7February2009
Posted by nate under: music.
The first couple of hours on the road were complete crap.
But it got better and soon we were soaring down the tollway, wondering where our toll dollars were going considering the roads were junk (and we hadn’t even got to PA’s roads yet), and by mid afternoon we were in N. Canton OH.
I got to reconnect with my friend, now pastor, Matt Skolnik. We first met in the summer of 1995 on a trip around the world, flying out of CA, traveling by train, bus, and plane across Russia, and returning to the East coast. We were with a group called LOGOS and traveling with Russian youth groups singing in an English/Russian choir. Weird, huh?
Anyway, Matt and I have kept in touch and visited over the years (though it’s been 9 since we actually saw each other last!) But he and his wife and daughter graciously took us into their home and church and it was awesome. The concert was great. We got to set up all our stuff in a cool old sanctuary and played to a very receptive crowd. One of the highlights for me was having an old friend, Denise, along with her daughter and 3 grandaughters drive 2 1/2 hours from Pittsburg just to see us, and to see us play! Holy Cow! Denise is a very important person to my music as it was her financial gift that allowed Jason Moran and myself to record our first demo, ‘twang twang boom boom.’ I’m so grateful and in debt to her and to folks like her who see the value in art and the power of song and support it actively!
Matt, Micah, and I stayed up late talking and eating local potato chips. The next morning we were up and at it, fully showered and caffinated we hit the road. Off to Gettysburg, PA.
7February2009
Posted by nate under: music.
Let’s see, what happened that first day of the tour?
Tuesday morning Micah pulled up to the house and we loaded up the minivan with about 12 instruments. Hence the Tour of Indulgences (that and we offer great deals on forgiveness). Early on the ride we got a call from our contact in Valpo who said we should be forewarned of lake effect snow. What’s lake effect snow?
Bad.
We had beautiful clear roads up until we hit the Indiana border. The last 30 minutes of driving took about 90 minutes. Out of nowhere we were getting dumped on. Valpo U, where we were going to play, cancelled classes. Our contact graciously met us when we finally got to the chapel but had to take off, understandably, to get home 20 miles away. We had a few hours to kill before the show, and we figured we’d play a stripped down set (so much for indulgences). As we wandered around the union we saw one of our posters up which is always fun, and then we noticed a Kathleen Edwards poster right next to it. Who is Kathleen Edwards?
Good.
And she was playing that night at 7:30. We were playing at 7.
So we played our show, hung out with some great students, and packed up. Figuring it’s not everyday you get to see KE we decided to stop by the venue and see where the show was at. We missed the opener, but we had time to buy tickets and sit down just as Kathleen took the stage with sideman Jim Bryson.
It was freakin’ great.
We stayed with some great seniors, had great conversations, got up at 5:30 (I don’t know why…) and shoveled the van out from under a foot and a half of snow and we were on the road.
It was a great start to a week on the road.
Afterwards we got to chat a bit and they were all very fun to talk too, and cool about asking how our tour was going and what not. Jim is a new dad so I gave him one of my new CDs and we talked about how wierd it is to be on the road away from our families. You wouldn’t think you’d miss getting up at odd hours and taking caring of the little punks, but you do.
31January2009
Posted by nate under: edumacation; music.
I just got back from a Global Music Training Event in Chicago, IL at The Lutheran Center. For those of you who care about ELCA hierarchy, you know the Lutheran Center is the churchwide headquarters. For the rest of us… well… THE Lutheran Center? THE? There aren’t others? Google it. Perhaps they should rename the building, A Lutheran Center. I know, I’m a heritic. Bull me.
Anyway, the last 48 hours were brilliant. An amazing group of 50 church musicians with 50 different stories. (Recount: 49, my roommate came down with the flu and was unable to attend – Jonathan get well soon! You were missed!) Rather than attempt a summary I’ll simply say I am grateful to be part of a church that reaches beyond borders to grow in a fuller understanding of God’s redemptive work in the world. Or, for those of you who don’t speak the flowery fru-fru dialect that is Christianese: God loves the world, and I get to be a part of a church that sees singing all of God’s songs as important and life changing. Was that less church talk? Not really. Oh well. Here’s something the rest of the music fans out there will appreciate. Gary Louris sat down next to me at the airport. I like Gary but had nothing to say of any significance so I let him sit peace. Later, as we were getting on the plane we ended up standing next to each other. Might as well say, “Hi.”
N: Hey Gary
G: Huh?
N: Thanks for doing what you do, I’ve apprecitated your work for a long time.
G: Oh, Thanks. I saw you in the airport. You look just like one of my old road managers. Like, just like him.
N: Was he a good road manager?
G: Oh yeah, the best, I really liked that guy.
N: Cool. Well take it easy. I just wanted to say thanks for making great art.
G: Yeah, you’re welcome, thanks. We’re back at it too.
[And then his voice kind of trailed off as we got onto the plane, so technically I'm not sure if this conversation ever ended...He may still be chatting it up. I hope he's not dissappointed when he realizes I'm no longer there.]
There you have it. I look like an old Jayhawks’ road manager. And a good one at that.