BIG SHOW UPDATE...

Maybe you know, maybe not...but i'm playing violin for Jeremy Larson (& openers/side project) and we have a really big show coming up on March 12th in Springfield. Here's the promo + a pic of the theatre. I hope you'll plan to attend and be part of the DVD shoot!



Peace,
Ross

ALBUM COVER REVEALED!

Here it is folks!

I'm really happy with how it turned out. There were several drafts; one of which (for a couple months anyway) was going to be the cover. But in the end, this one seemed to propel the music and experience forward in the most representative way.

This is your last weekend to PRE-ORDER the new album for $5!
Monday, the price doubles...

::CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER::

Peace,
Ross

poster #2

Here's the 2nd poster to emerge from my photo shoot with Brandon Schultz (Kansas City). Check out BRS PHOTOGRAPHY HERE!

I really like the mood and minimalism of both posters. From a "live show" perspective, it serves as the calm before the storm (in the total concert experience).

Tomorrow I'll show off the album art, so be sure to check back in.

Thanks for reading & peace!
Ross

poster #1

Here's the 1st poster to emerge. Brandon Schultz took the pic & directed the shoot. His stuff is incredible. Check out BRS PHOTOGRAPHY HERE!

More posters in time...

Peace,
Ross

the new album art...

Welp, I'm not divulging it just yet. Sorry, you'll have to be patient, but when I do, I'll be unveiling the 2 new promo posters as well. It is finished however. The CD art is being printed as we speak/write/read, and the CDs are being pressed! I'm so excited to get copies into your hands...

Speaking of, there's only 1 more week to PRE-ORDER for only $5, before the price doubles.

I hope all is well.

Peace,
Ross

St Louis Beacon Nod...

The St. Louis Beacon ran a piece about the most recent artist/band I produced, Dear Genre.

"...Combining Cataldo's words and melodies with the production skills of Ross Christopher, "Atmosphere" is the culmination of nine months of studio work, all meant to bring a certain shine to the upbeat, diverse tunes that Cataldo puts out at a reasonably prolific rate..."

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE

Happy Prez-Day!
Ross

Reality & the Eye?

This post is random I know. I was curious what it is in our eyes and brains that determine certain things to look fake or real. I remember early films growing up that looked and felt 100% real, only to later look back and laugh at how fake the effects, CGI, etc appear. But this has been the case since the beginning of film - not just something we grow out of as we all age and mature.

Titanic looked 100% real to me the first time I saw it. I would never have known it was crafted through miniatures and CGI. However, now, my eyes have adjusted (I suppose) and I see parts as looking uber-fake.

I realize the technology is changing and getting more sophisticated, which allows us to create more real, realities. But what was once seen and perceived as reality has also morphed with the tech. It has effected our brains and judgments. There's no conclusion to this post or science to show why this indeed happens; just a random thought.

Peace,
Ross

p.s. Jurassic Park still holds its own!

RC gone to the Opera + my best critics response!

It was a whirlwind trip to Memphis and back, but we made it to Ardent Records and got the new album mastered. I know I'm biased, but it sound AMAZING! Its huge folks, really huge...

As always, the kind folks at Ardent treated me well (more studio vids to come), and the BBQ was epic!

Here's a couple quick vids...#1 is RC gone to the opera, and #2 are my best critics reacting to the master.





If you liked what you saw/heard, PRE-ORDER IT HERE!!!
Peace,
Ross

Mastering the Album

I'm headed to Memphis, TN later today to wrap my album. Tomorrow morning I will be at Ardent Records as they will be mastering the entire album.

Mastering is the delicate science of making a perfect EQ, compression, panning, maximization (where needed), and is the overall final-step in wrapping a recording.

I've worked with the guys at Ardent on 4 different projects for mastering (they are sonic gurus) and I have a blast every time. There's always interesting (industry) folk in the studios recording and mixing. In the past I've run into guys from The Smashing Pumpkins, Huey Lewis & the News, North Mississippi Allstars, and more. Hopefully this trip will be no different.

Also, Memphis has some rockin' BBQ!

More pics and videos tomorrow from the studio...

Peace,
Ross

Its Like a Peppa' Inferno in Here...

This is one of my favorites...

Pepper!	UCBcomedy.com
Watch more comedy videos from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at UCBcomedy.com

Walk This Way...

In Need of Sabbath

I'm struggling with the counter-cultural practice of sabbath rest. Its ridiculous that I would struggle to rest. But everything in culture says "do, do, do!" And sadly I fall prey to this mantra and lifestyle. Of all things to resist, i choose rest.

Lately things have been crazy too. I'm juggling a lot of projects, we recently moved, I just got back from a 2-week seminary intensive, and I can feel my ulcers saying "SLOW DOWN!" (if you don't recall, I have 4 severe ulcers)

So I'm going to make a pact to you all today that I'm going to be seeking sabbath; a slowing down of things in pursuit of truly important life that might be getting passed bye. But really, sometimes I just need to close my eyes and rest.

Thanks for hearing me out,
Ross

It is Finished...

Today I wrapped my album, BOXES & HUMAN FOG!

The recording...done.
The mixing...done.
The exhaustive listening and tweaking...done.

I could (potentially) do these 3 steps over and over and over again...always hearing something to fix, thinking of new parts to add, etc. But today I felt a final sense of completeness and am ready to step away from this album.

Now its off to Memphis, TN to get the album mastered at Ardent Records. Once they do the final mastering/magical touches to eq's, levels, panning, etc, it goes off to duplication!

In the mean time, you can PRE-ORDER it HERE for only $5.

Peace & thanks for all of the support!
-Ross

Book Excerpt #17

Here's another quick glimpse at my upcoming book, Outsourcing God. Enjoy!

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To those of us that currently call ourselves leaders…here’s permission to not always having the answer. If you don’t feel permission to leave things a bit unhinged and untidy, I’m sorry. It’s the nature of the beast – plus it feels good when we/I have all of the (right) answers. I quickly gain public persona and become the _________ answer man (you fill in the blank).

I tend to believe however, that Christ came to demonstrate a new type of leadership. His new leadership is completely counter-cultural that it leads people to scoff terms like radical, crazy, otherworldly, revolutionary, and un-realistic. But what we know of Christ is that he rarely did things in the assumed way.

When He should have ridden a stallion, He rides the colt of a donkey. When He can raise a legion of furious militant angels, He turns His cheek and remains silent. When He has the power to assemble the most just and righteous government known to man, He instead compels young fisherman to take up His cause. Jesus does little in the likeness of your standard leadership self-help books and gurus, but Jesus taught a better and holy way.

Jesus, our model leader, was asked a slew of questions throughout his three-year ministry, and from the four gospels, he responded over 50 times with questions – not answers. Jesus spoke often through the use of parables: quick, pithy, succinct questions or stories that strengthened the community by fostering deeper thought and conversation. Perhaps our response should be similar...

...It seems like in a world where people gravitate to either black or white; Jesus poses a question to blend the two. We all know our friends that see the world in total black and white. There’s no middle ground. It escapes nothing. Not politics. Not sports. Not foods. Not entertainment. Not religion. And in this world that is painted in stark contrast, Jesus is leading out of the gray.

sigh...(but a good sigh)

I've spent the past 2 weeks completing 80 hours of intensive work at Fuller Theological Seminary, studying leadership development and missiology. It has been a whirlwind 2 weeks. I came knowing no one, and left with 30 friends that are doing amazing things in this world.

What was most fascinating, is that from 30 different perspectives, theologies, states, countries, etc, we never once debated my doctrine versus yours. Never once did we engage in the right theology argument. Instead we all stood back and understood that we were created by a bigger God than we ever knew, that His grace is bigger and more inclusive than any right theology or doctrines can even begin to encompass, and that we were created for His story that is unfolding all around us.

So now I sigh because it was rigorous, but also because it was life-giving, and now its over. That community may never be replicated - I've never felt it before. But just perhaps, these are the types of communities we will all go home to implement, create, and foster within our unique local contexts.

Peace,
Ross

ridiculousness...

speechless,
Ross

Have you bought my CD yet?

CLICK HERE TO BUY FOR ONLY $5

Peace,
Ross

New Music of 2011: HOPEFUL THUS FAR!

Many argued that 2010 was a weak year for original music. Perhaps. But 2011 has started strong in my opinion, and i'm feeling hopeful thus far!

Here's 3 new albums that give me hope for music in 2011! Check 'em out...

Barton Hollow - The Civil Wars

Mine is Yours - Cold War Kids

The Ladder - Andrew Belle

Peace,
Ross