The Logical Choice
October 31, 2008
I know not all 1ATL readers are music programmers/editors, but please humor me for a minute. Just want to agree with so many of my contemporaries who are loving Logic Pro 8 for programming/recording music tracks. Guys like JAMM and like Fee producer Jason Hoard. I still prefer Pro Tools for editing real audio, especially vocals, but Logic is the stuff when it comes to MIDI tracks.
Below is a sample of some stuff I programmed using Logic 8, for a David Crowder song called Rain Down 
that we’re doing this Sunday at Buckhead Church. For those not familiar with what I’m talking about, these are auxiliary tracks that will be played from the computer as we do the song live, to enhance the musical worship experience.
Rain Down programming-audio sample
Done.
October 30, 2008
I voted early. Took 5 minutes. Anyone else voted yet?
The Watchmaker’s Son
October 29, 2008
Our friend Brandon McCormick of Whitestone Motion Pictures (based out of 12stone Church) is recovering well from a Vespa scooter accident last month in which he apparently had to slam on brakes while going 50 mph. (He’s seen here talking to one of his actors on the set.) He had some teeth replaced and some facial reconstruction. But he feels well enough to have recently returned from accepting the Crystal Heart Award at the Heartland Film Festival for the film The Watchmaker’s Son. Watch it here.
What if roadies ran the world?
October 27, 2008
This ad ran during last night’s World Series game. Certainly hit home with me.
I have about a gazillion “roadie” stories, but I’ll start the bidding with this one. In 1991, our band AZ (containing members of the later band Smalltown Poets) was staying at a motel next to I-10 in Monroe Louisiana. Even in the early days, we were very fortunate in that we usually had hard working roadies with us on all our trips. One such was the unforgettable Steve Housman, or “Hook.” I dared Steve to stand in the doorway of one of our rooms, facing the interstate, completely in the buff. He took me up on the challenge, planning on it lasting but a few seconds. However, I took the opportunity to push him outside and lock the door behind him.
As I recall, that was also the same trip/same hotel where we found Steve inside of one of those big outdoor ice machines they always have at motels - for no other reason than this; he wanted to see if he could fit inside.
If you have ‘em, please please share them!
Oh, what a night.
October 25, 2008
Not sure where to even start. Thursday’s night’s final Buckhead Music Project at Velvet Underground rocked. Rudy Vaughn, James David Carter, and Jamie JAMM Portee all killed.
Rudy had a new bass player onstage with him, a good dude/good player named Wes Flowers, who plays for Butch Walker as well.
(Sidenote: Butch Walker has a new record coming out and is playing at The Loft in Atlanta on November 10. Read all about it here. Many of you remember the Atlanta band he fronted, The Marvelous Three. The other two-thirds of the Three (Jayce and Slug) are buddies of ours. And my son is in the band Second Wave with bassist Holden Fincher; his dad is Jayce, Marvelous Three’s bassist.)
Rudy’s set ranged from Michael Jackson’s Beat It to original songs; also, for the first time, I saw Rudy play sax and he destroyed it - in a good way. James David Carter was excellent, as usual. Dude has insane falsetto. JAMM and his band, complete with horns, capped the night off with some great funk/jazz/r&b fusion, or whatever they call it. Chantae Cann joined him; she’s a background singer for India Arie and is an amazing, new voice on the Atlanta scene. JAMM also brought both his wife Joni (also known as INOJ) and James David up on stage to do some guest vocals.
Other friends of ONE Atlanta that were there: Michael Johnston of Smalltown Poets, a surprise attendance by original Smalltown Poets drummer Byron Goggin who lives in North Carolina, Moxie Davis with wife Clarissa, Big Snow (on turntables in between bands, doing his thang), Ryan Fitzgerald of theAMP, Casey Darnell, too many amazing musician friends to name, and a bunch of Buckhead Church staff - not the least of which is ‘Los Whittaker (thanks for the pics dude!)
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- Hard Rock floor
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- Rudy’s band…and Sam
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- Sweet kicks
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- Keys
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- Rudy rocks the mic
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- The Stage
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- Rudy’s guitar
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- Rudy rocks
Where do you go?
October 24, 2008
Today I have a question that will give you “lurkers” (as one of you recently described yourself) a great opportunity to chime in.
This AJC/AccessAtlanta article about the best places to go in town for live theater led me to this question:
What’s the best venue in town to see a concert? Put in your two cents and I’ll put in mine.
Go.
October 22, 2008
To this. Tomorrow night. I am.
8pm at Velvet Underground/Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta.
ONE Atlanta’s first official recording artist, Rudy Vaughn, is now opening the night. Our boys James David Carter and Jamie JAMM Portee are also doing their thing. I will be there.
2 new blogs.
October 21, 2008
Both Philip Bray and Drew Benton of Safehouse Outreach have started new blogs. ONE Atlanta is proud to be involved with Safehouse Outreach. These are the kind of people you need to be getting to know in cyberspace, and in person for that matter! They always need volunteers.
Philip’s blog at the Safehouse site is here.
What follows is a bit of what they’re all about, as told at the Safehouse website.
You really should stay tuned to their blogs. Some incredible stories flow out of Safehouse all the time. It will be fun to have that online pipeline to great stories.
What does this have to do with music? Well, ONE Atlanta has agreed to be one of the bands that regularly plays for weeknight worship services at Safehouse. We’ve already done it once, as described here, and it was amazing! Anyway, from their website…
In 1982, Philip Bray took to the streets to rescue child prostitutes and runaways in Atlanta, Ga.Inspired by his own experiences; he wanted to reach those who the church considered unreachable.
A booth in a local hamburger restaurant became the headquarters for SafeHouse (SHO) on Friday and Saturday nights. Within 6 months, over 200 volunteers came together with manpower and compassion and began reaching out to anyone in need. Soon SHO outgrew the booth and moved to a storefront off Peachtree Street.
They held church service at midnight on Friday nights and became known within the city as a place where the unreachable could come for assistance. This was the beginning of SHO becoming a full service community development organization.
Partnering with local city churches and corporations, SHO expanded their outreach with feeding programs, rehab, and job placement; providing for these partners the expertise to impact their community.
Over the past 25 years, SHO has been instrumental in impacting lives and changing communities. Recognized by city mayors, governors, and the President, SHO offers a hand up not just a hand out and is active in finding a solution to those in crisis.
Nationally and internationally, SHO is sought after to replicate their efforts in other communities.
Majesty
October 20, 2008
Have been somewhat removed from blogworld over these last few days. Just returned from the Charlotte NC area, where I was doing some consulting work with the three campuses of Christ Church. Great people up there. Cindy and our youngest, Jett, went with me, and we had a great time. I was trying to remain inconspicuous as I observed their environments so I really didn’t take any pictures.
Folks, I’m in Christmas mode already and I’m loving it. I’ll be the band leader for Buckhead Church’s Married Life Live on Dec. 13th, and we’re already picking through songs, singers, charts, and the like.
Apparently, I’m not the only one thinking Christmas. Check out today’s post over at our buddy Casey Darnell’s blog. His Christmas song Majesty is really powerful. Casey will be a part of Married Life Live as well, but at Northpoint’s Alpharetta campus. Here’s hoping the song he blogs about makes it onto the program at both campuses. Please check it out and drop him a line.
Upcoming Waves.
October 17, 2008
Many of you have asked me when 2nd Wave will end their extended summer hiatus, and get back to gigging. Good news. They have a couple of concerts coming up that you won’t want to miss. Of course, many of you will also be getting Facebooked with this info.
Wednesday Oct. 29th, Bridgeway Academy, Alpharetta GA, 6pm-8pm
The band will be doing a mix of mainstream cover songs, recognizable worship tunes, and original material.
Saturday Nov. 22nd, Christmas in Central Park, Forsyth County GA 1pm
They’ll be mixing in some Christmas tunes for this indoor event. And, of course, Santa himself will be there!