A Blessing (from Peter Rollins & Pádraig ô Tuama)

This past Spring, I was fortunate enough to see this being created live. Yesterday, Peter Rollins posted this on his site. I think its a well put together video that deserves a couple minutes of everyone's time.

Peace,

Ross

Oh Rar.

Hey there,

Sorry for the couple-day sabatical. I'm in Kansas City with the band. We've had a great weekend playing and just having fun! Saturday night we played an outdoor music festival in St. Joseph. It rocked. We rocked. We all had a great time.

Yesterday we hit up one of my all-time favorite burger joints, HiBoy. If you're ever in KC, take the few minutes and endulge with a double cheese!

Last night we decided it would be a great idea to go see Piranah's 3D. Well...it was exactly what I expected it to be - funny, gross, and 2 big thumbs up! After that we came home and decided we'd cap off the night with The Exorcist. AWESOME...it was Sam and Andre's first time seeing it, so i imagine they had less than stellar sleep.

We're headed out to Genghis Khan's (mongolian BBQ) now for lunch with a friend. And tonight we wrap up the weekend with another musical rendering at Jerry's Bait Shop. Come on out tonight - we go on around 9PM.

Peace,

Ross

p.s. hope you enjoy the bear hat..."rar" :-)

this weekend = shows...

This weekend I head out on the road for a couple Kansas City shows. Its been WAY TOO LONG since i've played KC, so I'm pretty excited to get back to my old stomping grounds!

Saturday night we're playing an outdoor festival in St. Joseph (Felix Street Square) at 7PM. Here's some press from this week in St. Joe news:

"...Ross Christopher, a violinist and singer/songwriter who
will be a bit of an unorthodox element fronting his acoustic rock trio.
“He’s got all these crazy pedals for the electric violin.
He does Jimi Hendrix solos behind his neck,”

On Monday night, we'll be in Lee's Summit, playing Jerry's Bait Shop at 9PM.

I keep saying "we" because I'm playing these shows full-band! I'm playing electric and acoustic guitars, and violin. My buddy Sam Wade is playing a wild assortment of keys/rhodes/etc. And drummer Andre Cataldo will be laying down the mean beats.

I really hope to see you either tomorrow or Monday!

Have a stellar weekend,
Ross

my little characters...

This is my youngest character, Olive. She makes funny faces and sounds - no quirky commentary as of yet. I will keep you posted on her progress.

But Cora is a different story...she'll throw zingers at ya' all day long. Here's a short list of some recent quotables:

(Cora walked in on a 1 year old boy getting his diaper changed)
"oh mommy, what's that?...is it a weird belly button?!"

(I ask Cora for some paper to help her with an art project)
"Daddy, I'm fresh out!"

(When we're headed somewhere/anywhere fun)
"Where-we-are-we-goin'?" (& this is usually followed
with 2 claps and sung melodiously; over & over until we get there)

(Cora hurriedly brings me her acoustic guitar; her electric guitar slung around her shoulder)
"Daddy, you can help me rock out!"

(attempting to say, "Whoopsy-daisy")
"oop's be goat!"

Have a great Thursday! Its beautiful here is St Louis...go outside and enjoy it!!!
-Ross

Nigh Tension

Yesterday I started writing an orchestral piece. Its still, very much, a work-in-progress, but I figured I'd share what I was able to brainstorm in about 30 min. of recording...

Enjoy! Nigh Tension by rosschristopher

I wrote this for a smaller ensemble...
Violin
Viola
Cello
Piccolo
Clarinet
Trumpet
Glockenspiel

Nigh Tension by rosschristopher

The Fair & Mustaches...

That's right...what completes a weekend more perfectly than a trip to the Missouri State Fair and a mustache mask? You can try and think on it, but you won't come up with anything.

Here's some of the fun pics I snapped of the fun-ness in action. Enjoy!




Peace & have a great week!
Ross

UBER-Creative Weekend Post!

As many of you know, i'm always on a quest to find all things uber-creative. Welp, I think I happened upon something that is truly unique and out-there! I saw this last week and just had to post it. Watch the short video and hopefully you too will be impressed with this dude's creativity.

Tristan Perich: 1-Bit Symphony (Part 1: Overview) from Tristan Perich on Vimeo.

Peace,
Ross

These are just TOO TOO GOOD!!!

I saw these yesterday and they were far too good to not pass along to you! Spend a few minutes and put a smile on your face the rest of the day...









Now you're amped!
-Ross

Pursuit

Here's a new tune/poem I wrote a few weeks back. Enjoy!

Pursuit
© 2010 Ross Christopher.


I'm being chased through the snow
And blinded by light
I've been running and running
Can't go another step

I look to both sides
And choose to go right
When I fall to my knees
I'm begging please

Stop this pursuit
The game of cat and mouse
You've caught me once
Must you again

I've got no more moves
No more fight to give
Arms up and pleading
It's time I give in

this is great!

I saw this today and it was just too good/true not to share it with everyone. Thanks Rolling Stone!

-Ross

Don't Forget

I just played a benefit show to raise money for Haiti. It's been almost 2 years since I traveled to Haiti, but I felt as if I was back in the heat with this nonsensical heat wave we're having in St. Louis - solidarity folks.

So, keeping in step with the benefit idea, don't forget that every cent I make from The River Child, goes to building freshwater wells in the developing world.

Go here and name your price...get a sweet album and help provide fresh drinking water to those in need!

Peace,

Ross

The Most Creative Time of My Life

This might be the most crazy/creative season of my life (thus far)...

Within the next few months, I will have completed several albums (both as artist & producer), plus several other creative projects I'm working on.

Stuff to look for this Fall:

Brendan Bradley
(i produced his album - singer/songwriter album)

Dear Genre
(i produced his album - indie/rock album)

The Lost Narrative
(i produced & performed - indie/folk/electronic album)

Ross Christopher
(i produced & performed - alt-pop/rock album)

Stay cool...
-Ross

The Lost Narrative...a new promo video

Spread the word!
-Ross

Recording The Lost Narrative

This past weekend, Lacy and I wrote and recorded some tunes for the upcoming, The Lost Narrative album. We wrote 2 tunes from scratch: Escape & The Goodness In Your Heart. It looks like the album will be a 6-track EP, and I promise some awesome harmony-laden, folk-indie-electronicness. I'll throw another quick-mix on the blog tomorrow (so be sure to check back).

In the meantime, here are some pics from inside the studio:

I'm pumped for the album and I hope you are too!

Peace,
Ross

Death to the Dreamer

Here's some new lyrics to a song Lacy and I will be recording tonight for the upcoming The Lost Narrative album. Its a theme I think plagues culture - this notion that we remain in the comfortable and never really pursue our wildest dreams.

DEATH TO THE DREAMER
(c) 2010 Ross Christopher

VERSE 1
You beg my conversation
And rule the ways I judge
You stomp on dreams and trying
And keep me comfortable
You've never had to try hard
To pry me from myself -
'Cause self is god, and you preach all day

VERSE 2
Its easy and feels right
And death to the dreamer
To failing and trying again
Death to the ride of chance
We know how it ends -
To ever being sold your lies

CHORUS
Lies - sold your lies
Lies - 10,000 lies
Lies - been sold your lies
(sold your lies)

VERSE 3
Death to purer vision
And death to me
Death to ever being
And death to free
To love and follow passion
When comfort's on the line -
Death to being sold your lies

CHORUS
Lies - sold your lies
Lies - 10,000 lies
Lies - been sold your lies
(sold your lies)

And then there's this guy....

Yep, that really happened.

-Ross

The Lost Narrative (EP Preview)

Here's a quick snippet of what's to come with The Lost Narrative...



Peace,
Ross