The Songs of a Nation

"Give me the making of the songs of a nation, and I care not who writes it's laws"

Andrew Fletcher
Eighteenth-century Scottish political thinker

Indeed, the convergence of lyric and melody provide the best on-ramp to cultural relevance that I've been able to observe. What's disappointing is the neglect of a positive usage for such a powerful medium. I'm resentful that a small money motivated portion of the populace dictates what is culturally acceptable and what is to be shunned. When we allow one money making enterprise (let's not forget that this is their prime directive) such as Viacom, to be the primary worldview shaper of the minds of an entire generation, something is very wrong.

I think that it's time that we start to sing new songs.

The Waiting Place

It's amazing how a children's book can paint such a realistic picture of life.

“You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers
Who soar to great heights!”

“...I’m sorry to say so
but, sadly, it’s true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
In a prickle-ly perch
And your gang will fly on.
You’ll be left in a lurch.

You’ll come down from the Lurch
With an unpleasant bump.
And chances are, then,
That you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump,
You’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
Is not easily done.”

“You can get so confused
that you’ll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place…”

...live and move and have my being

"What I have been striving and pining to achieve these thirty years, -is self-realization, to see God face to face, to attain Moksha (the footnoted definition is freedom from birth and death... the closest English equivalent is salvation). I live and move and have my being in this goal. All that I do by the way of speaking and writing, and all my ventures in the political field, are directed to this same end."

Gandhi

In reading Gandhi's autobiography, this statement regarding his motivation behind his actions struck me as poignant. It also causes me to look inward at my own motivations and how they align with my faith in Christ.

Rest Easy

"The garbage in most of out lives is the relentless anxiety and agitation created by the fear that we will not get enough of the world's goodies to feel safe, secure, and turned on."
-Brennan Manning

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well"
-Matthew 6:33

My Brother, Dan, as Fredrick in Parates of Penzance at the Guthrie in Minneapolis. 

straight from a Suess book

She totally stole my heart.

The translators made sure to provide a healthy amount of craziness (the fun kind) to the mix. 

Ryan always made a point to connect with the kids.
We were so blessed to have him on the team. The man has a good heart.

"“If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other peoples sins, if you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down and out, your lives will start to glow in the darkenss"
-Isaiah 58:9

Here is that same little lady getting some attention from Jackie. 

This little girl was reciting a Christmas rhyme. Up until then, I'd almost forgotten the season we were in. 

Rockin' Starbucks?

Okay, last night Ruined for Normal played our first gig at a Starbucks. Once we got started, I'll admit, it was fun. Still, Starbucks is not a listening room. Even though the manager wants to promote live music, I just don't think that it's a place people go to check out talent. Having said that, there were people who stayed (even after they got their double, tall, one pump vanilla, nonfat, extra foam, extra hot, no-whip, mochas) to check us out and we sold some CDs (the baristas even bought some :) We will likely play some more cafes, churches, and pubs over the next few months. In fact we'll try and have a website up and running in a week or so with a calendar of dates.

Music Sweet Music

Currently, I've embarked in a musical endeavor with a singer songwriter by the name of Drew Holgate. He's working with me on developing my voice, while I work with him on building his guitar technique. We're playing out under the name... Ruined for Normal.

I'll write more later, but you can check out an EPK I'm working on at:
www.sonicbids.com/RuinedforNormal

We don't have any photography done at the moment, but I hope to have a competent individual take some live shots soon.