Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!Hope you are in the beginning stages of a sugar coma...

Pics from The Gramophone

A couple weeks back I played a show at The Gramophone in St. Louis. It was a great venue, great crowd, and my buddy Tim snapped these pics. If you like these, here's some more...

Enjoy!






Have a terrific weekend!
-Ross

EP Teaser Video

Here's a quick teaser video for my upcoming EP...



If you feel so inclined, I would truly appreciate you all spreading the word and passing this vid along!

Peace,
Ross

CONGRATS LACY, PHIL, & ADAIR!!!

CONGRATS to Lacy & Phil for the birth of their beautiful baby, Adair Lynden Stroessner!!! Addie was born yesterday afternoon, a healthy and cute little girl @ 7lbs, 12oz.So excited to be an uncle!

Peace,
Ross

Doubt Brings Hope

Here's a new tune I wrote this past week. Its a commentary on folks that would draw lines in the sand, limiting the hugeness of God. Its a dialogue of what I believe to be the cyclical nature of faith/spirituality...everything. I truly believe that doubt breeds all else. And in time, even the faithful again doubt. Doubt is not something dangerous (as some would have you believe); rather, doubt is a stage (and quite possibly the stage that faith itself hinges on). Doubt is the tension, and more often than not, God resides in the tension. Peace.

Doubt Brings Hope
© 2010 Ross Christopher

(Verse 1)
It’s black and white
One way’s right
It makes them sleep better

Cause if they’re wrong
Then I am right
Leading out of fright


(Chorus)
Doubt brings us hope
Hope brings us love
Love brings us faith
And faith leads to doubt


(Verse 2)
You’ve made Him a tiny god
With boxes and human fog
Can’t handle the blurry

You say there’s one way
To hell with another day
‘Cause doubt is the killer


(Chorus)
Doubt brings us hope
Hope brings us love
Love brings us faith
And faith leads to doubt

Guarded March (soundtrack piece)

As many of you know, i've been writing some instrumental tunes for a film. Here's my most recent piece: Guarded March. Enjoy!

Guarded March by rosschristopher

I hope you all had a great weekend!

Peace,
Ross

Have a Weekend So Good You'll Throw Up!

Hope this ushers you in a grand weekend!



Peace,
Ross

Tomorrow Night @ THE BRICK

Hey there,

Just wanted to let all of my KC friends know that tomorrow night (Thurs, Oct 21st) I'll be performing at The Brick (1727 McGee). Music starts at 8PM. I've got several new tunes on the setlist and I promise an artful night of music! Chris Hawkes (Austin, TX) will also be there, so come out for 2 bands of awe-someness...

Here's what you can expect in my set:


Feel free to bring a few friends with you!
-Ross

Fort Christmas

Happy Tuesday - hope ya'lls week is looking up! If you need a happy 2nd start to the week, go check out the music from Fort Christmas HERE.

Its Brian Wilson-y upbeat indie-rock. I promise smiles.

Peace,
Ross

A Few Words About My Olive

Olive is a character.
She's always making silly faces.
She's got the greatest smile.
Her laugh makes me a better person.

She's recently taken an interest in scarfs.
Strawberries are her favorite food.
She calls them "shem."
If we tell her "no," her feelings are incredibly hurt; as if she's disappointed us greatly.
That fact may come in handy in her teen years (i.e. "we're not mad...just disappointed.")
She's a talker.
She loves to watch her older sister.
She is quite a champion of peek-a-boo.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!
Peace,
Ross

LO-FI SESSIONS...

Here's a recent LO-FI SESSION featuring my song, Saints Today. Enjoy!



If you like that, keep watching for more. If you'd like to hear the album version, you can pick it up HERE!

Peace,
Ross

What Else is Life For?

If you've read the blog before, you'll know that i'm currently in the process of writing a book that discusses leadership, vision, strategy, etc. I also read a lot of books on the subject matter and last night read an interesting insight on the concept of time.

As individuals, we all have witnessed a leader emerge, power brokered, and influence made. And we could spend hour upon hour discussing his/her qualities that made this leadership come to fruition. But one thing that we all have in common is time. No matter how powerful the individual, influential the leader, or creative the artist, we all are dealt the same amount of time (Sanders).

It's something I had really never stopped to think about. I can complain that I haven't been given equal opportunities, experiences, resources to strengthen my leadership, craft, or art. But I cannot say the same about time. The ways in which I spend my time are crucial to what is produced. If you find yourself glued to the tv, hulu, or XBox; I apologize if i'm hitting too close to home.

So make what you can of the time you're given. Learn, expand, dream, and do!

I'll leave you with a quote/story more poignant than mine...Michelangelo was pressed to finish a large project on time, and someone warned, "This may cost your life!" He replied, "What else is life for?"

Peace,
Ross

Contingent on Love

A few months back I wrapped up a big record producing project with Brendan Bradley (singer/songwriter from St. Louis). It was a 15 track album that we recorded in my studio for nearly 8 months. It was a truly great process. Brendan has some real talent and I think the record does a fantastic job showcasing it.

The record started very acoustic-pop and ended a very natural, organic, acoustic-pop album. As soon as we finished recording and were happy with the mixes, we headed down to Ardent Studios in Memphis for mastering...and voila, the project was done!

Brendan has finished the artwork and other final touches; its back from mass-duplication, and ready for distribution. This coming Saturday night (Oct 16th), Brendan and I will be performing at his CD RELEASE CONCERT. The show will be at The Gramaphone in St. Louis. Music starts at 7:30PM...

Come out to the show and get your copy. If you can't make it, drop by his website and pickup a copy!

Peace,
Ross

Unresponsive Reversals (a new soundtrack piece)

I'm doing my best to dish out to you guys a few of the new soundtrack pieces I'm working on. I'd love as much feedback as you're willing to give. This one is setting a semi-dark, somewhat ominous mood, that feels partially chaotic and disrupted.

Here it is...Unresponsive Reversals.

Unresponsive Reversals by rosschristopher

© 2010 Ross Christopher Donaldson.

Peace,
Ross

Cora's Hat Dance

This should get your Wednesday going...

If it doesn't, you lack a soul.

-Ross

Book Excerpt #13 (Vision)

It's been WAY to long since I've posted a book excerpt from Outsourcing God. This one takes us into the 3rd part of the book. Part 3 focuses on Vision (possibly the most important thing discussed). So here ya go...excerpt #13 from my upcoming book, Outsourcing God.

© 2010 Ross Christopher Donaldson. Outsourcing God.

In the book of Proverbs it warns, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18). There’s no beating around that bush. It’s about as clearly stated as anything I’ve read in the bible; and that’s because it’s absolutely true.

It’s funny (or sad) to me how many churches, organizations, and businesses have these huge, well-written, almost poetic, vision statements. These statements should be leading the charge and directing the strategies and motion of the masses, but from my observations, typically the vision is only understood by a very select few at the top. And the effect is dissatisfied and frustrated leaders and confused members, employees, and patrons.

You see, without a clear vision, everyone is left up to their own interpretations, gimmicks, causes, and eventually you’ll find yourself spread so thin you’re accomplishing nothing. In saying that, I fully understand that the causes can be really great causes; that the gimmicks may really work; and that the interpretations may be pure. But in the end, lack of clear vision will disrupt true progression, unity, and you’ll be left sorting out a mess.

Wrapping Dear Genre's Album & BBQ

I just got back from Ardent Records (Memphis, TN) where I was mastering Dear Genre's upcoming album. I've been producing and engineering Dear Genre's new album for about the past 7-8 months and I really think we've created something special! Here's a quick video clip from the mastering suite:

Look for the album later this Fall - it will be sure to please!

Before I sign out, I must mention the BBQ...how can I not? It would be a grave and semi-mortal sin! Thursday night we hit this great place on Beal, and enjoyed some BBQ and blues. Friday afternoon we went to the BBQ Shop on Madison, where I was blown away with the eats....oh so good!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Peace,
Ross