Normal Rockstar

Back on the Road with Shawn McDonald

It's time to get back on the road. My band has spent the last couple of months in the studio working on our next studio release which is sounding KILLER (I'm a little biased, but I think you'll like it). So it's been nice to be home and do regular 'home" things... however, the coffers are empty and it's time to get back out on the road and sell some t-shirts!

And we're hitting it pretty hard... In the next 37 days we've got 27 shows (and 4 of those "off" days are GMA Week) from Florida to Washington State, Montana to California, and many stops in between. We're supporting an artist named Shawn McDonald and will be joined by a good friend of ours, Jason Gray. Along with drumming, I will be road managing the tour, so it's going to be a busy next few weeks for me. I will do my best to blog consistently, but if I disappear for a few days, you know what the deal is - it's called self preservation! I'd love it if you came by one of the shows and said hi though... Or just sign up to follow me on Twitter and keep tabs of me that way. Thanks - time to get back to work!

downhere, music, shawn mdonald, Twitter

Google CIO Moves to EMI

No, this is not the next George Clooney - his name is Douglas Merrill and he was the CIO of Google... until yesterday, when the blogosphere lit up with stories about his departure from Google to EMI to take over as president [HT: John Furrier].

Yes, you read that right: an ex-Google executive is now president of one of the largest music labels in the world.

Talk about taking on a new challenge - moving from the internet company that seems to have everyone talking and wanting jobs to an industry that has been reeling for years, bleeding sales, and still hasn't figured out what the next model should look like! I'm not sure whether to give him props for stepping up to the plate or to just give him the old fashioned "What are you - stupid?!?". I guess we'll have to see how EMI does - they're obviously banking on a little Google magic...

To read more on the story, click here and here.

"Amazing Grace" & the History of Negro Spirituals

Here's a great quick history-of-music lesson someone sent me, including a moving performance of "Amazing Grace". Enjoy!

[This post is part of Watercooler Wednesday - click here to check it out.]

Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic: Speaking Out Against Christian Music Industry?

[Editor's note: I wrote this entry yesterday and lost it before I was able to post it. So this is my second attempt...]

I came across an interview the other day that peaked my interest [HT: Supersimbo]. Ryan Tedder, lead singer for the band OneRepublic, was interviewed by the Houston Chronicle and was quoted as saying the following (click here for the full article):

"Q: You were raised by an extended family of missionaries and pastors. Has that played into your music?

A: I got offered a Christian record deal. I'm Christian, I grew up in the church. But I'm not going to tour churches. I was raised in Oklahoma. Tulsa's like the buckle of the Bible Belt. I grew up in that environment. I was in Nashville for two years, (and) I quickly became friends with probably half a dozen of some of the biggest Christian recording artists. Every single one of them was absolutely miserable with the fact that they were "Christian" recording artists. I saw some stuff in Nashville that turned my stomach. Some of the most pretentious, insecure people I ever met were Christian recording artists."

I'm a Christian... I have a Christian record deal... I play in a lot of churches... I live in Nashville... Does that mean I'm miserable, pretentious, and insecure?

On the first read, it would appear that Tedder has a bone to pick with the CCM industry. But I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. Why? Because, with very few exceptions, I agree with everything he said. I see stuff in Nashville that turns my stomach too. And I have met very pretentious, insecure people who call themselves Christian artists. I think he exaggerates his point a little bit by stating that every single one of his "big Christian recording artist friends" was "absolutely miserable" with what they did, but I know there are some who look on the other side of the fence and see greener pastures.

Here's my deal: Tedder claims he's a Christian - I believe him. Therefore, both he and I belong to the same family, the same Body. And as different members of one body, we serve different functions. Tedder feels called to "the world"; my primary focus is to the Church. One is not better than the other - both are vitally important to the furthering of the Kingdom. Yes, there is a lot that is un-Christ-like about the Christian music industry - I will be the first to point that out. But can't the same be said about the Church?

Groban and Bocelli: YouTube Video Pulled

It looks like someone busted whoever posted the YouTube video of Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli singing at the Grammy's the other night (it's no longer available when you click on the link I included in my post). So the best I can do for you now is post some footage of them rehearsing prior to the show - who knows how long THIS video will be up!

Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli at the Grammy Awards

I didn't get to see the whole show the other night, but I caught about the last 30 minutes, and I've got to say that this performance was my favorite. Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli perform "The Prayer" together in tribute to Luciano Pavarotti. It's obviously a beautiful song, but what struck me the most was how effortlessly Andrea Bocelli hit those notes. He sang circles around Groban (he had an off night, okay?)! If you missed it, pretend you never heard Celine Dion sing this song and give it a chance.

UPDATE: Well, the video's been pulled from YouTube because of a copyright issue (I guess the GRAMMYs are busting people who recorded the show and put it on YouTube). Check this post to see a rehearsal clip anyway...

 

"How Many Kings" - update

The most frequently visited post in the history of my blog was just posted in the last couple of months. Back in early December I talked briefly about a new Christmas song called "How Many Kings" that my band had recorded and released to radio in time for the Christmas season (you can read the original post here and actually listen to the song if you haven't heard it yet). I'm STILL getting hits from people via Google who are looking for more information on the song. Well, here's the update from our standpoint: "How Many Kings" went as high as #4 on the radio charts which makes it our highest charting single ever (before that our highest was #8). It was so successful at radio that we are already in talks with various artists and agencies about doing a Christmas tour in an effort to share the song with even more people.

So if you have found this post and my blog via a Google search for this song, thanks for your help in getting this song so much airplay! And stick around for more updates on things downhere related and not.

Christmas Comes Early for Mrs. Normal Rockstar

I surprised Erin with an early Christmas present on Saturday morning. I woke her up at 6:00am and said, "Rise and shine! You've got 45 minutes to pack a bag for one night - we're leaving." When she finally figured out that I was serious and not simply talking in my sleep (which I do on a fairly regular basis), she crawled out of bed like the good sport that she is and got packed up.

We drove to the airport in Nashville where the lady at the ticket counter somewhat spoiled the next stage of my surprise weekend by calling out my name AND destination while putting on my bag tag. Off to Chicago we went - but for what Erin didn't know.

We arrived to snow in Chicago via Detroit and found our way to the hotel, where we received an envelope at the front desk. Inside were two tickets to the musical "Wicked", the "untold story of the witches of Oz",  a show Erin has been wanting to see for years, We had about an hour to rest and get changed before we hopped on the train and found our way downtown, where we ate dinner at a cute corner cafe before heading in to the theater and finding our seats.

The show was spectacular - the songwriting was clever and the story enticing. It was the second performance of the day for the cast and orchestra (they do a matinee show on Saturdays), but we couldn't tell at all. The vocalists were strong, the sets fantastic, and the choreography thrilling. We found ourselves sitting on the edge of seats most of the night afraid that we would miss something. Well worth the trip... although the events of the following day gave us reason to second guess ourselves... (Come back tomorrow for "...the rest of the story"!)

New Christmas song: "How Many Kings"

Everyone I know gets excited about Christmas music at Christmas time. When I was single my rule was that I couldn't start listening to Christmas music until December 1st. However, when I moved to Nashville, I quickly discovered that there was a deeply embedded cultural tradition that the day after American Thanksgiving was not only the biggest shopping day of the year but also the day that people started listening to Christmas music... so in recent years I've given in to tradition and broken out the Christmas tunes a week earlier than I used to.

I told you about a rather classical Christmas album in my last post - here's one for those of you who have a hard time swallowing that kind of music. My band - downhere - wrote a couple of original Christmas songs last year as part of a Christmas compilation CD that our record label was working on featuring various artists on our label. One of the songs - "How Many Kings" - was released to radio this year and has been doing really well. We've had a number of requests for chord charts and such so that people can lead it in their church services during the holidays. The lyrics are pretty powerful:

Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe, after all we've projected,
A child in a manger?
Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl -
Just a child -
Is this who we've waited for? 'cause...

How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have, whether costly or meek
Because we believe.
Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he will suffer
Do you believe?
Is this who we've waited for?

All for me...
All for you...

If you want to pick up the album to add to your Christmas collection (I don't think you'll be disappointed!), you can get a physical copy here or download it from iTunes here. You can ALSO get the accompaniment track here if you want to perform the song. Finally, if you're looking for chord charts for the song, you can download that here.

Interview: "The Birth of Christ" Composer Andrew Miller

When people think of classic Christmas musicals, Handel's "Messiah" is always the first on the list. Well, this week I had the privilege of talking with composer Andrew T. Miller about a work of his entitled "The Birth of Christ", a musical that many are already heralding as the next "Messiah". PBS is actually airing the DVD during the holidays (more on this later) - click here to find out when your local station will show it.

One of my first questions for him had to do with the fact that it is a cantata and is sung in a somewhat operatic style. "The inspiration for ["The Birth of Christ"] came 10-12 years ago when I decided to write something that would underscore the real meaning of Christmas," Andrew said. "I wrote it for real people... I wanted it to be accessible to everyday people, not just music connoisseurs, but still wanted it to have some weight to it. After seeing it, people have told me, 'It moved me to tears - and I don't even like music like this!'"

Narrated by Liam Neeson, "The Birth of Christ" was recorded live in Dublin, Ireland in 2006. This historic event united the same choirs Handel used to unveil the “Messiah” in 1742.  Brought together in unity and peace for this performance, Protestants and Catholics put aside the sectarian differences that have divided them for generations and joined their voices to celebrate their similarities - i.e. the importance of the birth of Christ.

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