I remember my first tour in the US playing drums for the Gospel group „Clarence Thompson and the New Spirits“. Sharing the bill with other local Gospel bands in churches from Boston all the way down the east coast. Many times I was the only white person at the whole event, but everyone always made me feel at home and welcome. I have seen some of the most skilful, emotionally supercharged, soulful and insane musicianship in those places. People played some beats I still haven’t been able to filly figure out now, 30 years later. And sometimes the community’s kids‘ band would be the opener, with a bassist still struggling to get his hand around the neck, the drummer barely playing able to perform a nice drumroll - but you could see how they would already have their place in the music, their role to make the music propel forward and move your heart.
I never thought that such a simple story on a church could be so suspenseful! I love your writing, which always has a nice ending, and am hoping to have one published in Japan.
Great story I've known the type and I wouldn't trust them. As far as I could throw them and they're a little bit flaky, I'm sure she was, you know, spite of all that very magnetic, they do have cage dancers at dantes, or at least they used to and Billy rancher, I think had cage dancers. When he did the billy rancher and the unreal gods, which was nowhere nearly as good as the malchicks, his earlier band. Regarding going to one of these happy fun ball musical churches, I'm glad I joined the church. I did, which was a dominican catholic church, because those guys are just incredibly smart.All of them, very, very well studied, they knew their stuff from a to z. I wish there were a Dominican church, or even a Dominican priest. At a church but alas, I have not yet met one, and it would be too far away from me. I'm glad these kids found Jesus. Rather than the devil or one of those other, very, very large religions I just couldn't cope with, they're overly relaxed view of things.
Now, having said that the series, the chosen was done by evangelicals, not catholics, but the star Jonathan Roumie plays Jesus is, in fact, Catholic and is in fact, a member of the knights of columbus.So he has my vote, no doubt about it, but I digress
I hadn't thought about Billy Rancher. He probably had cage dancers. and I've been to Dante's so I have been places with cage dancers. Just didn't remember . . . .
As a Catholic, I am always struck by the way other people do their Sunday services. To us, the whole point of the exercise is the Eucharist, the sacramental part. It puts a lot on a preacher to have his sermon be the main focus.
Nice one:”I found this admirable, though it got boring after a couple songs.” Keaton-esque, for sure (Buster, not Diane). Keep up the good work!
Not the whole story, of course, which is good for everywhere else it goes. Thanks for all that. I’m too old and irreverent to take the Youth of America (anyone who wasn’t alive when Animal House and The Blues Brothers came out) as seriously as I should, so it’s good to read your dispatches from that front. But if they’re really interested in the J-Man reading Gary Wills or Marylin Robinson could take it to another level.
I love the debates on you tube about which bands are actually christian. P.O.D.? Or U2? or Coldplay? But actual church bands are obviously christian music. and if a song's lyrics are just "Jesus Loves you" over and over, then that would have to be classified as Christian music . . . .
I don’t know what it is about U2 - or I guess more specifically Bono - that grinds my gears. There’s a certain sanctimoniousness about him that’s annoyed me since about 1984.
I also felt that way about Michael Stipe, at least for a while in the 90’s - probably in direct reaction to how ubiquitous “Losing my religion” was - but I’ve long since come around on both REM and Stipe. REM’s music has stood the test of time and Stipe has maintained his integrity/humanity.
yeah, I never argue with people who don't like BONO. Objectively he is annoying as hell. And yet . . . .
So I just kind of squint my eyes and try not to see him. But the music is so good. And that first single was killer. I remember exactly where I was the first time I heard that opening guitar riff.
Very good story, thank you Blake.
I remember my first tour in the US playing drums for the Gospel group „Clarence Thompson and the New Spirits“. Sharing the bill with other local Gospel bands in churches from Boston all the way down the east coast. Many times I was the only white person at the whole event, but everyone always made me feel at home and welcome. I have seen some of the most skilful, emotionally supercharged, soulful and insane musicianship in those places. People played some beats I still haven’t been able to filly figure out now, 30 years later. And sometimes the community’s kids‘ band would be the opener, with a bassist still struggling to get his hand around the neck, the drummer barely playing able to perform a nice drumroll - but you could see how they would already have their place in the music, their role to make the music propel forward and move your heart.
Thanks Robert. Sounds like a fun gig!
I never thought that such a simple story on a church could be so suspenseful! I love your writing, which always has a nice ending, and am hoping to have one published in Japan.
thanks Yuko!
Great story I've known the type and I wouldn't trust them. As far as I could throw them and they're a little bit flaky, I'm sure she was, you know, spite of all that very magnetic, they do have cage dancers at dantes, or at least they used to and Billy rancher, I think had cage dancers. When he did the billy rancher and the unreal gods, which was nowhere nearly as good as the malchicks, his earlier band. Regarding going to one of these happy fun ball musical churches, I'm glad I joined the church. I did, which was a dominican catholic church, because those guys are just incredibly smart.All of them, very, very well studied, they knew their stuff from a to z. I wish there were a Dominican church, or even a Dominican priest. At a church but alas, I have not yet met one, and it would be too far away from me. I'm glad these kids found Jesus. Rather than the devil or one of those other, very, very large religions I just couldn't cope with, they're overly relaxed view of things.
Now, having said that the series, the chosen was done by evangelicals, not catholics, but the star Jonathan Roumie plays Jesus is, in fact, Catholic and is in fact, a member of the knights of columbus.So he has my vote, no doubt about it, but I digress
I hadn't thought about Billy Rancher. He probably had cage dancers. and I've been to Dante's so I have been places with cage dancers. Just didn't remember . . . .
this is so funny lol, i do suggest trying to find a church where you'd feel at home, it's good fun
also i'm stealing your jesus meme
You had another unexpected angle from you, sir!
Good story.
As a Catholic, I am always struck by the way other people do their Sunday services. To us, the whole point of the exercise is the Eucharist, the sacramental part. It puts a lot on a preacher to have his sermon be the main focus.
Nice one:”I found this admirable, though it got boring after a couple songs.” Keaton-esque, for sure (Buster, not Diane). Keep up the good work!
Not the whole story, of course, which is good for everywhere else it goes. Thanks for all that. I’m too old and irreverent to take the Youth of America (anyone who wasn’t alive when Animal House and The Blues Brothers came out) as seriously as I should, so it’s good to read your dispatches from that front. But if they’re really interested in the J-Man reading Gary Wills or Marylin Robinson could take it to another level.
Interesting. Your layers are myriad, Blake. Christian rock, eh?
I love the debates on you tube about which bands are actually christian. P.O.D.? Or U2? or Coldplay? But actual church bands are obviously christian music. and if a song's lyrics are just "Jesus Loves you" over and over, then that would have to be classified as Christian music . . . .
Hobbies are important ;)
I don’t know what it is about U2 - or I guess more specifically Bono - that grinds my gears. There’s a certain sanctimoniousness about him that’s annoyed me since about 1984.
I also felt that way about Michael Stipe, at least for a while in the 90’s - probably in direct reaction to how ubiquitous “Losing my religion” was - but I’ve long since come around on both REM and Stipe. REM’s music has stood the test of time and Stipe has maintained his integrity/humanity.
Coldplay. Can’t handle Coldplay.
yeah, I never argue with people who don't like BONO. Objectively he is annoying as hell. And yet . . . .
So I just kind of squint my eyes and try not to see him. But the music is so good. And that first single was killer. I remember exactly where I was the first time I heard that opening guitar riff.
Coldplay is good . . . . for kindergartners.