Fireworks & Ginny Owens

Me and Dad were talking & remembering last night that 10 years ago this week I was in Washington D.C. with the Durant HS Band that was to march in the 4th of July Parade. After playing with Travis Taylor for the Freedom Celebration Festival in Rockwall last night, they proceeded with a pretty impressive fireworks show. I mean, I was impressed...it was really long & pretty amazing. After that Dad said to me 'I bet you don't get easily impressed anymore by fireworks after seeing the 4th of July fireworks show @ The Lincoln Memorial in D.C.'. We couldn't believe that was 10 Years ago already. I can still remember how hot it was marching in that parade, I think I remembered yesterday because it was about as hot (over 100). Not to mention wearing the polyester uniforms (ugh!). But I agree with him, that fireworks show in D.C. was absolutely breath-taking. It was bigger and better than our version of a Grand Finale the whole entire time, then for their Grand Finale it was over the top. And the cloud of smoke left behind covered that whole place, with about 80,000 in attendance. Just unbelievable.
As I write this, a lot has happened since the last post. 3 celebrities have died, and I have exhaustedly been working myself to the bone with music. June was/is a busy busy month. I had the priviledge and honor to share the same stage, at the same time, with a Platinum Christian Artist. Her name, Ginny Owens. And wow... what an experience that was. Such a humble-down-to-earth human being. We came in yesterday early morning for the only rehearsal before 3 services & it couldn't have gone more beautifully. She was so happy to be there, and it was such a joy to hear her voice in my monitor mix. I mean, how many times will I get to hear her voice through my monitor mix on stage? She has worked with so many legendary names in Christian music, not to mention being on Michael W. Smith's record label from the start.
Today I have the day off & I couldn't be more happy about that. Have to get ready for Air Reviews album release in a little over a month to come. Well, Happy 4th of July to everyone! If you ever get the chance to, atleast once in your life-time go to Lincoln Memorial in D.C. & experience the 4th there. You'll remember it forever.

House of All I Could Handle On June 5th...

Well, after a long day of dealing with almost every thing you can imagine could go wrong, I still feel blessed beyond words of the many people in my life that support & encourage me in this new journey with Air Review.
Yesterday started with a relaxing time with my wife @ the mall. About 3:30pm I was headed to Irving to pick up my gear for the show & I was greeted with a big BANG on 75 during rush hour. I pulled over & so did the small little truck that rear-ended me, walked over to him & asked him if he was ok. He said he was dozing off. A shock to both of us, it could have been a lot worse being that my van has a nice little dent in the back door(still can open). His truck was in worse shape in the front =/. Oh yeah...did I mention that He didn't have his insurance with him? He said he had Geico, so we just exchanged numbers & now we'll hope for the best. I didn't have time to involve the cops, I just hoped & prayed for the best & we'll see if he follows through. After that little episode I endured more traffic, finally picked up my gear, and then arrived at House of Blues.
The load-in time was pretty exhausting with all the endless amounts of gear & merch, but the HOB staff there was extremely helpful getting us in and taken care of. The headliner (Early Republic), had the honors of a sound check while we just had to wait it out till our time to play. I met my wonderful sister & bro-n-law in the restaurant & then my parents brought my wife and we had dinner together before I had to check in with "band" duties. Radio Revival finally got started after a few technical difficulties, during that time I set up my kit in the back so I could just throw it on the stage when they were finished playing. Finally our turn came, and we all frantically drug our gear on the stage. Setting the drums up was the easiest thing for me after having to help Doug put that stinkin huge piano together, while everyone was eagerly waiting for us to start. That took all my energy before we even started. Getting the monitors comfortable with all the guys was another task. I think the most nerv-racking thing for me was hoping everything was working ok (technically wise), and the crowd of people that all came out to see us patiently waiting... I didn't want to let them down.
The first song went smoothly as expected, then Chasing Corp came & Doug lost the cue for it because He didn't have enough monitor to hear it. So that was a bit of a disaster for us because we didn't have the track, so we just had to roll with it & keep pushing through. That was the most miserable song for me. 3rd tune went smoothly, then the 4th came & I so confidently started the fill for the 5TH song!! Bad!!! We added the 4th song to the set, and I completely forgot & proceeded to start 'At the Switch' instead of 'The Landing'. Jeff yelled at me to stop, since I was starting to play with the wrong track, so I did...swallowed my huge mistake, and went on with playing 'The Landing' which came together smoothly after that. The rest of the set, I thought, went fine. It was just a rough night, being that, all the stress getting everything set up & working properly, and monitors working. None of that mattered really quickly because of so much crowd support. People just loved every minute of it, regardless of how rough the sound was (mainly because of part of the sound system blown), and regardless of our dumb mistakes we made. The songs spoke for themselves, and everyone was amazingly supportive, and we felt so loved being there. I felt so undeserved of all of that because of how rough it was for the band. But... I'm sure that will be the first of MANY down the road.
I'm so thankful to my wonderful family, my close friends & musicians, and my marriage group that came to support not only me...but the band. I feel so encouraged, regardless of how much of a beating it was for us "perfectionist" band members. When you rehearse about twice a week for a few hours each time running through the set, then you come to perform it in front of people and it goes NOTHING like rehearsals, it's frustrating. That's the reality of most bands though. Crap happens, and you just gotta roll with it & not be discouraged, because so many people love what we do and support us. That's what matters, and that's what keeps us going. I am blessed beyond words.

jj

Tonight...

Although this is only the 2nd show Air Review has played ever, I hope I always wake up the day of & have that "butterflies" feeling. The feeling that something very special and significant is going to happen in the next 12 hours (similar, but no comparison's, to my wedding day). The excitement I have heard from all sorts of people about this show, leaves me overwhelmed with joy about tonight.
I have never been a part of something like this before. I always wanted to be, but it seemed like it was sooo far away from my reach. Now it's here, and we get to reap what we have worked so long and hard for for almost 3 years. I am so excited to see all my fam & friends that have come out to support us, that will be the most overwhelming part. REALLY excited to share a new part of the set that wasn't @ the Curtain Club. It's a song on the album that I've been so eager to play live, it just wasn't ready in time for CC. Well... that's all I have right now. Gonna go see about some coffee to enjoy.

jj

first time

I stumbled across this because I thought it would be a great way to mark the significant times in my life. I am not a blogger or have had a journal before, but I use to have a Xanga account! Remember those days? Seems like forever ago. This stupid font keeps changing on me, and I like Courier the best(frustration). Ok I'm better now.
Tomorrow night is my bands second performance ever holding at The House of Blues. The fam is coming down (or most of them). It's a sold out show! Very excited about this. Ok I'm hungry now, so I think i'll go grab some lunch. Catch ya later...

jj