Though my website is primarily to promote my music and convince my Mom that being a performing songwriter is a real job, I thought I’d add some of my writing to it. Because it’s also true that the singer/songwriter gig is not my only job. I also write for Augsburg Fortress and Sparkhouse. Yesterday I was putting away some comp copies of the most recent Spark curriculum I had contributed to and realized, “Holy cow, I’ve done a lot of writing!” So I dumped out all the comp copies I could find and took this photo. There are a couple things that aren’t in there like the Green Tree Game book that I can’t find and the Re:form Ancestors Anti-Workbook which will be coming out soon. Writing for Augsburg has been and continues to be a great experience and discipline. And it comes with editors. I’m incredibly thankful for editors.
It’s also fun to play music in so many Lutheran churches where they’re also using curriculum that I wrote. I always want to say creepy things like, “This is my first time here but I’ve been in your children’s classrooms all year long without them even knowing it!”
But I don’t say that and as a result I usually get paid. And every now and again, asked back. That’s the level of professionalism I try to maintain.
I’m starting to think this post could’ve used an editor.
So a month ago or so I blogged On The Making Of and On The Title. Part 3 is On The Songs. I meant to post that before going to Guatemala and realized I hadn’t. So there’s like six of you out there who are totally ticked and feeling incomplete. And then there’s the rest of you. This is for you too. But just so you know, these are snapshots of what I was thinking of when the songs were written. The songs can mean something different to you. That’s just fine. The lyric police are on strike and no interpretations will be prosecuted. Nor will when interpreters be persecuted. Win win. My fave.
This segment as well as On the Title and On the Making Of are all listed under Reform Follows Function on the Music Tab.
So here’s a look at the songs:
On The Songs:
All We Can Do. I wrote this for my wife’s ordination into the ministry of Word and Sacrament as a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. She was ordained in her hometown in rural North Dakota. The congregation was full of pastors and farmers. Some draw life from the pulpit, some draw it from the dirt.
Heretics. Though by definition I’m not a big fan of heretics, by connotation I am. We need voices that challenge the church, push its buttons, and reform it.
Metanoia. It’s Greek for turn around or repent. My foreign language song. I’d like to thank Prof. Jastram for the tutelage.
Out On The Plains. I wrote this biking from Fargo to Grand Forks one warm August day. I’m pro farmer and I sing about it.
Heartache and All. After reading Woody Guthrie: A Life I was compelled by his life ending in hospitals that struggled to discern between his being sick or his being crazy. This is the era that Bob Dylan came around to visit. It’s a love song. Micah Taylor and I used to play this song a lot around the time we recorded the Rachel Kurtz CD, Fault Line. (Now available as free download) Micah wrote Levee for that album and it later came back on For Crying Out Loud. I’m not sure who came up with that bouncy hammer on riff but it has served us both well.
Ephemera. Ticket stubs, bulletins, wedding invitations – stuff (usually paper) that in of itself is worthless but when we attach meaning to it it becomes priceless. In this case I’m singing about the letters Jodi and I wrote to each other in the early days of our courtship. She in Idaho, I in Minnesota. We’ve since moved to the same state.
Our Way Out. War. Not a fan. Soldiers. Some of them are my friends. It’s gray and heartbreaking. I’m done with being against things and creating polarizing arguments. I’m for peace and I’m for loving my neighbor and that’s a Truth that guides my prayers.
Take Your Time. Inspired by an interview I heard with MN actor Kevin Kling. In short he said, “When you can laugh at something it no longer controls you.” I see that when people are freed up to give away those things that once possessed them. In church circles we speak of treasure, talent, and time as the gifts we give. Give it away. Go ahead. Do that. You’ll laugh.
Redemption. I don’t believe the world’s going to crap. I don’t subscribe to the Left Behind/Rapture doom and destruction take on end times. It doesn’t jive with the bigger story we’re given in the Bible. The bigger story is that God is about one thing. Love. Love for us, the earth, and all that is in it. A love that heals and makes whole. A love that redeems. And we get to join in that redeeming work. And if it cleans up lakes and makes fishing a more successful venture… well that’s a nice bonus too.
Your Work In Me. The scales are always tipped on the side of grace. It’s not what I do, it’s what God has done, is doing, will do. You and I simply respond.
My My. The bridge on this song speaks to my dealings with depression, the verses to the hardship and frustration of living out one’s calling and the chorus is a reminder that when God created the world God didn’t say, It is perfect.” God said, “It is good.” That gives me great hope.
Posted: July 11th, 2011
Categories: music
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Comments: 1 Comment.
Just updated a few fall dates – it’s filling up fast and I’m stoked about that! If you’re wondering what it takes to book me I’ll tell you now… not much. Call me or e-mail me (info on contact page) and we’ll set something up!
Also, for the 2011-12 booking year, I have a special promotion. If you cover transportation/housing/food I’ll play your Maine or Hawaii event/concert/whatever for free. You get a free show and I’ll have finally made it to all 50 states. Win/win.
I read this today: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/062111brands#fDgYRHhXENFzrBNx4hk19g
Can’t help but wonder where the line between art and product is. I gotta figure out how to make a living but is product the answer? What if a touring t-shirt maker started selling CD’s on the side to support her business. We’d think that’s a little odd. (Of course, the first oddity being a t-shirt designer on tour…)
And some folks buy products to support the artists art too. So giving them a product gives them a way to support you. But does it cheapen the art? I kind of feel like it does, but I kind of would rather sell T-shirts at my shows than get a job at a coffee shop on the side.
So should I start putting products out? And if so what should they be? My gut says Nate Houge Fly Swatters, but I could be wrong. Maybe flesh colored Christ’s that glow in the dark? I think Bob Dylan would approve.
Last week Micah and Justin joined me at Dodge Nature Center for the annual Rock the Barn fund raiser. Thanks to all who came out and sang and danced with us and supported Dodge. The funny thing with a kids show is that you never know what’s going to happen. I’ve sung with kids for the last 10 years in varying capacities and I’ve often had to defend the amount of work that goes into doing kids music. As is generally the case people think young = less important, easier, less sophisticated, etc… Here’s an example of how that plays out:
At 18 one has all the skills to read, research, gather people, discuss and implement learning on their own.
By the age of 5 our brains are at 90% of their growth.
And who do we set higher standards for when it comes to hiring teachers: preschools or universities?
Universities of course because anyone can teach little kids, right?
Oh so wrong.
And it’s the same with concerts. It’s way easier to do a bar show than it is to do a kids b-day party. But not everyone believes me. So needless to say, I was thrilled to hear what singer songwriter David Mead had to say on this subject:
The entire video is interesting, but especially around 14 minutes or so. And then stick around for the song at the end.
My friend and musical collaborator Micah shared this video with me today and I think it’s great. Especially as I went from playing Rock The Barn to a weekend of singing with pastors and delegates from the Lacrosse Area Synod. You want to find an easy group to sing with? Get in a room with 250 church nerds (252 if you count Rachel and I).
And tonight I’m playing a birthday party gig for the daughter of Jim Orvis (you’ve heard him on MKFNATPPOPPL or with Romantica). Time to switch gears! Be prepared. Anything could happen…
Hey folks checking out this site for the first time, welcome. If we met yesterday at the festival of homiletics you may be wondering about the music we sang and my vocation.
The first song, Holy Ground, is one I learned a few years ago. I don’t know the history, but I know it’s simple, accessible and a wonderful way to start worship.
Christ is Coming is by my friend Richard. Richard is an ecumenical liturgical mastermind. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know him better over the last year and love his work with his wife Trish as River’s Voice. You can here Trish sing this song here: http://www.worldmaking.net/christ-is-coming.php, and while you’re there explore a bit, load up on resources and book them to come to your congregation.
After those songs the rest is by yours truly. The Psalm arrangement was written for the event and is mentioned in my last post. The remaining songs are off my album, “Becoming Liturgy”
With me leading were some of the Lutheran Church’s finest musicians. I’ve known Jonathan and Rachel and Lowell since about 1997. These are the folks that play the big National Youth Gatherings on the main stage for 20,000 youth. I’ve played in their bands and they’ve backed me up before and I was really thrilled that they were able to join in. Honored and grateful too.
Book them and check out their resources here: www.jonathanrundman.com and www.rachelkurtz.com. Lowell is serving as Sr. Pastor at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita KS and is the drummer in the band Echelon.
So there’s a bit about the who and what of the service.
Before the service we were singing songs from my newest release, Reform Follows Function. I’m pleased as punch with this album and was even more pleased when I sold 3o copies of it yesterday!
And that’s my job. I go around and do concerts at churches and other listening environments, I lead worship services, I do workshops/guided conversations with other church musicians around the topic of ‘homegrown music’ and I try to do this often enough to pay for groceries, medical insurance and Vanagon repairs.
You can be part of this wonderful vocation! Call me (612.269.9023), e-mail me (nate@natehouge.com) , friend me on facebook, and book me for an event!
This Thursday I’ll be leading a worship service with my wife Jodi, and Karoline Lewis at the Festival of Homiletics. We’ll be using the lectionary texts for this coming Sunday (John 14:1-14). I came up with this arrangement for Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16. The antiphon is based on verse 16 and the verses are paraphrased, two bible verses per cantored verse. I figure I’ve got enough churchy types reading this blog that perhaps you’d like to use it. Or sing it at home.
I preached tonight on John 10:1-10. Not ’cause I’m a preacher but ’cause I was asked to share about my time in Guatemala. A few friends wanted to hear it but couldn’t make it so here it is in all of it’s PDF beauty.
There are a few inside jokes that make more sense if you’re a regular at Humble Walk. And I’m guessing the facts aren’t exact, but they are as I remember them. If you’re not familiar with ELCA church structure – Synods are big groups of churches sorted by region and anyone coming from Chicago is coming from the main church wide office.
Hope it makes sense. Hope you enjoy.
And if you’re one to time things (Mary, Marc, and Alicia) it clocked in at 12:38 seconds.
Two weeks ago I was in Guatemala with a delegation from the St. Paul Area Synod of the ELCA. I think seeing how things (in this case, church) are done in other cultures gives refreshing new insight and perspective into our own lives, and how we do things (and yes, I’m still talking about church.) This Sunday I’ll be sharing during the sermon portion of our service at Humble Walk about my experience and some of my insights into church and community. It might be really boring, but why don’t you come see for yourself? Humble Walk. (and with it being an evening service you can still go to your regular a.m. service. Twofer.)
I’m also stoked to play music with Jason, Erin, and Micah for the month of May at Humble Walk. The Honest Folk rides again! We’ll be doing a bunch of stuff from Becoming Liturgy and a Taize song (Raise a Song of Gladness). And we’ll probably add some stuff from Reform Follows Function during the offering.
Following our Terminal Bar shows I’m switching gears for a whole bunch of churchy stuff. I’ve Jodi and I were just asked to be the liturgists for one of the services at the Festival of Homiletics next week and I just got invited to join Rachel Kurtz in leading songs and worship at the LaCrosse Area Synod assembly in June.
I’ve updated the tour schedule with those dates and times and a few more as well – check it out and hopefully we’ll connect at a show down the road.
In a less exciting turn of events I had to cancel my appearance at the Wildgoose Festival in NC. Originally I was curating worship and working with the Wild Gosslings but I had a pile up of little details that made it apparent that this was not the right time for me and the fam to be trekking halfway across the country. Hopefully the festival is wildly successful and I can do it in future years.
The sun is shining once again in Minnesota, the worms are digging through our compost, Jodi’s digging through the garden, the girls are riding their bikes, and I’m happy to be alive and thankful for all your support that allows me to do what I do. See you soon,
These tracks were recorded in my basement – a fairly common set up for working musicians. On my last album, Becoming Liturgy, Justin Rimbo added some claps and vocals and by an oversight of my record label didn’t get his name in the liner notes. I was pretty annoyed with my record label but have since forgiven myself. And Justin has forgiven me as well. All the same, I thought it a kind gesture to ask Justin to help me produce Reform Follows Function. In fact, before I came up with this name I thought about naming the album Justin Rimbo. Maybe that’ll be it’s nickname. Either way it worked out great. Justin accepted my offer to do a whole bunch of work for free. And just think, that’s my way of saying sorry.
I recorded acoustic demo’s to a click track and sent them to Graham Peterson (drums) and Justin Rimbo (bass) then, on one of the last flip flop days of fall we set up the drums and a smattering of mics and added drums and bass to the click tracks. Bed tracks done. For those of you who don’t know, Graham and Justin are both gigging musicians all over the Twin Cities and have spent years playing together as the Fuller Still rhythm section. They work great together. On a weird sidenote – 9 years ago I was playing in the Rachel Kurtz band in AZ and Graham’s band was also playing at the event and Graham sat in as the Rachel Kurtz drummer. In AZ. 9 years ago. Weird. Both Graham and Justin are a joy to work with and brought incredible life to these songs.
Over the next couple of months I would go downstairs whenever I had a couple of hours (sometimes minutes) and add stuff to the tracks. Take it away. Put different stuff on. And so on. Jonathan Rundman came over and added the accordian tracks one day as our kids played ever so quietly upstairs. (When I played on his Protestant Rock Ethic album our first round of kids played upstairs while we recorded in his basement) A couple days later I took tracks over to his house and he added Wurlitzer and Hammond. My friend Mari came over right before Christmas and added the catchy/trippy fiddle parts. For ephemera I put out a call on facebook for anyone that had dated via letters and got a bunch of couples to come over and sing on Ephemera. My seven year old was singing along too so I recorded a take of her. And then my three year old didn’t want to be left out so I got her on it too. Originally I didn’t think they’d make the final cut – but the more I listened to those voices the more perfect it became – a sort of passing on of the letter writing tradition. It may be my favorite song on the album, especially when I’m on the road and away from home. On take your time the clickety clack sound is my friend Matt playing typewriters. One pass with fingers on the keys and one pass using rods. Erin Deboer-Moran came in and did the harmonies. I held her newborn (my goddaughter!) as she sang. We took two takes just because one take seemed too easy. But I’m pretty sure we just used the first take. She makes it look easy. Micah came over with a mandolin and we added that to Out on the Plains. (Last time Micah recorded mandolin on my kids album two years ago his young son was in the room and can be heard making kid noises on the MKNATPPOPPL) Then we ran the mandocaster through way too many pedals and added all the noise on Take Your Time and Redemption. On one of those I think I was playing the mandocaster and he was just kneeling in front of the pedal board twisting knobs. We had a couple vocal edits/tweaking to do so I sent tracks to longtime friend and gizmo genius Joel Pakan who worked his magic. Around this time the tracking was wrapping up. My work was done.
Pat Tomek of the Rainmakers took on the task of mixing. He also added some great percussion and in the midst of recording an album with the Rainmakers left his drums set up and played the drums on Take Your Time. Once again I was working with a great guy that knew how to get great sounds out of my lo-fi basement studio sound. The last guy to work that sort of magic was Gregg Ward on the Mysterious Kung Fu Ninja and The Pink Princess of Pretty Pretty Land CD. Gregg’s been doing a lot of mastering lately so once Pat perfected the mixes they were sent off to Gregg who masterfully mastered the album and came up with some amazing fades that really pay off when you listen to this album straight through. Take that shuffle.
As the mixing and mastering continued I borrowed a painting of Matt Holm’s and Kjel Alkire began the design and layout. There’s a whole great story behind the origin of the painting but for legal reasons I’d rather not put it out there for the general public. I will say that it was very intentional to have a gray and fluid image. I think that is a wonderful description of my faith journey, and likely yours. I’m grateful for Matt’s willingness to share the image, and Kjel’s sensibility to incorporate it into the design of this album.
When all that was done I took it off to Copy Cats where Ed took it under his wing and gave it all back one thousand fold.
I just added a new page to the website: Writ
