Monday
Jun052006
a crazy day
Monday, June 5, 2006 at 12:55AM
I’m in Andrew Peterson’s borrowed van right now on the way back from a Caedmon’s show in Atlanta. Tonight was a blast of a concert. Everybody was there, which we’re realizing is the thing that really works for us. Go figure. Anyway, it was a great crowd, some good friends were there and fun was had by all.
Danielle and I did an acoustic version of “I Did Not Catch Her Name� from ‘Share the Well’ and it was pretty powerful, at least for me. We’d never performed it live before and it was really great to relive that memory of our time in Ecuador through Randall’s beautiful song. I played “Early in the Morning� tonight and I thought it went well also.
Our road manager, Kevin Mann, has been a friend of mine for years, since way before I even played with Caedmon’s. His wife Mandy has an absolutely KILLER voice and they opened for us tonight. I haven’t heard them play in probably a year or two, at least, and they did a great job. I think she’ll be opening at least a few more shows for us here and there and I couldn’t be happier. They’re some of the most loving and caring people I’ve ever known and it was just a total joy to watch them getting to play her songs for a nice, big crowd and to see how much they enjoyed them. It’s that kind of thing that makes me so glad I play for Caedmon’s instead of just whoever as some hired gun.
An old friend from Normal lives in Atlanta now and he and his wife came out to the show. Earlier in the day I went to the guitar store he works at and he got me a deal on a FullTone FullDrive 2 pedal which, I must say, severely kicks monster tail. I was incredibly happy with the tone of it. Huge sound, with a lot of options. I’ve been thinking I might put my BadCat 2Tone overdrive pedal up on Ebay anyway. I try every year to sell the piece of gear I feel I can’t do without to keep me on my toes, so if you want it let me know.
Anyway, Steve and Nicole, I don’t think I said their names in that last paragraph, came to the show and afterwards their car wouldn’t start so I drove ol’ Andy P’s van to their car to give them a jump. Well, something must have been crossed in that set of cables, or it must have had a short in it or something, because both batteries started smoking and then the plastic around the handles and the cables started melting! Before you know it, every ounce of rubber on them was in puddles on the ground, the air was stinging our eyes and Steve and I were trying to yank the sparking handles off with the random t-shirts we could find in the van to shield our hands. I caught a bit of one of the handles on my thumb and it got fairly burnt, but we finally got them off and it settled down. Another set of cables got their car started, but man, it was a crazy time.
Speaking of a crazy time (what do you think of that segue!?) Garett, Cason, Mark Polack and I are playing with Matthew Perryman Jones Tuesday night in Nashville at the Radio Café. Sandra McCracken will be playing that night, too, with the same band, except Derek’s playing guitar for her. It will be a fun night, so come out if you’re around.
Speaking of Derek, I just got off the phone with my parents. He played in Normal last night and my folks went to the show. I was off doing a Caedmon’s show. That’s kind of funny to me. They loved it, of course, and allegedly he said some nice things about me, seeing as he was in my hometown. I like that guy.
In the Square Peg world, we’re listening to Matthew’s new record right now, very LOUDLY, in the van and it’s fantastic. It’s called “Throwing Punches in the Dark�. The songs are great and his voice sounds amazing, and if you’ve ever heard Matthew sing you know he has the voice of the Gods, and he’s totally topped himself on this record. It’s great. You all need to buy it. I think there’s a link over here ‡ to his website. Tell him I sent you.
I’m also going to be playing a CD Release show in Nashville on June 20. Matthew will be opening and we’re playing at the Mercy Lounge on 8th Avenue. I’ll have a full band and much rock will be had. I’ll post the flyer for it up here tomorrow and I’d love to get your help spreading the word to get people out to the show.
Well, I should probably take a shift driving so we can all get some rest seeing as we’ll be getting in at 2 or 3 in the morning. Thanks so much to all of you who came out to the show tonight in Atlanta and last night in Chattanooga. It’s been a fun weekend of shows and I’m looking forward to playing with MPJ on Tuesday night and working on Kevin Lawson’s record during the days for most of the week. Thanks for stopping by and reading this incredibly long update. Not to beat a dead horse, which I bet is illegal, but I couldn’t do this stuff without your support and encouragement and I thank you again for being a part of what I do. Talk to you soon.
Danielle and I did an acoustic version of “I Did Not Catch Her Name� from ‘Share the Well’ and it was pretty powerful, at least for me. We’d never performed it live before and it was really great to relive that memory of our time in Ecuador through Randall’s beautiful song. I played “Early in the Morning� tonight and I thought it went well also.
Our road manager, Kevin Mann, has been a friend of mine for years, since way before I even played with Caedmon’s. His wife Mandy has an absolutely KILLER voice and they opened for us tonight. I haven’t heard them play in probably a year or two, at least, and they did a great job. I think she’ll be opening at least a few more shows for us here and there and I couldn’t be happier. They’re some of the most loving and caring people I’ve ever known and it was just a total joy to watch them getting to play her songs for a nice, big crowd and to see how much they enjoyed them. It’s that kind of thing that makes me so glad I play for Caedmon’s instead of just whoever as some hired gun.
An old friend from Normal lives in Atlanta now and he and his wife came out to the show. Earlier in the day I went to the guitar store he works at and he got me a deal on a FullTone FullDrive 2 pedal which, I must say, severely kicks monster tail. I was incredibly happy with the tone of it. Huge sound, with a lot of options. I’ve been thinking I might put my BadCat 2Tone overdrive pedal up on Ebay anyway. I try every year to sell the piece of gear I feel I can’t do without to keep me on my toes, so if you want it let me know.
Anyway, Steve and Nicole, I don’t think I said their names in that last paragraph, came to the show and afterwards their car wouldn’t start so I drove ol’ Andy P’s van to their car to give them a jump. Well, something must have been crossed in that set of cables, or it must have had a short in it or something, because both batteries started smoking and then the plastic around the handles and the cables started melting! Before you know it, every ounce of rubber on them was in puddles on the ground, the air was stinging our eyes and Steve and I were trying to yank the sparking handles off with the random t-shirts we could find in the van to shield our hands. I caught a bit of one of the handles on my thumb and it got fairly burnt, but we finally got them off and it settled down. Another set of cables got their car started, but man, it was a crazy time.
Speaking of a crazy time (what do you think of that segue!?) Garett, Cason, Mark Polack and I are playing with Matthew Perryman Jones Tuesday night in Nashville at the Radio Café. Sandra McCracken will be playing that night, too, with the same band, except Derek’s playing guitar for her. It will be a fun night, so come out if you’re around.
Speaking of Derek, I just got off the phone with my parents. He played in Normal last night and my folks went to the show. I was off doing a Caedmon’s show. That’s kind of funny to me. They loved it, of course, and allegedly he said some nice things about me, seeing as he was in my hometown. I like that guy.
In the Square Peg world, we’re listening to Matthew’s new record right now, very LOUDLY, in the van and it’s fantastic. It’s called “Throwing Punches in the Dark�. The songs are great and his voice sounds amazing, and if you’ve ever heard Matthew sing you know he has the voice of the Gods, and he’s totally topped himself on this record. It’s great. You all need to buy it. I think there’s a link over here ‡ to his website. Tell him I sent you.
I’m also going to be playing a CD Release show in Nashville on June 20. Matthew will be opening and we’re playing at the Mercy Lounge on 8th Avenue. I’ll have a full band and much rock will be had. I’ll post the flyer for it up here tomorrow and I’d love to get your help spreading the word to get people out to the show.
Well, I should probably take a shift driving so we can all get some rest seeing as we’ll be getting in at 2 or 3 in the morning. Thanks so much to all of you who came out to the show tonight in Atlanta and last night in Chattanooga. It’s been a fun weekend of shows and I’m looking forward to playing with MPJ on Tuesday night and working on Kevin Lawson’s record during the days for most of the week. Thanks for stopping by and reading this incredibly long update. Not to beat a dead horse, which I bet is illegal, but I couldn’t do this stuff without your support and encouragement and I thank you again for being a part of what I do. Talk to you soon.
Reader Comments (10)
The same exact thing happened to me in the parking lot of Cedar Point. It is indeed a crazy and frightening sight. But with my van, we actually got a key turned, and the starter spun itself into a flaming mess as well. It was awesomely bad.
You know, most jumper cables have instructions on them so that you don't hook them up backwards like that... :-) Scary, man, that's a lot of amps coming from that battery. You already lost a toe to a lawnmower, we don't need you to lose a finger to a set of jumper cables!
Wish I lived closer to Nashvegas so I could come to some of these shows. Why don't they ever do cool shows in Iowa? I'm sure we have a corn fest or something you could play at. :-)
"I Did Not Catch Her Name" was great...it's such an amazing song.
It was good seeing you again. Everybody sounded really great. I've already got 6/20 on the calendar (though, to be fair, I haven't told/asked my wife yet).
We had a great time.... the show was incredible. Thanks for taking time to talk with us before the show!
We really enjoyed the show last night-- your Hogwarts comment was hilarious!
"I went up a staircase and a portrait talked to me. I came back and the staircase was gone!"
I especially enjoyed hearing "Bombay" live, since it's one of my favorites from Share the Well, and "I Did Not Catch Her Name" was just fantastic live. Though I've heard "Early in the Morning" live before (at AP's Christmas show), it was great on the Mann guitar, and I enjoyed the extra commentary, especially about your mom asking "Who was THAT?" about the girl in 7th grade...that would so be my mom.
We've had both "The Morning" and "Photographs" since last Tuesday and have been digesting them all week. Both wonderful! I just wanted to say thanks-- I've had some "anger issues" of my own this past year and both your albums have helped heal a little of the broken places. Keep writing in the midst of this fallen world-- it's an encouragement to many.
Wow! What an eventful weekend! Its always fun to have something happen and in the back of your head you go, "This is going to make some fun blog material." I had a crazy weekend too which I will be blogging on with some pictures and videos. Its all gold.
Wow, I feel famous being mentioned in Andy Osenga's blog....insane! Anyway, thanks for all the help last night. That whole incident was out of control...
Anyway, our car is feeling better now, as we bought it a new battery.
Hey, just wanna echo the other comments about last night's show in Atlanta. The band sounded fantastic, the crowd was great, the setlist was great, the church was great, and Andy O was super cool as always. Thanks for the great show and signing my copies of The Morning and the new Photographs (Andy O said my copy of The Morning was the first copy he had signed!)
Thanks Again!
Andy H
Radio Café was great. If only there could have been more talent in the room... oh wait.... Your circle of musicians amazes me.
No love for the presence of me, Ronzilla, and Holland? I wish I could quit you, Andy O. ;)
I have a recording of the show. I'll send it to you, because "I Did Not Catch Her Name" was just awesome. In fact, I made a point of it to go and tell Danielle that after the show.
See you on the 20th.