Sean Witty

auditions for The World's Largest Band

THE WORLD'S LARGEST BAND
It's not a band. It's a movement.

Featuring Tony Cruz, Sean Witty, Wayne Zito

Our first gig with open auditions:

Friday, April 3
10:00pm
Sundown Saloon
Greenwich Ave., Greenwich

Open auditions for all instruments, including guitar, bass, percussion, voice, keyboards, kazoos, penny whistles and yes, Steve Dancause, knee slappers. BYO instrument, voice, and knee.

Originals, Hendrix, Radiohead, Patty Griffin, Replacements, Monk, Monkees...yes, both MONK and The MONKEES.

Bashiri Johnson

What an honor, to play with legendary percussionist Bashiri Johnson the other week at Trinity.  There's something about playing with great musicians that just bumps up your game. This is true regardless of the setting. I think it was Wynton Marsalis who said, "Always try to be the worst player in the band." In other words, play with people better than you.

Heima

Finally sat down to watch Heima, which I have yet to watch all the way through. Full disclosure - I've been sick in bed today.

I think what makes me so curious about Sigur Ros is what trying to figure out what or where the resonance is.  You must slow down to enjoy their music. Additionally, the visuals that accompany so much of their work are stunning.  We all know how boring "atmospheric" music can be. Yanni and Vangelis? Yuk.  OK, EXCEPT Chariots of Fire....maybe (the movie was great).  But the authenticity that exudes from Sigor Ros is so compelling.  The stark beauty of their artistic vision, both audible and visual, born from the stark beauty of their setting (Iceland) echoes the stark beauty of our own interior landscape; a starkness we fear yet quietly long for a gentle companion to sit with us long enough to appreciate, even love.

Glossoli is what hooked me [thx to TIm and...which roommate was it?].  I have yet to share this with someone without them being stirred by it.  Before your watch, remember, much great art requires a host, so imagine a host, a friend, inviting you to take 5 minutes to meet and listen to...a new friend.

the latest...and Mahalia

My blogging time recently has been spent on an internal blog (more of a message board) about our summer worship services at Trinity. I'm also wondering about the the next step in my writing/blogging, specifically how to focus this blog topically and be more intentional about attracting traffic. Why? I'm not sure really, other than it feels like right direction.

I'm finding myself drawn to (or entrenched in) three areas - guitar/music (I'd be a gear head if I had the money), deconstructing church/Christianity (the possibilities of the future church inspire me), and student ministry (whatever that is; Mike King and Andrew Root keep me hooked in).

Now, a dose of inspiration. I dare anyone to watch all 6 minutes of this and not be open to (1) there is a God and (2) that, as Willie Young suggests, when the time comes, God might just appear to us as an african-american woman.

(Do not be deterred by the fragile quality of this video. It is a remarkable document. Mahalia sang this at the March on Washington just before Dr. King gave the "I Have a Dream" speech.)

Foy Vance

Here's a reason to keep living.  To truly enjoy this gift, listen and read the lyrics...from start to finish.  This guy is HUGE. Thanks to my new friend Aaron  Mitchum (a great singer-songwriter as well) for hipping me to him.

Gabriel And The Vagabond

There's a man in the corner and his clothes are worn
And he's holding out his hand
You could see in his eyes as the people walk by
He knows they don't understand

Ya see they just think he's gonna take their money
And go and spend it all on dope
Then a man stopped by and I saw a smile inside him
As he gently whispered hope

Well the tramp started to cry, just kept saying,
"Why? why? why?
Could you see I'm a dying tonight
Well I'm 32 and I've got this one pair of shoes
And a bad taste in my mouth
I think it's clear to see that even God don't love me
Or else why would He leave me this way."

Then Gabriel just smiled and said be peaced my child
Salvation is here today

He got up to his feet and he sang Hallelujah
People were turning around in the street
He looked them in the eyes and he sang,
"Hallelujah
There's someone here that you gotta meet
Someone you just gotta meet."

When the vagabond turned around well without a sign
Gabriel just smiled and disappeared
Then he looked to the crowd and they were laughing out loud
But he could not see them fore tears
When his vision came round
There was a young girl on the ground
I knew she was fine and hard to cope
She never was a fighter until he laid beside her
And gently whispered hope

They got up to their feet and they sang Hallelujah
People in the street were turning around
They looked them in the eyes and they sang,
"Hallelujah
There's someone here we have found"
They sang,
"Hallelujah, Hallelujah
We are the voices crying in the wilderness
Hallelujah, Hallelujah."
The people in the street started their sins to confess
And a chorus of,
"Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Every knee will bow and every tongue confess
and the voice of one crying in the wilderness
crying
Hallelujah, Hallelujah"

NIN Ghosts

Trent Reznor and NIN Ghosts project is brilliant.  They've created 36 instrumental tracks.  You can download them: the first 9 tracks are free and for 5 bucks you get them all. The CD is $10. Through a deal with Google and YouTube, they've invited anyone to create videos for the songs. The project will culminate in a film/music festival.

Can anyone say new, new economy?
Can anyone say new community?
Can anyone say collaboration?

What if the church said some thing similar?  Listen: here's what we can do...create a worship experience, draw people together in a covenant relationship, or simply [duh] WE WILL LOVE...WE WILL LISTEN...WE WILL SERVE...could we collaborate? AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How to Sneak Behind-the-Scenes at Grammys

These guys sneak behind the scenes of the Grammies...Mastedon...awesome. (HT: Mark Lee)

Balcony@Arcadia

Had a really run night at Arcadia Coffee Company last night with the Balcony.  Wayne Zito, Rocky Alianiello, and Chris Coogan came down to play.   Here's the set list:

Cissy Strut (Meters)
Funky Broadway (Wilson Pickett)
Sing Simple Song (Sly Stone)
Sweet Home Chicago (Robert J.)
Boogie Funk (Freddie King)

Bill Frisell

I'm on a serious Bill Frisell kick right now.  He's one of literally 4 or 5 REALLY innovative guitarists out there.  I want to buy like EVERYTHING I don't have of his (which is alot because his catalogue is huge). Check him out on MySpace. 

BILL!!!!

Gig Last Night

Played at Thataway Cafe last night. An hour long set. A bunch of very kind friends showed up and stayed well past all of our bedtimes.  I must admit to feeling a bit rusty...it's been awhile since my last bar gig. 

The experience is strangely bittersweet. One one hand I love playing and creating...improvising, keeping people engaged, making meaningful music...it's a wonderful challenge. On the other hand, it's never just right. There's always a feeling of disappointment over what fell short, what was missed or forgotten...different choices made or not made.

There's also additional sadness/grieving for me on a deeper level letting go of my attachment to music and letting it be given back to me as a gift to enjoy. What would it look like for me just to enjoy playing, performing, and creating? I can't help but think here of all the disgruntled, unhappy artists in my family -- writers, painters, musicians....they're all there. I long to create with the freedom I saw in an interview with Brice Marden .

Here's the set list from last night:
Sweet Home, Chicago
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic
Better Days
Build a Machine
Could You Be Loved
To Be You
Louie, Louie
Crazy (Gnarls Barkley)
Tangled Up in Blue
Wanna Be
Mr. Train
Your Will Be Done
Cherry Bomb