.  You can buy or sample it here.  

Cover boys.

From a Gospel Music Association email update I just received…

 

Atlanta’s Third Day graces the cover of the June 7 edition of Billboard magazine, marking the first time since the trade publication’s redesign in 2005 that a Christian band has been featured on the cover. Billboard, largely considered the “bible of the music industry,” is read weekly by more than 50,000 people including music industry gatekeepers and music fans, world wide, according to a press release.

 

Besides the cover, there’s also a four-page feature, titled “Third Day Keeps The Faith.” Written by GMA Board of Directors member Deborah Evans Price, the feature details the band’s history, their commitment to their fans and faith, and the writing and recording process for Revelation, their 10th studio project which is scheduled to be released on Essential Records on July 29.

 

In support of Revelation, Third Day will hit the road for a series of summer festival appearances and then will join Jars of Clay, Robert Randolph & The Family Band and Switchfoot for the “Music Builds Tour.” The tour, which kicks off in Detroit on Aug. 23 and is scheduled to hit 23 markets, also will benefit a good cause as a portion of the proceeds will be given to Habitat For Humanity.  Click here for more information on the tour.

Summerfest.

 

Hey, Atlanta.  Our friends, The Beggars’ Guild will appear this Saturday, June 7th, at the Virginia Highlands Summerfest from 12:30- 1:30 PM. Says drummer Jon Chalden, “Summerfest is the best neighborhood festival Atlanta has to offer with a great lineup of free music, an amazing array of artists in the Market, plus food galore.”

The music stage is at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Greencove, right in the middle of the festival. There’s reportedly a great lineup of bands on both Saturday and Sunday. For all you need to know, click here.  Says Chalden, “Please say hi if you do make it!!”

 

JAMM on.

by Jamie “JAMM” Portee

Hello all! It’s me (JAMM), your new favorite artist (LOL) and I absolutely LOVE feel good music. Here it is 2008, and nothing soothes you (me) better than the lows of Nat, the grit of Ray, and the highs of Stevie. So here’s my attempt to join them and give you some good ole FEEL good music. Here’s a peek of what I’m cooking up. STAY TUNED…

JAMM audio sample 1

JAMM audio sample 2

 

 

 

The man, the legend…the urban legend.

Phil Keaggy is coming to town in a few weeks.  I know many of you guitarists were influenced by Phil, even though he has fewer fingers than most of you (9).  Phil is also the subject of a popular urban legend.  Read the legend here.  

 

Who among you count Keaggy as an influence?  Who out there has heard the urban legend?  (I have for the last 20 years.)  Who believed it?  (I once did.)

The 20 second version of rehearsal

Here’s tonight’s 3 hour 2nd Wave rehearsal in about 20 seconds.  This video was created with Gawker, which is loads of fun.

For aspiring songwriters…

Atlanta’s Mark Lee (of Third Day) & Country Music Recording Artist Bryan White will lead the Kalein Songwriting Retreat & Master Class June 9 & 10, 2008 at beautiful Round Cove.

 

Auditions are now being accepted for only six songwriters.  Apply Now!  Time is limited.  

 

This retreat is the brainchild of my buddy Randy Elrod, and he never does anything halfway.  I’m sure this will be a great experience for you up-and-coming songwriters.  Check it out here.

 

Better late than never(?)

Wish I’d posted this sooner.  If you like Atlanta’s own Evan McHugh’s music (and I do), go see the show Friday night.  And tell us about it here. Or just tell us what you think of his music.  I hear Matthew Perryman Jones is no slouch either.

Manchester in studio.

by Dan Hannon

Last week was CRAZY!!! We’re still wrapping up The Enemy Lovers’ mixes and started recording the new Manchester Orchestra EP.  The EP (as I understand it) will be released along with the DVD this fall.  As expected, the new material is amazing.  The band has experienced so much positive growth since we recorded their debut LP almost 2 years ago. The candle was burned from both ends throughout last week because we are not only trying to record 4 new songs, but we are enjoying the chance to get this much time together since they hit the road over a year ago.  I feel EXTREMELY privileged to be working with the band again, because with big record label deals, come big label opportunities.  So, to be hired among so many other options (insert any BIG NAME producer here) is an incredible demonstration of loyalty and trust–musically speaking. Thanks to Andy, Jeremiah, Chris, Jay, and Robert.    

The land of the Fee.

Fee played at Buckhead Church today, and I played keys for them.  Love those guys.  Love ‘em. Nothing profound to share other than that; I had a blast.

 

Oh, their single, All Because of Jesus, is the number one Christian song in the country this week, for the second week in a row.  Cool.

Visit The Museum.

 

I keep having friends I respect telling me to go see this band, The Museum.  I have a gig Saturday night, so I can’t be there.  And they’re on the road so much that they don’t play locally too often, it seems.  From what I hear, you should avail yourselves of the opportunity.  I have a proxy attending the concert and reporting back.  (Btw, word has it they actually go on at 7:30.)

 

Anyone out there seen them in concert?

Visiting Safehouse

     Tonight’s visit to Safehouse Outreach in downtown Atlanta will not be our last.  My Iphone took blurrier pics than usual, but take a look anyway.  We took a group of about a dozen people including  Joni “INOJ” Portee, some Second Wave members and parents (including my wife and son and the Woffords) and other friends (like Adam, Bill, Will, and Nancy).  Also ran into (recent Dove winner) Seth Condrey there.

     We first walked into a worship service geared towards Atlanta’s homeless.  The band 1-A-Chord was playing and they were ridiculous - tight vocals and nasty funk; these guys were for real and were great to hang out with as well.  Then we took the Safehouse tour and learned about opportunities to serve, in ways both musical and non-musical.  One of these ways is the Convoy of Hope event August 9th in the World Congress Center parking lot.  Safehouse needs 3000 volunteers to help pass out groceries, among other things.  We will be there!  Will you?

 

Congrats.

Our buddy Jon Chalden (2nd from right) of  Atlanta’s own The Beggar’s Guild married his lady friend, Shannon, yesterday in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida.  ONE Atlanta’s own Dan Hannon is on his way back from the wedding right now, with tales of splendor, no doubt.  Leave Jon and Shannon your congrats here.

I keep meeting great musicians

By Michael Johnston

I’ve lived in Atlanta for something like 19 years and that includes neighborhoods inside and outside 285 and circles of friends that keep expanding and linking back to each other in uncanny ways. What’s remarkable is that since our metro area is so large and spread out with everyone claiming Atlanta from Conyers to Douglasville, Canton to McDonough, and points beyond and in between, there really is community among musicians. The sense of community is growing in light of so many questions around what it means to make a living doing music and who can be trusted to help show the way. Older and more seasoned music types are reaching out to younger up and coming types as the music business landscape shifts, giving a unique opportunity to players, producers, writers and

music industry support people to lean on each other and do good business and good work - making life-giving art. Creativity among musicians calling Atlanta home is booming. I keep meeting new people with above average talent who are contributing inspired playing and fresh songwriting to Atlanta’s culture and beyond. Danny should appreciate what I’m about to say…this reminds me of a time when Atlanta began to be home to a sports dynasty in the form of a baseball team where executives, players and fans began to come together to build something that was, at the same time, uniquely Atlanta’s and everyone else’s, too. Every baseball fan out there had to marvel at what the Atlanta Braves accomplished - the greatest pitching rotation ever assembled, with hitting and fielding to match. No, I don’t see an Atlanta “Super Group” band on the horizon. What I see is a music community developing as it has never existed before in Atlanta. I see a movement that can uniquely belong to Atlanta and everyone else who is moved by the kind of inspired creativity that is gathered here. Whether it’s through a long time good friend like producer Todd Olsen, a newer friend like session guitarist and songwriter Brad Long or a new acquaintance like singer/songwriter Evan McHugh (I’ve recently become a fan), I keep hearing about and meeting one great musician after another. Who do you know? Who have you heard about? What’s buzzing on your side of Atlanta’s music community?

Heading downtown

Please watch the video below.  ONE Atlanta is heading downtown to Safehouse Outreach this Tuesday, May 13th, at 7pm.  It’s our first official visit and we’ll mostly be getting to know them, seeing what they do, and hearing a band, made up of volunteers, called 1 Accord; word has it they’re an impressive group of musicians.  On later visits, we’ll be working, playing music, serving soup, whatever we can do to help.  Whether you’re a musician or not, please click here and comment if you’re interested in going.  I’ll get you more details.

Haven’t got time for the pain.

My buddy Carlos posted this video at his blog shortly after it happend yesterday: www.ragamuffinsoul.com.  It happened at Buckhead Church.  It’s painful and hilarious, and I am the victim.  Miraculously, my Mac laptop survived!  Thank God!  But, man, what a painful few minutes finishing out the song.  But that’s what you do, man.  That’s rock and roll; that’s worship.  Check it out and leave your sympathy comments.  It hurt deeply, people.  But I’m okay.

We shocked the world! (updated)

Update: So we ended up losing game 7 and the series to the Celtics.  It was a great ride.

 

Thanks to my buddy Shane, I was there at Philips Arena last night when my Hawks shocked the world by beating the mighty Boston Celtics  to force a Game 7 in the first round of the NBA playoffs; no, that’s not me in the picture.  The series is tied 3-3 with one game left.  If the Hawks pull off a series win tomorrow in Boston (1pm, ABC), many in the media say it will be the biggest upset in the history of the NBA playoffs.  Okay, so that doesn’t have anything to do with music; but let’s get behind these guys!

Capitol Gains

2nd Wave sounded great today at the Georgia State Capitol, playing for a National Day of Prayer rally.  Below is a bit of a montage for those who couldn’t make it.  Please drop a comment of encouragement for the band here.  I’m sure they’ll be checking in!
 

Fresh from the kitchen…

Had to post this.  Check out this brilliant work by my friends Chris Arias and Andy Waddell.  It’s their entry in the IKEA Kitchen Rhythm Contest.

Meghan Muses Memorably…

Meghan Coffee’s new album, Songs To Sail By, will be available June 19th, the day of her album release concert at Smith’s Old Bar in Atlanta.  You can buy your tickets here.

 

…or something like that. It might not be memorable, this could turn out to be incredibly dull. I’m a sucker for alliteration, however, thus the title.

 

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Meghan Coffee and I am fond of almond joys, red lipstick, laughing loudly (preferably at appropriate times) and the smell of old books. I am a lucky girl in that Dan Hannon and Danny Stephens like me and my music. I’ve got a picture up there somewhere, a pale freckle-faced girl with flowers in my hair.

 

Let’s see…now that I’ve been let into this OneAtlanta Music blog what shall I write about?

 

I am in the mood to put together a puzzle. I am in the mood to go roller-skating. I am in the mood to unabashedly roll down a hill. I am in a mood. I want to run fast and faster and catch up to my 8 year old self.

 

Ah, and now writing that has brought to mind a memory…

 

The summer I was eight years old was the summer I ran away pretty much every night. Well…It might’ve been just one week that I tried to run away, but to my eight year old self it felt like the whole summer. During the day I would sneak food (yogurt, granola bars, hot dogs, bread) and then after I went to “bed” I would grab my little pathetic pile of bedsheets, matches, books and secreted food and carefully make my way down the outside staircase of my house.

 

The house we lived in (in Decatur) used to be 2 apartments, a top floor and a bottom floor. So, we had an outside staircase leading up to the old entrance of what used to be an apartment. That upstairs of our house was where my sister, Erin, and I had our domain. The laundry room was there and a big play area and a cool closet that began in my sister’s room and ran the whole length of the upstairs.

 

Anyway, I digress.

 

I would sneak down said stairs and take off for the park which was just down the street, cross over the baseball field and down into a culvert or drainage ditch of sorts. It was shaped like the bottom half of a stop sign (the actual name of the shape escapes me now, that’s sad…) and it was completely concrete. At one point in this culvert a tree had fallen over and had been made magical with undergrowth and vines of which formed a glorious canopy, a fairy world. To this little piece of twilight perfection I would run.

 

I’d set up camp. Out would spread my sheets, blazing would be my tiny fire, devoured would be my “rations” (always were they called rations, never food. Sometimes they were “grub” if I was feeling particularly saucy) and I would just be settling into my book of choice when I’d hear my father’s step and his voice from the baseball field. Everytime. And everytime I would be so exasperated! Why wouldn’t they just this once let me spend the night!

 

One time in my father’s demands to “hurry up!” I lost my book, Little Women, in the leaves and in the darkness and all my flustering about. It was gone. I cried because I had just arrived at the point where Beth was dying and I had to wait for 2 days until I could get a copy from the library. Sheer torture.

 

My nightly escapades all ended when my parents told me the next time I ran away they were going to call the police and have them take me to the juvenile jail. (They most likely wouldn’t have but they were TRYING to knock some sense into me…) That almost wasn’t sufficient warning, but Erin, my sensible younger sister convinced me that my bed was better than any old bed that kids might’ve peed on and that I might get beaten up. This caused me to resign my grandiose ideas of a fairy filled sleepover in an old, but lovely, drainage culvert.

 

I still fondly remember the fire-lightning-fly-bugs and the smell of my fire and my sense of being in my own space in the world. It was my place. My own piece of just rightness.

 

I went back there today. The park people probably long ago cut the tree and the fairy vines down, cleared away the pieces. I wonder if they might have happened upon traces of a fire, a granola bar wrapper or two, maybe my book, weathered and worn. They cleared away my past, my place, my piece. I sat where it would have been, pondered my aging, pondered my little girl personhood.

 

I was probably pretty annoying. But cute. I still get called cute.

 

Grrrr.

 

I’m off to tuck my soon to be eight year old boy into bed.

 

“What we remember from childhood we remember forever - permanent ghosts, stamped, inked, imprinted, eternally seen.” ~Cynthia Ozick

2nd.wav gets some good press.

Okay, it’s high time I blog/brag about the band my 11-year-old son Noah is in, 2nd.wav (pronounced Second Wave).  They were on the front page of the Forsyth County News today to promo their gig this weekend at Vickery Creek Elementary.  A snippet from that article: ”It’s so exciting because they’re actually a real band.  They actually get real gigs.  I know they play at different venues throughout the Atlanta area, so it’s a real treat for us to be able to bring them in and feature them at our school,” said Julie Royal (PTA Member).  

 

2nd.wav is Savannah Wofford on lead vocals, Russell Wofford on guitar/vocals, Holden Fincher on bass/vocals, Noah Stephens on keyboards/vocals, and Grayson Arias on drums.  Check out their recent performance at Northpoint’s Walking Wisely Weekend below, as well as some various band pics. (band photo shoot by Zack Arias)

 

You can inquire about booking 2nd.wav by contacting us here.

 

 

 

 

And the winner is…

…not most of the folks we were pulling for.  But Atlanta didn’t lay a complete goose egg at last night’s GMA Dove Awards.

 

Seth Condrey won for Spanish Language Album of the Year.

 

Ricardo Sanchez’ song Say So, recorded by Israel Houghton, won Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year.

 

And, together, Mark Hall and Casting Crowns landed 4 Doves for: Song of the Year, Group of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year, and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year.

 

How about a little love for these guys?  And for the other A-town nominees (see previous post).  It is, as they say, an honor to be nominated.  Give it up here. 

 

I Could Sing of Your Dove Forever

The Gospel Music Association’s annual Dove Awards happen tonight, and our own Dan Hannon is nominated for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for producing Aaron Shust’s “Whispered and Shouted.”

Other nominations for Atlantans include:

Spanish Language Album of the Year

• De Corazon A Corazon; Seth Condrey; Seth Condrey, Mark Balltzglier; CanZion