Today, I stepped outside my comfort zone. A big, wide, wobbly step.
On an almost daily basis, I'm still experiencing pain and stiffness in my neck from our car accident. (Yes, the accident from May 3rd, 2009!)
I've been in ongoing treatment since last summer, and today we tried something new:
Acupuncture.
Now, the word gives the heeby-jeebies to the average soul. What makes me above-average (or below-average, depending on your perspective) is that for all my childhood and a few years of my adult life, I suffered from a phobia of needles, and more specifically, blood tests.
"Oh yes," you're thinking, "I don't like needles either."
No, I said "phobia," from the Greek for "morbid fear." Imagine a 90-pound, shy little girl who needed two male orderlies, an extra nurse, and her Mom to hold her down so they could take a blood test.
Pho-bi-a!
Things got so bad that I finally went in for desensitization therapy. In just three sessions, I received a blood test. No orderlies, no extra nurse, no Mom - just me.
Victory!
So, even though the phobia is gone, I don't particularly rejoice at the thought of a plethora of needles sticking into me at one time.
As we've already noted, no one likes needles.
So today, I had my physiotherapist explain and re-explain and demonstrate the process. It would happen on the back of my neck and shoulders, and I wanted to know what was happening so there would be no surprises.
I got into position, and even though I was doing okay, I started to feel nervous.
I prayed and took deep breaths.
I reminded myself that people experience this all the time and no one has ever exploded like a popped balloon.
I imagined my back as a beach and the needles were palm trees being planted in the sand.
After a few minutes, I found myself lying on the table with ten needles in my back.
Ten!
The physiotherapist left me for 5 minutes so the needles could do their work. I kept breathing and visualizing.
But one palm tree wouldn't stay still. The muscle was gripping and twitching.
When the physiotherapist returned, she could see the tense needle. She asked if I was okay or if I could handle another 5 minutes.
"Will 5 minutes be more effective?" I asked.
"Yes, but we don't want you to be uncomfortable if you don't need to be," she replied.
Uncomfortable??? I've been uncomfortable since May of 2009!!!
And with that, my Warrior Spirit kicked in.
"I'll be fine for the 5 minutes, " I calmly replied, breathing deeply and imagining sunshine and a gentle breeze on the beach.
Within a few minutes, the needles were gently removed. I felt a little tired (one of the expected side effects), but mostly, I felt powerful!
I had stepped way outside my comfort zone, and taken on a challenge that will only benefit me in the long run.
I was reminded of two simple truths I've learned time and time again:
#1. The more you step outside your comfort zone, the larger your comfort zone becomes.
#2. You're never alone when you step outside your comfort zone -
God is already there, awaiting your arrival.
Next challenge: Giving blood!
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Farewell to the Choirgirlz
When I was Artistic Director for the Music on the Hill concert series, I always loved finding new musical groups. If they could combine great music with great personalities, even better!
One such find was The Choirgirlz - a trio of singers who met in the Mendelssohn Choir, were inspired to sing a few bluegrass tunes, and went to on record 3 CDs and sing in numerous festivals and concert series. The 'girlz' made a name for themselves with amazing harmonies, great arrangements, and original songs with a quirky sense of humour.
Tonight, The Choirgirlz ended their musical journey in the gorgeous Plein Air Salon - a backyard venue complete with waterfall, wooden pavilion, and an outdoor art gallery. The ladies charmed the supportive audience with their most requested songs and the stories behind them.
Tonight was a reminder of how precious it is to sing with your friends - the harmonies are tighter, the smiles are broader, the creativity is brighter.
Thanks for the music, girlz! You will be missed...
Saturday, July 03, 2010
Photos posted...
I've just posted the rest of the photos from our weekend with Sally Barris.
You can see them in the Gallery of my site.
You can see them in the Gallery of my site.
Monday, June 28, 2010
The Moonshine Cafe
Our weekend with Sally had a glorious finale tonight at the Moonshine Cafe in Oakville!
The Moonshine is casual, quirky, and just overall wonderful. It's like singing in an awesome, relaxed living room. Tonight, we took the stage for a Nashville-style round.
Sally opened with "Little Voice" and played a great selection of folk and country influenced songs. Gerald covered everything from rocking party songs to his always beautiful 9-11 song, "Angels in the Dust." I emceed and did my Gospel thing, including "Brighter, Happy Day," which got a few laughs.
It was great to do the round tonight - we've really had a lot of fun with Sally over the past week. We've kept busy and had a lot of fun, so tonight, we just relaxed and enjoyed each other's company on the stage.
The crowd included two 8-year-old musicians - one who plays guitar and one who plays drums. They both write their own songs. Amazing!
It's been such a successful and wonderful week! Gerald and I have a few things coming up on Canada Day, and then we're taking a few days off. I'll post photos from the weekend on my site soon, and we might have some more things coming up at the Moonshine in the winter - I'll post more info as things unfold... there's always a new challenge waiting to begin...
The Moonshine is casual, quirky, and just overall wonderful. It's like singing in an awesome, relaxed living room. Tonight, we took the stage for a Nashville-style round.
Sally opened with "Little Voice" and played a great selection of folk and country influenced songs. Gerald covered everything from rocking party songs to his always beautiful 9-11 song, "Angels in the Dust." I emceed and did my Gospel thing, including "Brighter, Happy Day," which got a few laughs.
It was great to do the round tonight - we've really had a lot of fun with Sally over the past week. We've kept busy and had a lot of fun, so tonight, we just relaxed and enjoyed each other's company on the stage.
The crowd included two 8-year-old musicians - one who plays guitar and one who plays drums. They both write their own songs. Amazing!
It's been such a successful and wonderful week! Gerald and I have a few things coming up on Canada Day, and then we're taking a few days off. I'll post photos from the weekend on my site soon, and we might have some more things coming up at the Moonshine in the winter - I'll post more info as things unfold... there's always a new challenge waiting to begin...
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Music in the Garden with Sally Barris!
After weeks of prepping and planning and praying, we held our first Music in the Garden backyard concert today! Sally Barris arrived on Wednesday, and we've kept her busy with songwriting students, singing at church, and shopping in Kensington Market.
This afternoon, we started prepping for the backyard concert under serious threat of rain. We decided to be brave and set up outside. Then the rain started, so we moved it all inside. Then the rain stopped and the sun came out, so we pulled everything outside again.
A wonderful group of music lovers dragged their lawn chairs into our backyard, filled their plates with cookies and fresh fruit, and sat back for a great afternoon of music. Gerald and I opened with a short set of our own songs, including Gerald's "Saturday Morning" and my new song, "I Wanna Make Some Noise."
After a quick break to refill glasses of lemonade, Sally took the stage. Her gentle presence and great songs quickly won over the audience. The sun shone, and the whole afternoon was just lovely.
More lemonade, CD sales, and lots of great feedback followed the concert. People were thrilled with the venue and with the whole experience. Gerald and I have talked about doing more backyard concerts in the fall, so we'll talk about that in our postmortem.
And just as we were cleaning up, the rains came fast and furious. God is good!
This afternoon, we started prepping for the backyard concert under serious threat of rain. We decided to be brave and set up outside. Then the rain started, so we moved it all inside. Then the rain stopped and the sun came out, so we pulled everything outside again.
A wonderful group of music lovers dragged their lawn chairs into our backyard, filled their plates with cookies and fresh fruit, and sat back for a great afternoon of music. Gerald and I opened with a short set of our own songs, including Gerald's "Saturday Morning" and my new song, "I Wanna Make Some Noise."
After a quick break to refill glasses of lemonade, Sally took the stage. Her gentle presence and great songs quickly won over the audience. The sun shone, and the whole afternoon was just lovely.
More lemonade, CD sales, and lots of great feedback followed the concert. People were thrilled with the venue and with the whole experience. Gerald and I have talked about doing more backyard concerts in the fall, so we'll talk about that in our postmortem.
And just as we were cleaning up, the rains came fast and furious. God is good!
Gerald, Sally, and I are singing at the Moonshine Cafe in Oakville on Monday night.
Join us if you're in the area!
Join us if you're in the area!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Praying for Strangers...
Last night, Gerald, Sally, and I were on our way home from an evening of Thai food, when a young girl sat opposite us on the subway car. She couldn't have been any more than twenty - gorgeous, curvy, tanned, bleached hair, too much make-up, not enough coverage - but it was the shoes that gave her away. Not many professions require 5-inch bright red stilettos. Her awkward gait suggested a walker, not a dancer.
It was hard not to look at her - she was really striking - but what really caught me were her eyes. They held a quiet kind of sadness.
Every once in a while, our eyes would meet for just a second. I tried to smile, but she would quickly, without attitude, look away.
The other thing that struck me was the 50-ish tattooed man that found a seat opposite her - the perfect position to gaze upon her.
When we switched trains, she sat in our car again, and again, he found a seat next to her.
I had this strong desire to speak to her. I didn't know what to say, but I felt like I wanted to say something...
"Be safe."
"Do you need someone to talk to?"
"If you need a ride home tonight, give me a call."
I wanted to speak to her, but I didn't get that knot-in-my-stomach urge to say something. When I asked, "What do I do?", the answer came in one word:
So, I prayed.
Silently, with no showiness, I started to pray for her. I prayed over and over and over. I kind of couldn't stop. I prayed that she'll find friends and family to support her. I prayed that she'll discover God's love for her. I prayed for healing and wholeness of being. And again and again, I prayed for her safety.
She won't be aware of my prayer, but I trust that God heard me, and that He'll do the work that needs doing. I don't know how, but I know my prayers will make a difference.
I'm not saying this because I think my prayers are so great - I'm saying this because God has promised to hear and respond to our prayers - always.
So it got me thinking -
The guy who cut you off on the 401, the telemarketer who called during dinner, the neighbour with the dog who poops on your lawn - what if we prayed for them? What if we asked for their protection, for healing in their lives, for their salvation?
Imagine a world where everyone is walking through their day, covered in prayer...
I wonder how this could change us, our communities, our world...
It was hard not to look at her - she was really striking - but what really caught me were her eyes. They held a quiet kind of sadness.
Every once in a while, our eyes would meet for just a second. I tried to smile, but she would quickly, without attitude, look away.
The other thing that struck me was the 50-ish tattooed man that found a seat opposite her - the perfect position to gaze upon her.
When we switched trains, she sat in our car again, and again, he found a seat next to her.
I had this strong desire to speak to her. I didn't know what to say, but I felt like I wanted to say something...
"Be safe."
"Do you need someone to talk to?"
"If you need a ride home tonight, give me a call."
I wanted to speak to her, but I didn't get that knot-in-my-stomach urge to say something. When I asked, "What do I do?", the answer came in one word:
"Pray."
So, I prayed.
Silently, with no showiness, I started to pray for her. I prayed over and over and over. I kind of couldn't stop. I prayed that she'll find friends and family to support her. I prayed that she'll discover God's love for her. I prayed for healing and wholeness of being. And again and again, I prayed for her safety.
She won't be aware of my prayer, but I trust that God heard me, and that He'll do the work that needs doing. I don't know how, but I know my prayers will make a difference.
I'm not saying this because I think my prayers are so great - I'm saying this because God has promised to hear and respond to our prayers - always.
So it got me thinking -
What if we prayed for the strangers
we encounter each day?
we encounter each day?
The guy who cut you off on the 401, the telemarketer who called during dinner, the neighbour with the dog who poops on your lawn - what if we prayed for them? What if we asked for their protection, for healing in their lives, for their salvation?
Imagine a world where everyone is walking through their day, covered in prayer...
I wonder how this could change us, our communities, our world...
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Picture yourself here....
... lounging in a lawn chair, sipping lemonade, enjoying the beautiful songs of Grammy Nominated songwriter, Sally Barris....Only a few more days til our backyard concert! Sally has arrived in the country and will arrive at our house in just a few minutes. I've been cleaning, gardening, and just getting everything ready for days now. So excited!
We'll set up the sound equipment on the slate patio (where I'm standing with the camera) and the area in the photo is where the audience will sit. We'll also have a table with lemonade, cookies, and CDs.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, here's the info. Comment or email me with any questions. Hope you can join us!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
MUSIC IN THE GARDEN:
an intimate backyard concert with SALLY BARRIS
Also featuring your hosts & opening act,
ALLISON LYNN & GERALD FLEMMING
Comer House
11 Don. Ridge Dr, North York
3:00pm - Rain or Shine!
TICKETS: $20.00
Near Yonge & 401, and York Mills subway
Free street parking available.
BYO lawn chair
FREE cookies & lemonade will be served.
Please feel free to bring your own snacks & beverages.
MUSIC IN THE GARDEN:
an intimate backyard concert with SALLY BARRIS
Also featuring your hosts & opening act,
ALLISON LYNN & GERALD FLEMMING
Comer House
11 Don. Ridge Dr, North York
3:00pm - Rain or Shine!
TICKETS: $20.00
Near Yonge & 401, and York Mills subway
Free street parking available.
BYO lawn chair
FREE cookies & lemonade will be served.
Please feel free to bring your own snacks & beverages.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Sing in Peace, Maureen...
Today, Canada has lost a musical icon.
Maureen Forrester's rich contralto voice and beautiful stage presence endured her to audiences for generations.
I remember watching her from the stage one night. I was singing in the Opera in Concert Chorus - she was our superstar guest artist. Every word she sang had intention and clarity. I remember feeling overwhelmed by her combination of awesome talent and genuine humility.
In 2002, I, along with the cast of "Most Happy Fella," had the privilege of singing for Ms. Forrester in a tribute concert. I was so nervous, so honoured, to sing for this amazing lady. So gracious, so elegant.
Today, heaven's choirs sound just that much better...
Thank you for the inspiration....
Maureen Forrester's rich contralto voice and beautiful stage presence endured her to audiences for generations.
I remember watching her from the stage one night. I was singing in the Opera in Concert Chorus - she was our superstar guest artist. Every word she sang had intention and clarity. I remember feeling overwhelmed by her combination of awesome talent and genuine humility.
In 2002, I, along with the cast of "Most Happy Fella," had the privilege of singing for Ms. Forrester in a tribute concert. I was so nervous, so honoured, to sing for this amazing lady. So gracious, so elegant.
Today, heaven's choirs sound just that much better...
Thank you for the inspiration....
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Dreams are Resilient...
Dream messages have been coming to me all day.
This afternoon, I was a judge in the Senior Star talent competition. We watched a dozen seniors sing and play in an attempt to win the trophy and move on to the next level of competition.
Some had been making music their whole lives.
Some had finally found time to do it in their retirement.
I spoke with one lady who only had the courage to follow her musical dream after receiving her cancer diagnosis.
It reminded me of SARK's statement that:
A well-timed thought, indeed, because this evening, I spent an hour listening to SARK in another cool teleclass. In the class, we focused on doing a few active things each week towards pursuing our dreams.
She reminded us that dreams are meant to be a part of our daily lives, and not pushed into a corner like an old and unwanted piece of furniture.
I'm feeling very inspired tonight...
This afternoon, I was a judge in the Senior Star talent competition. We watched a dozen seniors sing and play in an attempt to win the trophy and move on to the next level of competition.
Some had been making music their whole lives.
Some had finally found time to do it in their retirement.
I spoke with one lady who only had the courage to follow her musical dream after receiving her cancer diagnosis.
It reminded me of SARK's statement that:
"Dreams are resilient - they will wait for you!"
A well-timed thought, indeed, because this evening, I spent an hour listening to SARK in another cool teleclass. In the class, we focused on doing a few active things each week towards pursuing our dreams.
She reminded us that dreams are meant to be a part of our daily lives, and not pushed into a corner like an old and unwanted piece of furniture.
I'm feeling very inspired tonight...
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Music in the Garden with Sally Barris
This is what I've been working on all day.
Mark your calendars and join us for this intimate and unique music event!
Mark your calendars and join us for this intimate and unique music event!
MUSIC IN THE GARDEN
with Sally Barris
Grammy Nominated Songwriter
with Sally Barris
Grammy Nominated Songwriter
With your hosts & opening act, Allison Lynn & Gerald Flemming
SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2010
3:00 pm - Rain or Shine!
Comer House
11 Don Ridge Dr., North York
TICKETS: $20.00
Near Yonge & 401, and York Mills subway
Free street parking available.
BYO lawn chair
FREE cookies & lemonade will be served.
Please feel free to bring your own snacks & beverages.
Comment or email me with any questions!
Allison@AllisonLynn.com
3:00 pm - Rain or Shine!
Comer House
11 Don Ridge Dr., North York
TICKETS: $20.00
Near Yonge & 401, and York Mills subway
Free street parking available.
BYO lawn chair
FREE cookies & lemonade will be served.
Please feel free to bring your own snacks & beverages.
Comment or email me with any questions!
Allison@AllisonLynn.com
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Turn, Turn, Turn...
This month, I've written my final article for SoGospelNews.com. You can read it here.
As much as I love the site, I've decided I really need to reshape my focus and prune away a few activities.
I think I explain it well in the article. Hope you like it, and of course, if you keep reading this blog, you'll know where all the redirection is heading....
As much as I love the site, I've decided I really need to reshape my focus and prune away a few activities.
I think I explain it well in the article. Hope you like it, and of course, if you keep reading this blog, you'll know where all the redirection is heading....
Monday, June 07, 2010
Please Don't Jump
So yesterday I went on one of my favourite blogs, Post Secret.
People write their secrets on postcards and mail them in. The secrets get posted on the blog and get made into books. They reveal deep, beautiful, and sometimes disturbing pieces of our humanity.
Yesterday's offering contained a secret that was completely frightening.
On the postcard, the person wrote:
I have lived in San Francisco since I was young.
I am illegal.
I am not wanted here.
I don't belong anywhere.
This summer I plan to jump off the Golden Gate.
My stomach dropped when I read this. I flashed back to the night I got the phone call about Steve - how I wished he had told someone his plans, how I wished he'd revealed how dark it had gotten, how I wished we could have known what was coming so someone, anyone could have stepped in...
I'm not alone my reaction. People around the world have immediately sprung into action. Some have sent emails through the Post Secret blog. Tens of thousands have joined a facebook page to send notes of love and encouragement to this anonymous friend.
I pray that this secret-writer will see the notes, will call for help, will change his or her mind.
But my heart still hurts because I know there are countless others feeling that lonely, countless others who are trying to decide if today will be the day they end it all.
To anyone who is feeling this way, please let me say this:
Don't! Please don't!
You are not alone.
You are loved by people in your life, even if you don't feel it at this moment.
You are loved by God, even if you don't feel it in this moment.
There is a better day coming, if you don't feel it in this moment.
If you're feeling overwhelmed today, please call someone for help.
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
U.S. and Canada
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Please feel free to share this post with anyone who may need an extra hand today.
People write their secrets on postcards and mail them in. The secrets get posted on the blog and get made into books. They reveal deep, beautiful, and sometimes disturbing pieces of our humanity.
Yesterday's offering contained a secret that was completely frightening.
On the postcard, the person wrote:
I have lived in San Francisco since I was young.
I am illegal.
I am not wanted here.
I don't belong anywhere.
This summer I plan to jump off the Golden Gate.
My stomach dropped when I read this. I flashed back to the night I got the phone call about Steve - how I wished he had told someone his plans, how I wished he'd revealed how dark it had gotten, how I wished we could have known what was coming so someone, anyone could have stepped in...
I'm not alone my reaction. People around the world have immediately sprung into action. Some have sent emails through the Post Secret blog. Tens of thousands have joined a facebook page to send notes of love and encouragement to this anonymous friend.
I pray that this secret-writer will see the notes, will call for help, will change his or her mind.
But my heart still hurts because I know there are countless others feeling that lonely, countless others who are trying to decide if today will be the day they end it all.
To anyone who is feeling this way, please let me say this:
Don't! Please don't!
You are not alone.
You are loved by people in your life, even if you don't feel it at this moment.
You are loved by God, even if you don't feel it in this moment.
There is a better day coming, if you don't feel it in this moment.
If you're feeling overwhelmed today, please call someone for help.
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
U.S. and Canada
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Please feel free to share this post with anyone who may need an extra hand today.
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Another St. John's Double Header!
Gerald and I continue on our quest to sing at every St. John's church in Ontario.(Just kidding, but it does feel that way!)
This morning we sang at the beautiful St. John's church in Rockwood. Dad is doing an interim there, and it worked out that the one Sunday we had available was the one Sunday that their organist had to take off!
We started with a few originals, and then led the congregation in "How Great Thou Art." When you have a smaller crowd, the fear is always that they'll be shy and not sing, but let me tell you, these people SAANG! (say "saang" with a Southern accent for full effect.) It was awesome!
We led all the hymns, and did some originals and signature pieces throughout the service. It was just a wonderful service, and so great to hear Dad preach.
After a short turn-around time, we made our way over to St. John's York Mills for the Gathering service. Drew had asked us to kick it up a notch this week, and we were up for the challenge. Our team included us, Brian on drums, and Monika and Derwyn on vocals.
I'm not bragging, but I have to say, tonight felt great! There was a flow to the songs, and the energy was all very positive. We had some great harmonies happening, and they all kind of built and flowed very naturally. Gerald's guitar grooves kept the energy moving, and Brian's rhythms lifted us in all the right places.
We also featured a song Gerald wrote last year with Sue Smith called "My Soul is Spoken For." It fit in well with the theme, and at the end, we added a repeating refrain so the audience could join us.
We really felt like a team tonight. Awesome.
I've said this before, but it's so true:
Church is always pretty good, but some times, it's just really good!
Today, it was really good!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Tin Pan North - Hugh's Room
I'm writing this the morning after as things went late the night before.
Last night, I attended the closing night of Tin Pan North at the always awesome Hugh's Room. After such a busy week, it was great to just sit back and enjoy the great rounds.
The first round featured country artist Codie Prevost, singer-songwriter Madeline Slate, and Nashville whriter Steve Leslie.
Gerald has been working with Steve for at least year, so he was first on my list to bring up for the festival. Steve is a killer writer and an awesome guitar player. He'll have the whole audience laughing, and then break their hearts with a song like "Full-time Sinner, Some-time Saint" (a personal favourite).
Steve had my favourite line of the night: "We songwriters don't owe the truth a thing."
Codie is a great performer, and Madeline was the discovery of the night with her rooted and passionate songs.
The second round featured ASCAP VP Ralph Murphy, country artist Patricia Conroy, Nashville writer Tim Johnson, and Canadian writer Dean McTaggart.
There was a ton of mutual respect in this round, and lots of comradeship, which made the whole thing very entertaining. Great stories mixed with amazing songs for a round that ended far too quickly.
The rest of the night was peppered reports from the week's shows and cool conversations with creative people of all disciplines.
Tin Pan North is a huge undertaking, and it's been a long week. I didn't book a service for us this morning (we're playing for the Gathering service at St. John's tonight), and I'm so glad I didn't! We're exhausted today, and thankful for a few hours of down time.
Of course, tomorrow I'll need to get my car towed, but that's another story...
Last night, I attended the closing night of Tin Pan North at the always awesome Hugh's Room. After such a busy week, it was great to just sit back and enjoy the great rounds.
The first round featured country artist Codie Prevost, singer-songwriter Madeline Slate, and Nashville whriter Steve Leslie.
Gerald has been working with Steve for at least year, so he was first on my list to bring up for the festival. Steve is a killer writer and an awesome guitar player. He'll have the whole audience laughing, and then break their hearts with a song like "Full-time Sinner, Some-time Saint" (a personal favourite).
Steve had my favourite line of the night: "We songwriters don't owe the truth a thing."
Codie is a great performer, and Madeline was the discovery of the night with her rooted and passionate songs.
The second round featured ASCAP VP Ralph Murphy, country artist Patricia Conroy, Nashville writer Tim Johnson, and Canadian writer Dean McTaggart.
There was a ton of mutual respect in this round, and lots of comradeship, which made the whole thing very entertaining. Great stories mixed with amazing songs for a round that ended far too quickly.
The rest of the night was peppered reports from the week's shows and cool conversations with creative people of all disciplines.
Tin Pan North is a huge undertaking, and it's been a long week. I didn't book a service for us this morning (we're playing for the Gathering service at St. John's tonight), and I'm so glad I didn't! We're exhausted today, and thankful for a few hours of down time.
Of course, tomorrow I'll need to get my car towed, but that's another story...
Friday, May 28, 2010
Tin Pan North Gospel Show
Tonight was the first ever Tin Pan North Gospel Show! Whoo-hoo!
The show was sponsored and supported by the Tin Pan North festival, but most of the organizing fell to Gerald and me. We pulled together volunteers, did some advertising, and secured a great line-up of songwriters.
We gathered at the church around 6:30 with NSAI songwriters Paul Grady and Tom McInerny and headliner Ali Matthews and her guitar player, Rick Francis.
Two of the committee members provided a sound system for us (yay!), but at the last minute, we lost our volunteer sound person (not yay).
So Gerald and Tom started working on the sound system, trying to make it all work, when Rick showed up and announced that he owns a studio and running sound is second nature to him (cue the Hallelujah Chorus!). Rick set the whole thing up, ran our sound check, and then continued to tweak and run sound the entire show, while also playing guitar for Ali. (final chord: Hal-leeeee-luu-jaaaaaaahhhhh!)
The show began, and it was awesome! We had a total of 6 people on stage, and did 4 songs each in a Nashville round style. Paul's songs were calming and folky, and Tom's songs had a dramatic twist. He also made use of the church's grand piano, adding another cool element to the show.
Gerald did a wide range of songs, including his 9-11 song "Angels in the Dust" and his original rocking version of "Real Big Fan" (as opposed to my jazzy version.) Most of my songs were written in the past year, like "Living Manna," "Brighter Happy Day," and the brand new song I debuted last night, "I Wanna Make Some Noise."
Ali and Rick were amazing together! Ali has a beautiful voice and gorgeous songs. Rick would add guitar solos, and at one point he used his pedal to loop a guitar riff and play a solo over it. If you've never seen a guitar player do this before, it's very cool and he basically ended up playing a duet with himself.
For the inaugural Gospel Show, I was very pleased with the results. The crowd was very appreciative, the players were great, and the energy in the room was wonderful! Tonight, we're exhausted, but it was so worth the effort.
Mark your calendars for next year!
The show was sponsored and supported by the Tin Pan North festival, but most of the organizing fell to Gerald and me. We pulled together volunteers, did some advertising, and secured a great line-up of songwriters.
We gathered at the church around 6:30 with NSAI songwriters Paul Grady and Tom McInerny and headliner Ali Matthews and her guitar player, Rick Francis.
Two of the committee members provided a sound system for us (yay!), but at the last minute, we lost our volunteer sound person (not yay).
So Gerald and Tom started working on the sound system, trying to make it all work, when Rick showed up and announced that he owns a studio and running sound is second nature to him (cue the Hallelujah Chorus!). Rick set the whole thing up, ran our sound check, and then continued to tweak and run sound the entire show, while also playing guitar for Ali. (final chord: Hal-leeeee-luu-jaaaaaaahhhhh!)
The show began, and it was awesome! We had a total of 6 people on stage, and did 4 songs each in a Nashville round style. Paul's songs were calming and folky, and Tom's songs had a dramatic twist. He also made use of the church's grand piano, adding another cool element to the show.
Gerald did a wide range of songs, including his 9-11 song "Angels in the Dust" and his original rocking version of "Real Big Fan" (as opposed to my jazzy version.) Most of my songs were written in the past year, like "Living Manna," "Brighter Happy Day," and the brand new song I debuted last night, "I Wanna Make Some Noise."
Ali and Rick were amazing together! Ali has a beautiful voice and gorgeous songs. Rick would add guitar solos, and at one point he used his pedal to loop a guitar riff and play a solo over it. If you've never seen a guitar player do this before, it's very cool and he basically ended up playing a duet with himself.
For the inaugural Gospel Show, I was very pleased with the results. The crowd was very appreciative, the players were great, and the energy in the room was wonderful! Tonight, we're exhausted, but it was so worth the effort.
Mark your calendars for next year!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tin Pan North - Trane
After months of planning, Tin Pan North has begun!
The official start was the London show last night, and tonight we kicked it off in Toronto. Gerald and I played the early round at Trane, a neat little jazz club in the Annex. Karl Widmeyer was the third NSAI member, and Katherine Wheatley was our headliner.
Sometimes, a round can be a tedious thing, but not tonight. Karl has a great voice and cool songs, and Katherine is just awesome - wonderful songs and a gracious stage presence.
The room was mostly full, so that felt good as well.
One show down, one to go. Come join us for the Gospel Show tomorrow night!
The official start was the London show last night, and tonight we kicked it off in Toronto. Gerald and I played the early round at Trane, a neat little jazz club in the Annex. Karl Widmeyer was the third NSAI member, and Katherine Wheatley was our headliner.
Sometimes, a round can be a tedious thing, but not tonight. Karl has a great voice and cool songs, and Katherine is just awesome - wonderful songs and a gracious stage presence.
The room was mostly full, so that felt good as well.
One show down, one to go. Come join us for the Gospel Show tomorrow night!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
It's coming soon......
Just a reminder that our Tin Pan North Gospel Show is this Friday!
If you're anywhere close to the GTA, come join us for this awesome night of Christian songwriting!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
A Double St. John's Sunday
It amazes me the number of churches we sing at that are named after St. John. We currently have 3, and we've just added a fourth.
Today, we hit 2 of them.
In the morning, we sang at St. John's West in High Park. The request had come in for a service full of old Gospel hymns, so we sang "In the Garden," "Just a Closer Walk," and our own version of "How Great Thou Art." St. John's has been our friend for a long time, and it's always good to go back for a visit.
In the evening, Gerald and I were on board to lead the music for the Gathering service. Our focus was songs of comfort and encouragement, so we asked a member of the congregation to open the service with Matthew 6:25-34. We wanted to build a bit of a team for the service, so our friends Derwyn and Deanna joined us on vocals, which meant lots of great harmonies. Deanna did a solo of "All Who are Thirsty," and we were able to build the harmony from one-part to two-part and ended with 3 parts. Awesome!
There's always a little apprehension when you bring new musicians together for a performance that only has one quick rehearsal, so we went back to basics - listen, sing with sensitivity, and rely on your strengths.
In the best moments, working with other people makes you better...
Better because you bring your best to the table...
Better because you learn to offer and receive grace...
Better because you discover your own strengths and weaknesses...
It can take us outside our comfort zones, but if we can make great music, and learn a little more about ourselves, it's always worth it.
Today, we hit 2 of them.
In the morning, we sang at St. John's West in High Park. The request had come in for a service full of old Gospel hymns, so we sang "In the Garden," "Just a Closer Walk," and our own version of "How Great Thou Art." St. John's has been our friend for a long time, and it's always good to go back for a visit.
In the evening, Gerald and I were on board to lead the music for the Gathering service. Our focus was songs of comfort and encouragement, so we asked a member of the congregation to open the service with Matthew 6:25-34. We wanted to build a bit of a team for the service, so our friends Derwyn and Deanna joined us on vocals, which meant lots of great harmonies. Deanna did a solo of "All Who are Thirsty," and we were able to build the harmony from one-part to two-part and ended with 3 parts. Awesome!
There's always a little apprehension when you bring new musicians together for a performance that only has one quick rehearsal, so we went back to basics - listen, sing with sensitivity, and rely on your strengths.
In the best moments, working with other people makes you better...
Better because you bring your best to the table...
Better because you learn to offer and receive grace...
Better because you discover your own strengths and weaknesses...
It can take us outside our comfort zones, but if we can make great music, and learn a little more about ourselves, it's always worth it.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Lessons from Backwoods Barbie & the Gambler
Friday's Oprah guest was the one and only Dolly Parton. She was funny and charming and just so Dolly.
She told an amazing story about the time Elvis wanted to record "I Will Always Love You." She was over-the-moon excited, until Colonel Parker told her that Elvis wouldn't record the song unless Dolly gave them half her publishing. It had already been a hit for her, and she had decided to hold onto that song and leave it to her family.
Imagine what an amazing recording Elvis would have done of that song! We would still be downloading it today, debating its status as a 'classic.' Dolly admitted to crying for days after losing the cut, but her "no" meant that she got to keep her song. Years later, when Whitney Houston recreated "I Will Always Love You," Dolly got to celebrate full ownership of this awesome song.
Sometimes a "No" leads to a bigger "Yes."
As Dolly was singing, she brought out her friend, Kenny Rogers, for a surprise duet. When Oprah asked the secret to their great creative relationship, Kenny said something that all artists should take note of.
He said that every performer has 3 versions of themselves. There's the person the audience sees, there's the person we portray ourselves as, and there's the real us.
He said that if you really want success in the music industry, those 3 people need to be very similar. The closer those 3 people match up, the better it all seems to work.
I guess it all goes back to that word we love to throw around so much: Authentic.
Something to think about on a Friday afternoon...
She told an amazing story about the time Elvis wanted to record "I Will Always Love You." She was over-the-moon excited, until Colonel Parker told her that Elvis wouldn't record the song unless Dolly gave them half her publishing. It had already been a hit for her, and she had decided to hold onto that song and leave it to her family.
Imagine what an amazing recording Elvis would have done of that song! We would still be downloading it today, debating its status as a 'classic.' Dolly admitted to crying for days after losing the cut, but her "no" meant that she got to keep her song. Years later, when Whitney Houston recreated "I Will Always Love You," Dolly got to celebrate full ownership of this awesome song.
Sometimes a "No" leads to a bigger "Yes."
As Dolly was singing, she brought out her friend, Kenny Rogers, for a surprise duet. When Oprah asked the secret to their great creative relationship, Kenny said something that all artists should take note of.
He said that every performer has 3 versions of themselves. There's the person the audience sees, there's the person we portray ourselves as, and there's the real us.
He said that if you really want success in the music industry, those 3 people need to be very similar. The closer those 3 people match up, the better it all seems to work.
I guess it all goes back to that word we love to throw around so much: Authentic.
Something to think about on a Friday afternoon...
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Jazzy Sunday
We decided to step outside the box a little tonight and start incorporating a little jazz into the Gathering (evening service). Gerald worked up 2 great arrangements of "Be Thou My Vision" and "People Get Ready." We met before the service for a quick rehearsal with Monique on piano and Brian on drums.
We ran the songs a few times, and then played on all the songs for the service. Drew preached on 'conversion', basing his discussion on Paul's conversion in Acts. It lead to an inspiring and challenging discussion.
After the final song, we ran our 2 jazz songs. By that time, the vibe was just right, and the songs were musical and spiritual. After the second song, one of our friends in the congregation told us how much she loves our rendition of "Give Me Jesus," so we offered to play it for her. We've never done it with drums before, but it all just flowed and felt fantastic.
There are times when the music, the message, and the worship all swirl together to take us to the next level, and it felt like we were touching on that tonight. And trust me, there's no ego in my saying that - when things get to that level, it has very little to do with us.
We ran the songs a few times, and then played on all the songs for the service. Drew preached on 'conversion', basing his discussion on Paul's conversion in Acts. It lead to an inspiring and challenging discussion.
After the final song, we ran our 2 jazz songs. By that time, the vibe was just right, and the songs were musical and spiritual. After the second song, one of our friends in the congregation told us how much she loves our rendition of "Give Me Jesus," so we offered to play it for her. We've never done it with drums before, but it all just flowed and felt fantastic.
There are times when the music, the message, and the worship all swirl together to take us to the next level, and it felt like we were touching on that tonight. And trust me, there's no ego in my saying that - when things get to that level, it has very little to do with us.
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