Digital vs. Analog stomp-boxes

I’ve always been a gear-pig. Guitar gadgets fascinate me, and I’ve gone through more guitar pedals than socks over my 10 or so years of guitar-playing. I’ve also gone through my fair share of guitar amps and guitars over time. Maybe Someday I’ll try and make a list of everything I’ve ever owned. Who knows…
Anywho… last Saturday, I was jamming with a bud and he pulled out his gigantic pedalboard. It was, amazingly, about 7 or 8 inches longer than mine. He popped it open and I saw some familiar drive and delay pedals as well as a POD XT Live (which also was used as a midi controller for the other pedals). While his tone crytal clear as expected through his 410 Bassman reissue, I was impressed by the ease of use and clarity of the POD XT. While I’ve never been much of a digital-efx guy (analog pedals and a big board make you look cooler… right?), but was interested in some of the synth and pad-like sounds he was getting. It really added a lot of flavor to the tunes we were rehearsing. It made me think of a midi controller/digital controller I had my eye on before: the TC Electronics G-System is a slick lookin’ controller that not only has access to plenty of delay, mods, pitch shifting, amp switching, and expression efx, but also has bypass loops for other favorite single stomp boxes. Basically, I’d be selling my pedalboard with all of its pedals and buying this one unit (with the addition of a few choice drive/distortion pedals (like my Fulltone FDII and AC Booster). Where’s the debate? Well, I’ve, easily, collected and arranged my current pedalboard setup from over 6 or 7 years of prodding and finding boxes that I’ve loved over the years.

Unfortunately, there aren’t too many G-System units around here to try out. Making the leap from analog to semi-digital would be a big change in tone, feel, and versatility. Not to mention, I’d had to custom-order a board from Tom Peck @ pedalboards.com which would take months to complete. But, if I can could fetch a hefty price from my complete p-board on fleeBay, I may have enough to buy the G-System, a few choices dirt-boxes, and a Tom Peck board. On the bright side, I’m in absolutely no rush to ditch the rig I have now; in fact, I’m quite happy with it. But, a more simple, slick-looking, multi-dimensional rig with the G-System would be pretty rad. Time will tell, I s’pose. Off to TGP to read the reviews on it…

Preparing for a letdown... not really.

About a month ago, I got asked to lead worship at a youth event in Truro, NS. Since I'm new at the "leading-worship-outside-of-church", I was excited to be asked to lead an event myself. I got together with some buds and had a blast preparing some material and jamming through some worship tunes this morning. Yet, because of Hurricane Whoever, the event was cancelled in lieu of suspected rain and strong winds. We were preparing for a letdown. Ok, not really. I'm sure it was a good call on the committee's part, but what about me? I wanna play.
Fortunately, the event is being rescheduled until November, so we'll still be able to play. On the bright-side, we'll get some more rehearsal time and sound crystal clear... right?

I've also been asked by a Nazarene church in PEI to lead a morning service for a youth-emphasis which I'm really excited about. I've got quite a few friends at the church and it'll be really fun to lead at another Nazarene church outside of my own. On the other hand, I'll be playing alone so I'm sure that'll be a challenge since I'm always relying on great musicians to not only back me up, but bail me out!

God is teaching me things through these small little opportunities he's been blessing me with. I don't know that these opportunities preparing me for full-time worship ministry or not, but he has been teaching me other things like patience, waiting on him for strength, and trust. I'm grateful for the passion for music and ministry he continues to stir in my heart and I can just pray for more.

Currently listening to:
ANBERLIN - Surrender (good album... check it out)
CHRIS TOMLIN - Hello Love (very, very, good... my favorite Tomlin effort since Arriving)

Protecting what we love.

I've been a real big fan of a band called Future of Forestry since their (one and only) album came out a few winters ago. While the music is basic pop-rock, it also has a very ethereal & landscaped sound to it. All this and still very spiritual and inspiring. In anticipation for their second album, I've been following one the band members' blogs looking for not only info and/or tidbits on new material, but on music, spirituality, and life in general. In one of Eric's last posts, he makes a very poignant statement about music and art in general. Voila:

"... she (Eric's wife) reminded me how important this time is not to forget or underestimate what is happening with my music and song-writing right now. Something I have to protect.We have to protect the things we love. We have to protect art. Not because all the gangs are trying to break into my house to “tag” all the paintings with spray-paint. But its always “the tyranny of urgent” in tough times isn’t it? Art doesn’t SEEM essential when bills need to get paid and tax forms need to be sent. We have to protect what we love. And if we love art, we need to protect it from being the last thing to get fed. That doesn’t just go for those who are MAKING the art, but for those who are APPRECIATING it as well. I’m so thankful for a gentle reminder to value what is inside of me. To make sure it has a priority and that I am living my life with a readiness to keep that as a huge part of who I am."

That really struck a chord with me (pardon the pun). I immediately identified with what he was saying. I've always had a strong passion and love for music. Even now as I try to find where it is that God is leading me in my journey, this reminds me that I need to stay true to my calling. I’ve always felt that God has wanted me in some kind of music-ministry. I’m sure I’ll always feel that, but I’ve never known where and in what context. Maybe I’ll find a group of musicians that will “make it”. Maybe I’ll hone my skills as a worship leader and find a job as a worship/arts pastor some vibrant church. Maybe I’ll be a hired-gun guitar player for some up-and-coming artist. Or, maybe I’ll sit at a desk and drink too much coffee while I sell bearings and oil seals at an industrial parts company. The above statement made me put things into a different perspective for a short moment. Like a bad inspirational movie, I got that “don’t give up” feeling. Music is important to me and it’s something I can’t let go of no matter how impatient and discouraged I can become. I remember having similar conversations with my own my wife about my passion and call to “do” music. Yet, I need to remember that although music isn’t paying the bills or putting food on the table, or paying admission to the next M. Night Shyamalan flick, it’s still more important to me than leaving it “last to get fed”. More than once was I chosen last to be on somebody’s road hockey team, so I don’t want the same happen to my own passions.

Ever since my brother, his fiend, and I would air-instrument to Guns n' Roses in our basement (being the youngest, I got last pick and always got stuck being Matt Sorum), I wanted to be in a band and make music. Many years have gone by since then (about 17) but I've since had many musical experiences along the way. From learning Nirvana and Metallica riffs in my bedroom to prepare for the next talent show, to ripping off The Edge and John Mayer licks and applying them to worship tunes and JSB originals, I again find myself stagnant in my musical endeavors. I often say to my wife, "I think it's time I find another dream". I half-jokingly say, "the rockstar thing isn't quite working out for me like I'd hoped." Of course I don't want to be a rock-star. I'm not much of an alcohol drinker, I'm happily a monogamist, and drugs are so 1990's. Rather, my rockstardom lies in joining with other people in a place where music becomes more than sound, lights, and guitar solos. Rather, a place where music becomes a an inward audio to God, our Creator. Real rockstars receive the praise and glory for their feats. I just want to be in a position where the music I'm playing is steering all glory and praise are directed away from me and to Him. More specifically, upward. Once it reaches the heavenly realm, it's given back to us in the form of blessings and wonder. This is where the "inward audio" comes into play. That what I want to pay my bills and put food on the table. Paying for my next theater visit would be alright too.

The blog trend continues...

I thought blogs would be just another trend. I had a blog a few years back when I was in university. I stopped after a while because I became uninteresting and bored of writing random thoughts trying tsound interesting. Then, I started to write a blog for my band, Somers, while we began to write and prepare for a new album. Sadly, the album never happened, so the blog didn't either. It's been well over a year & 1/2 since my last confession.
Over the past few months (maybe even year) I've found myself travelling to johnmayer.com and checking out John Mayer's blog. Not only am I a fan of his music and art, but I'm also a fan of intellectual pop-culture icons. He's one of those. I read about his future studio work, new songs, celebrity, relationships, etc. and whatever he's dishing, digging, or dissing that day. I don't consider myself intellectual at all, so I guess it's interesting to read somebody who is; somebody I don't know; somebody who I don't converse with on a daily basis; somebody who shares thoughts on whatever however. Then I thought, "Well, isn't that the point of any blog? To share personal musings on whatever? Maybe I am interested in blogs afterall."
So, here I am, bloggin' about whatever hoping to interest somebody somewhere somehow. I'm not really sure what I'll be bloggin' about, but it's something to pass the time both at work and play. Enjoy... or don't.