5January2009
Posted by nate under: Uncategorized.
Nate Houge was a workin’ man, he used to load the red minivan.
Hey there hoodlums!
Welaware is playing tomorrow night at the Fine Line- click here for all you need to know and free tickets:
http://www.finelinemusic.com/calendar/view_entry.php?id=571&date=20090106
I’m stoked because we’re playing at 8p.m. Sharp. Me likey. I’m also stoked because I’ve been working on my guitars and I like how they’ve turned out. You will too. Even if, like 99.9% of the world you could care less about what kind of pickups are in my Tele. That was a generous percentage.
If you’re wondering how to turn this indie rock joy ride into a spontaneous date try this:
At 6pm Tomorrow (Tuesday Jan 6) Check this blog again. (I’m guessing you check it on the hour already so this should fit into your routine just fine) Now say to your significantly other – “Sweety/Honey/Babe – It looks like Nate and his band Welaware are playing a free show at the Fine Line! It starts at 8! What a reasonable hour! Let’s ditch the kids/hire a babysitter/turn on cartoon network and get something to eat at Pizza Luce – we can make it into a fun date night!”
Indie Rocker/Romantic Consultant. The Nate Houge Story.
29December2008
Posted by nate under: family; friendship.
Grandma = Babysitter. Jodi and I worked this equation the other night and went out on the town to the Walhalla Inn to catch a little live music. For a town of 1,100 to have live music on a Saturday night is fairly impressive. (Note: There will also be live music today at 2pm over at the Senior Center featuring the musical stylings of yours truly.) I’ll also note that it was packed. The guy playing did a great job. He played guitar and sang fun covers and some nice originals. One of Jodi’s friends from high school was telling Jodi how she enjoyed him. I had my back to the bar and was agreeing with her and saying that maybe now would be a good time to wave our cell phones in the air. Just as I was doing the motion of quickly raising my cell in the air Jodi’s drink arrived. From the bar. Which was behind me. I did not see it coming. But I felt it as my upward shooting hand connected firmly with the bottom of the glass. Messy and embarassing. This is why I’ve never actually raise my cell phone at concerts. That, and my phone only stays lit for all of 3 seconds. Open close open close open close. Not worth it.
I have a great cousin who grew up Lutheran, spent a few years as a practicing Heathen, then went soul searching in Montana, found God (who coincidentally had never lost my cousin) and emerged from Montana with what his charasmatic brothers and sisters would refer to as ‘zeal for the lord’ and a ‘longing to be in the Word’ it was like honey on his brain or something to that effect. I still (and I’m not mocking or joking or sarcasing) consider him one of the biggest faith influences in my life even though my faith practice and his faith practice look very different on Sunday morning.
In junior high this cousin came to visit us (he’s about 10 years older or so) in Seward NE. Sunday morning we went to St. Johns Lutheran Church where we went every Sunday morning. During the prayers of the people he started verbally agreeing with what was being said. Hallelujah, yes Jesus, Amen, Oh praise the Lord, etc… As an eighth grader this could have been kind of embarassing to be seen sitting next to the wacko mutterer of agreeance. But from my perspective it just made Church way more interesting. Way. In fact I tried it on for a while, though as a young confirmand all I could muster was an occasional and very quiet mmhmm. But I tried. Then the pastor must have hit on an item of praise that said cousin whole heartidly agreed with because out of nowhere both hands shot into the air and out came a louder than conversational volume, “YesPraiseYouJesusHallelujah!” At this point I abandoned all hopes of living up to his level of Zeal. Later I asked him about the whole outstretched arms things and he told me that he had decided (akin to his theological stance on choice) after his conversion in Montana that in his prayer and praise he could keep his hands down, do the half raised flat palms up thing, or dive right in and let loose with those arms. He figured if it’s worth doing it’s worth doing right, hence the fully extended arms of praise to Jesus.
At our Christmas Eve service here in ND, where I’ve spent 2/3rds of my married Christmases, we recieved candles, as usual, and ended the service with a little Silent Night action. This is my favorite part of the service. Not just because it’s pretty and beautiful, and Halmarky, but because in my heart I am still twelve and I live in the expectant hope that someone’s overdone hair will go up in flames. You always hear stories of that happening but just once I want to witness it first hand. Just once.
As the pastor prepped everyone on correct lighting proceedures (ushers light end, tip the unlit candle etc.) he added “And of couse it’s our tradition to raise our candles when singing of the Christ child.” I looked at Jodi. What? When did this tradition start and where was it the last 7 times I was here? It was a little confusing too. How long do you hold it up? Just for the words ‘Holy Infant?’ Can you keep it up to the end of the line to sync it up with the music? What about ’sleep in heavenly peace?’ Who’s sleeping? Jesus. So should we hold it up for that since Jesus is receiving the action? I needed an editor sitting beside me just to help me deduce when it was appropriate to hold up my candle. I had already spent two verses trying to figure out when and how long I should be raising my candle. Or, in this case, candles, plural. Jodi had traded her candle for a child in hopes that this child of ours would refrain from starting any fires. (So it’s her fault I never witness Aquanets’ flammable properties). So it’s verse three, I’ve got two candles and we hit ‘Son of God’ in the second line. My candles are up. It feels good. If it’s worth doing it’s worth doing right. I keep ‘em up. All these light refrences totally justify it. We’re singing. It’s dark. I’ve got candles in the air. It wasn’t a concious decision, they just start to sway. Slowly. Like I’m at a Michael W. Smith concert and he breaks into Emily.
It was beautiful. Until Jodi jabbed me in the side. ‘Put those down!’ in a hushed but firm tone. Apparently everyone else had already done this. I pulled them down. We blew them out. The moment was over. And Jodi has already informed me that next Christmas Eve, unlike this year, we will not be sitting in the front row.
23December2008
Posted by nate under: music.
Sunday morning – sunday school christmas program rehearsal
Sunday night – humble walk lutheran church
tuesday am – west seventh family center music and movement class
tuesday pm – 400 bar -fun show crappy night.
thursday am – home day care music and movement class
friday pm – bean factory http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceL8ArNSLr4 - most fun of the week as the video shows we had a lot of participation and guest musicians – harmoncicas, melodicas, accordians, banjo, mandolin, guitar, uke and drum. party on.
The weird thing about the week was that the 400 bar was the show I was looking the most forward too and yet other than getting to play with other great bands and be loud which I don’t get to do much, it was actually kind of life sucking. Fun but life sucking. Is that possible? The crowd was small but great, the other bands were great and an honor to play with. But for someone reason the overall night exhausted me. Meanwhile thursday morning I was playing music at a home day care and we had a blast! I left with money in my pocket (the opposite of the 400 bar) so practically speaking it was good, but I also left in love with music and so pleased to have spent a half hour singing with people that loved singing along, playing along, and dancing along. I had a a similar reaction when we left the Bean Factory – we did a christmas set and on jingle bell rock we had a couple dancing in front of the espresso machine. We had patrons and employees join on the 12 days of christmas and go tell it on the mountain. It was so fun! I’m still trying to figure out how this community is formed best around music. I’m really looking forward to Micah and I’s upcoming tour to the far east (maryland) because we will be playing in a lot of churchy places, which are totally not rock and roll, but totally ripe for group interaction and community creation. At the same time I’m looking at our Jan 6 show at the fine line and wondering how we can be just as engaging and interactive in that setting as I am with a dozen kids sitting in a living room. I’m serious, it may come down to Skip to my Lou.
Mary’s due. If she doesn’t give up the basketball by thursday they may induce.
e’en so come quick.
sunday morning – christmas pageant ‘performance’
sunday pm – humble walk.