7 July 2009
outlaws.
Posted by nate under: family; music; travel .
The Houge family recently returned from a week in the black hills of SD. In true Nate & Jodi fashion we remembered to bring out the camera at one of the stops – Old MacDonalds petting zoo. Unfortunately that’s the only stop we remembered to bust it out at. If you only knew how many unphotographed trips and travels we’ve been on…
So here’s what we were up to on the 2009 Houge tour/family vacation.
I played a gig in downtown Rapid City. Wonderful albeit sparcely populated. Before I went on there was a demo by a local hair salon. Lydia got a free hair cut. I was up next and had fun playing some kids and family stuff. Halfway through the set I noticed my harmonica was covored in hair. I haven’t played it since…
The next morning I played at Custer Lutheran Fellowship which was a great gig. All the music was from my upcoming release “Becoming Liturgy” (available August 2009). A first for me was leading the singing of the Psalm. We used Psalm Tone 1 from the ELW. Everything went really well thanks to CLF being a singing congregation. Some are, some arent’. CLF are.
Then we are off to Outlaw Ranch for a week where I was the artist in residence and my family vacationed. (I got plenty of rest and hiking in too.) I did this gig three years ago and was very excited to do it again. I spent the morning writing songs with kids – we wrote everything from songs about the creation account to Helga’s Hamburger Helper Hairball. And there was a rock/reggae/talking blues opera recounting Samuel’s call. I love writing songs and what a great group to do it with! One night I headed over to a sister camp and did a concert for middle schoolers and an elderhostel group. Kind of an odd combination but it went really well. Then on Wednesday night I did a concert for the adults at family camp. Spending a few days with folks, getting all relaxed, creating some common ground, and then doing a concert in a beautful old barn is about as perfect set up as you can find for giving a concert. It was an incredible encouragement to me as a performing songwriter. I can’t thank the folks at outlaw enough for the experience.
Throughout the week we hiked and horse backed, crafted and canoed. My folks got to come along too which was great as far as parent/grandparent time is concerned – you can’t beat having them in the room next door!
On Friday we hoofed it back via a night in Sioux Falls. Home on Saturday in time to watch our neighbors blow up the ‘hood. Not that we didn’t help. C’mon, firework stands in South Dakota, how could I resist?
So a huge thanks to Rapid City, Custer Lutheran Fellowship, and Outlaw Ranch! Now we’ll lay low for a week or so before the next camp adventure begins!
And if any of you folks I met along the way would like to have me visit your church/college/coffeeshop contact me! nate at natehouge dot com. I’d love to see you again and play some more!
Peace and more,
Nate.
4 Comments so far...
Mike, Michelle and Nathaniel Says:
10 July 2009 at 7:32 pm.
My family and I were at Outlaw Ranch when Nate and his family were there. It was our first time there. Nate gave a terrific concert that week. Great since of humour and love in his music. It was a beautiful setting. One we will not forget.
Do yourself a favor and pick up Nate’s C.D. “Folkstar”. Can’t wait to hear you perform again.
Much peace!!
Mike, Michelle and Nathaniel Says:
10 July 2009 at 7:37 pm.
O.K. I’m a dork and a terrible speller. I meant ‘Great sense of humor’. But you understood. See I use erasers 
M.
Jody Wirth Says:
20 July 2009 at 3:16 pm.
Big Nate Huge!!!! Sorry we missed you. We came out to Outlaw the very next Weekend. Give me a shout. It would be great to hear of your adventures – unpictured. Cheers- Jody
Lisa Peterson Says:
30 July 2009 at 8:51 pm.
Hey Nate – Great meeting you at Outlaw Ranch. I was the gal doing card tricks and looking for a juggling partner at the variety show. My family loved your music and especially enjoyed the concert in the barn Wed. night. And I’m thankful that I now know what the word “Ephemeral” means. Take care and God Bless!