but, baby, it's cold outside

5:12 pm tues., 11/27/07

right now i'm in a really cozy, warm coffee shop called "the rocket" in spokane, washington. i'm drinking a numi honeybush tea and checking out the video of my show last night in gig harbor, wa. just passing an hour resting my voice before load-in and sound-check for tonight's show, the last of a very enjoyable 3-day tour of the beautiful northwest...

i spent some time over at the youth center that spokane valley's young life office owns today after a nice lunch with ian cooley, a 24-yr old guy from out here who reminds me a lot of my buddy & friend from church growing up, pj towle - almost physically identical, which makes spokane feel just remotely like home, which is a good thing right now. ha - just started listening "turn my head to home" as i typed that! ian picked me up from the airport today and i felt like i knew him for years - my dad has a theory that that sort of feeling comes from us christians having the holy spirit with us always that recognizes itself in other christians we encounter. somewhat like the feeling inside i'd bet twins feel around each other.

there have been a handful of very distinct moments of clarity of what i'm "here" to do - here meaning on earth, not just in washington - like last night onstage in gig harbor and seeing everyone's smiles and hearing them singing along on my songs. as my good friend ryan brown said on the phone while i was driving to the show in the pouring rain on I-5 through tacoma, "there's nothing better than hearing your lyrics sung back to you." it's true, at least in a musical/songwriting sense. for one moment - sometimes more! - you share the "present" with someone, maybe more than one person, maybe an entire room or a group of friends who paid good money to see you play your songs live, and it's very communal, to tag a somewhat clinical term to it. everything clicks into place and there's that thought that comes through your head that makes everything else around you - outside the room, outside of the whole "show" perspective - is put on hold while you and the audience share the performance together. it can, at that point, go just about anywhere and it's nearly indescribable to pinpoint the collection of emotion - joy, excitement, bittersweet"ness" because the moment is constantly changing, i don't know exactly which i'd use...

i'm sharing my God-given talents onstage and elsewhere, as i continue to move forward with my marriage, work, and time here on this small little place in the universe we call home, which is assuring to know - and do, for that matter. this is a good transitionary place i'm in right now and i look forward to enjoying the next chapter even better than this one.

speaking of "chapters," i picked up a new book - new for me, not new to the world :) - today at the sea-tac airport borders, "searching for God knows what" by donald miller. i've only read the first chapter and enjoy it already; specifically, his argument that pigeonholing God's wisdom, purposes, and guiding hand on my life's plan subverts the very wisdom and oversight we all too often ask for, if not have the tendency to take for granted in prayers we send His way. in other words - in miller's words - there is no "formula" for God - or 12-step program for successful living- needed when God is in the picture in our lives. should make for an interesting read...let me know if you've read it :)

thanks for stopping by, as always. God bless you and yours.

Hedback Theatre Benefit Concert

Indy-based singer/songwriter Scott Kline and I have teamed up to help a great cause in Indianapolis, the 1st Annual Footlite Coffeehouse Benefit Concert, next Friday, 11/30.

This is an ALL-AGES concert and all proceeds will go towards the renovation of historic Hedback Theatre in Indianapolis, home of Footlite Musicals. Refreshments will be served by Starbuck's and Tea's Me Cafe' and all sorts of merchandise will be available from Scott and me. Please spread the word and support Hedback Theatre's renovation!

Here are the details on the not-to-be-missed show:

FRIDAY, NOV. 30
Hedback Theatre
1847 N. Alabama St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
6 PM doors/7 PM show
$10 adv/$12 door, (317) 926-6630 for advance discounted tickets.

See you there!

RA

Northwest Tour Announcement

To all the fantastic folks from Bellarmine, Gonzaga Prep, Bonney Lake, White River, Enumclaw, Spokane, etc. (I can't remember everyone's high school's name - forgive me!), this blog is specifically for you! I can't tell you how excited I've been to get back out to the northwest and play for you guys since our time together at Malibu (aka "the best place on Earth"). Here's all the details you'll need for next week's shows, so spread the word and show up with a crew!

Here's an added bonus: I'll have special "collector's" copies of a CD I'm calling "Live at Malibu 2007" at the shows for only $10. The 13-track CD is a compilation of songs I played during my concert each week at Malibu and includes 4 previously unreleased songs you can't find anywhere else! You guys spoke up and said you wanted to get your hands on a strictly ACOUSTIC recording and now you can have it. You just might hear yourself in the audience, too ;)

Here are the details on the shows:

SUNDAY, NOV. 25
Enumclaw/White River, WA Young Life
Glacier Middle School Auditorium (in Buckley)
7 PM show, ALL-AGES!
$5 adv/$7 door, (360) 825-6245 for tix
Folk/soul singer-songwriter Jesse Mac opens.

MONDAY, NOV. 26
Tacoma/Gig Harbor, WA Young Life
Best Western Wesley Inn
6675 Kimball Dr., Gig Harbor, WA 98335
7 PM show, ALL-AGES!
$5 tickets
Singer-songwriter Allen Scott opens.

TUESDAY, NOV. 27
Spokane Valley, WA Young Life
New Community Church
1003 E. Trent Ave., Spokane WA 99202
7:30 PM show, ALL-AGES!
$5 tickets

Can't wait. See you there!