Jeremy's World

You know how the saying goes, “It’s like a [insert vehicle here] wreck. You can’t turn away.”  Well, for me, reality TV can be this way.  The trashier the better.  And, I’m (mostly) not ashamed to admit that.  Besides network reality TV like American Idol and Survivor, there’s the entertainment found on VH1.  And one of the best there?  Rock of Love with Bret Michaels.

Obviously I’m a big fan of hair band music, and Poison is the epitome of that genre.  Since Brett Michaels is the front man there, I guess that makes him the quintessential hair metal icon (never mind he’s probably bald under that bandana).  Now that it’s some 25 years past the hair band hey day, what’s a rocker to do?  Go on TV and find “real love” with skanky girls half your age, of course.

That’s the premise of Rock of Love.  Lonely Brett needs to find a girl to be his true love because apparently he can’t do that without TV.  And since this is the third season, I guess it didn’t work out the past two times.  Poor guy.  Ok, I know, he does it because losers like me will watch, he has an album to pimp (which is pretty good), and I’m sure he gets a gazillion dollars to do it.  And the girls on the show?  The trashiest of trashy.  Every great once in a while there may be *one* who you wouldn’t be embarrassed to bring home to mom.  But for the most part, these girls make Britney Spears seem as elegant as Jackie O.

That said, last night was the big finale, and of course we watched.  It came down to a big choice between the “girl next door” and the Penthouse model.  Brett chose the Penthouse model (Taya, on top)…For the record, I would have chosen the girl next door (Mindy, on the bottom).

I’m sure your life is further enriched knowing this bit of information.

I read late last night that one of Steven Curtis Chapman‘s daughters was killed yesterday. Little 5-year old Maria was hit by a family car driven by one of her older brothers.

Steven Curtis Chapman has probably been the single largest influence on me in the Christian music genre. An absolutely amazing songwriter, singer and guitar player, his lyrics and songs touch my heart more than those of any other. And now he and his wife, Mary Beth, are coping with one of the most difficult pains a parent can have.

The gut-wrenching coincidence in this is that his big hit right now is a song called Cinderella, a song about a daddy dancing with his princess daughter from childhood through her wedding. I even posted about this song in October as it brought out some pretty strong emotions for me in listening to it. And now the Chapman family has this tragedy.

Whether prayer is something divine or as Jennifer says, may be more for us than for God, right now would be a terrific time to pray for comfort and healing for the Chapmans.

Ok, it’s been forever since I’ve written anything. And now, all I have is to share this kick-ass picture of Rob at a recent gig. Almost makes me have a man-crush on him…He does have a purdy mouth.

Both of you who read my blog know that I play drums in my church worship team.  I enjoy it and sometimes sing (though I drum better than I sing which isn’t saying much).  I was recently made aware of some feedback on our music.

"The band is really great.  But all you do are songs written in the 90′s."

Certainly that can’t be true, right?  It’s not really true.  We do a lot of Chris Tomlin, Tim Hughes, etc. stuff written in the early 2000′s.  But I guess because it’s done so much it just feels old?  Well, and of course those are mixed in with the "Trading My Sorrows" and "Better is One Day" classics.

So last night I stayed up scouring for good worship music written within the last couple of years.  That proved to be a bit of a waste of time.  See, there is a big difference in "good Christian music" and "good worship music."  So much of what I found (and listen to) like Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp, Building 429, Kutless, etc. have some really great songs.  But, they just aren’t worship songs.  Performance?  Yes.  Worship?  No.

Sadly it seems that good worship music generally has repetitive sections and few, repeated phrases so that they are "easy" to sing.  A lot of Hillsong, Matt Redman and other "usuals" are exactly that.  So what is a worship team looking for something fresh, new and contemporary to do?

Interestingly, nobody seems to have a good answer.  There are a few gems that will come out (and as mentioned above, "all in the 90′s" is an exaggeration) but for the most part, churches who actually report to CCLI on what they are using in church are doing "the usuals."  (No, the irony of me swiping the CCLI logo from their website without express, written consent is not lost on me)

The February top 25:

1. How Great Is Our God
2. Blessed Be Your Name
3. Here I Am To Worship
4. Open The Eyes Of My Hear…
5. Shout To The Lord
6. Holy Is The Lord
7. You Are My King
8. Forever
9. Lord I Lift Your Name On…
10. Come Now Is The Time To …
11. God Of Wonders
12. Everlasting God
13. You Are My All In All
14. We Fall Down
15. The Heart Of Worship
16. You’re Worthy Of My Praise
17. Breathe
18. Trading My Sorrows
19. Beautiful One
20. In Christ Alone
21. I Give You My Heart
22. Days Of Elijah
23. Friend Of God
24. Better Is One Day
25. Above All

Yep.  "The usuals." (and I’m too lazy to link them all for your listening pleasure)

That said, Jennifer’s insight last night was, "Yeah, we’re used to them, but that’s part of what makes them good worship songs.  I want to be able to close my eyes and know the words or be able to catch on the words after one or two times through."

Is familiarity the enemy of creativity?  Or, is it simply a matter of preference?

So, I’m hanging out watching the girls sing on American Idol tonight.  The theme was songs of the 70′s.  Two of the remaining 10 chose Heart songs.  Now, these girls are talented.  Even so, Ann Wilson‘s amazing dynamic range is that much more obvious when very talented young women can either do the low, throaty part or the high, belt-it-out part…but not both really, really well.

Even so, I think the girls’ side will come down to cuties Carly Smithson and Kady Malloy who, interestingly enough, are the ones who sang "Crazy on You" and "Magicman" respectively.  Brooke White (who did a really good Carly Simon "Your So Vain" but looks a lot like Juice Newton from back in the day) is my dark horse pick.

Amanda Overmyer was horrible.  Asia’h Epperson was horrible save one big note.

EDIT: Ok, after watching it again on Tivo (yes, again, STFU), I think Ramiele Malubay is right in there too even though she has a freakishly different singing voice than speaking voice.

A friend of mine recently posted on his blog that he and his wife just got a minivan.  In writing about it, Fred points out how "conforming" (buying a minivan) actually is rebellion since today is the day of SUV’s for soccer mom’s.  Minivans are so 1998 and therefore, cool again in a non-conforming, rage against the machine kind of way.  Ok, Fred was kidding (sort of) with the post.  But it got me thinking…

Is "conforming" really an uncool, bad thing?

I’m not convinced it is, ’cause, well, if it is, then I’m way not cool.  I am proud to state the following about this average guy:

• I enjoy reality TV, particularly "American Idol."
• I don’t get the infatuation with bands like the Mildewed Oranges (or whatever they are called).  It’s acoustic guitar with a melody that is hardly impressive.  What’s the appeal?
• I love NFL football.  Not college, not European Football (soccer), not rugby…the regular old NFL.
• I watch and enjoy mainstream television.  "24" is pretty cool and "King of Queens" reruns can keep me entertained for hours.
• I watch and laugh my ass off at comedians like Larry the Cable Guy.
• I don’t like wine.  I guess I’m unsophisticated.
• I can spend the better part of the day watching VH-1 "Behind the Music" marathons on TV and not feel badly about it.
• Movies like "Vantage Point" (which my wife and I recently saw) entertain me.  Movies don’t have to be all deep and moving to be good.  See most any Sandra Bullock movie, which I usually also find entertaining.
• I like some contemporary country/rock music.  I’m a rocker, but I like me some non-twangy country (I’m looking at you Keith Urban and Little Big Town).
• I don’t get Twitter.  (Note: It’s the rage right now at work…maybe I’ll understand why someday).  Same goes for Second Life.
• I’ll read David Baldacci before poetry of any kind.
• Microsoft is not evil.
• I’m going to see Bon Jovi next month (that’s 2008, not 1988) and I can’t freakin’ wait.
• I prefer pleats in the front of my pants.
• King of the Hill > Family Guy.
• I prefer Leno to Letterman.

I’m sure there are a thousand more examples.  I guess what I’m saying is, I can like the same mainstream things that the majority of people like and not be a dork.  "Conforming" does not mean uncool.  If it does then, well, I’m proudly uncool.

Jennifer and I went on a date Saturday evening.  It was very nice…Dinner at Tony’s, a movie and late night at a nightclub downtown.  Huh?!  Yes, we went out and hung out with young kids.  We were checking out a place called the Buckhead Saloon as Aftershock will likely be playing in there soon.  It’s a hoppin’ place with lots of people and the bar was going a million miles an hour.  Very cool atmosphere.

There was a band there that night.  Well, there were 2 guys playing guitars and singing anyway.  They were kind of "eh."  Talent-wise they were good but you can only party so much to two guys singing and playing guitars.  The place was more nuts when the DJ was playing during the band’s break.  That’s when the old was made new.

Mixed into the dance-music-that-I’m-too-old-to-recognize were songs that shocked me.  The place erupted when "Jessie’s Girl" (circa 1981) by Rick Springfield came on.  They went crazy when "Baby Got Back" (circa 1992) by Sir Mix-a-Lot came on.  The real kicker?  Some band has done a cover of an old song that they basically just added club-type drums and bass to and left the original song in tact.

Josie’s on a vacation far away.  Come around and talk it over.  So many things that I want to say.  You know I like my girls a little bit older.  I just want to use your love tonight.  I don’t want to lose your love tonight…

Yes, that is "Your Love" by the Outfield.  The original came out in 1985.  Yes, a full 23 years ago.  Most of the crowd there wasn’t even born yet.  The really scary thing is I recently went on a nostalgic trip through iTunes buying songs I used to have on cassette and early CD purchases that are long-since lost, destroyed or otherwise disposed of.  One of the songs I bought (we’re talking within the last month)?  "Your Love" by the Outfield.  The original.  Not the clubbed up version.

I’m so old.

Bon Jovi, who I am unashamed to say is my favorite band of all time, is coming to Greensboro, NC on March 16. Daughtry – probably the most successful American Idol contestant who didn’t win – is opening. Awesome show, I’m sure. So, Jenn and I decided, "What the hell, let’s go see them."

I logged on to TicketMaster on Friday for the "Internet Pre-Sale" event. Well, seems one has to be a member of the official Bon Jovi fan club to be able to do that (as an aside, I see someone is selling their password on eBay). $50 per person to be in the "club." Nah. So, I wait until they officially go on sale at 10:00 this morning.

First pass on "best available" returns 200 level seats straight away from the stage, clear at the other end of the stadium. Um, no. Try again…try again…try again…Finally there are some just-ok tickets available. Again, "What the hell, let’s get them."

Now, I’m a big fan of capitalism and all, but I find it retarded that decent tickets can’t be had at a decent price. Sure, you can get killer tickets on the floor near the front on StubHub. Just give them your credit card number and $700 per ticket you’re golden! Psh. Maybe in 1989 on the New Jersey tour. But considering I was in high school then and made $3.35 an hour flipping burgers, um, no.

So yeah, we’re going. Their latest album isn’t my favorite of theirs, but it’s ok. It’s not my least favorite so that’s better I guess. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited to go, and Daughtry will be very cool to see. But the ticket-buying experience and lack of ticket availability just as they officially go on sale (yes, I was online right at 10:00 like a middle school girl) pisses me off as a fan of 25 years.

Rock on, and get off my lawn.

As always I’m on the lookout for new music. Well, I found some new-to-me music by Edwin McCain. His big hit a few years back was "I’ll Be," and his albums are kind of bluesy, slow-burn, chick songs…especially his "Messenger" album from 1999 which I particularly like. But I dig ‘em. And, on "Messenger" he does an acoustic version of "I’ll Be" that I think rivals the original depending on my mood.

Thanks to my in-laws who gave me iTunes gift cards at Christmas, I have plenty of chick music in my library.

Here’s my man card. Take it.

My band is auditioning guitar players to add to our lineup. To do so, we placed ads in the usual places, once of which is Raleigh Music.com. This is the site I originally used when I found Rob and Jonny for the original lineup. Anyway, the ad said:

Established Rock Cover Band Seeks Additional Guitar Player

Aftershock is looking to enhance our sound by adding a new/additional guitar player to our established lineup. We are a rock cover band, lots of 80’s rock with other party favorites being added to appeal to the local bar/club scene. We play out a couple times a month and are working to expand our rotation to include the downtown Raleigh clubs also. We practice a few times a month and have practice space.

We’re looking for someone with solid chops and the ability and desire to play both rhythm and split lead duties. We’re not looking for note-by-note solo copies, but hitting signature riffs is a must. Professional gear and attitude are musts. We’re not in this for the money. We do this for fun. No drugs or drama.

Simple, right? We had a few responses, and Rob was responsible for replying and setting up auditions for those who seemed “cool” on the phone. One guy, whose name I’ll omit, jerked Rob around by selling himself highly, pointing us to his MySpace page where he had samples of his guitar masturbation songs and basically told us, “If you heard me, you would add me to your band because I would make you great.” And the funniest part…His picture actually had an MS Paint edited version where he sloppily put black splotches on his head to cover his bald spots. Hilarious.

Yeah…Not even worth an audition. But here’s the REALLY funny part…

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