48 Hours

In response to the recent tornado in St. Louis, I'm feeling like I need to do something. So let's partner together and help out the victims. For the next 48 hours, 100% of the money paid for my new tracks will be given directly to those in need.

So how's this work? YOU NAME THE PRICE you'll pay for the music & make the DONATION!

You're getting FREE MUSIC and helping families in these difficult times.

Simply click the link below and you'll have the chance to NAME YOUR PRICE.

Let's ease a little bit of the pain felt by so many over the past week!

Peace,
Ross

The Valley

A couple months ago I was humbled to play violin with Stacy DuPree (Eisley), Darren King (Mutemath), and Jeremy Larson, as we filmed a live DVD for a side project. It was an awesome opportunity and we all had a blast!

Here's a video of Stacy (in the middle) performing a stripped down version of The Valley (the title track of Eisley's newest album).

Enjoy!



Peace,
Ross

A note on reading Love Wins (by C.S. Lewis)

As many of you know we've been going through Rob Bell's most recent book, Love Wins, with a chapter-by-chapter approach to discuss, debate, and continue the conversation. And though today's post isn't on Chapter 4, it is something I think we should all digest and consider as we continue the dialogue. Its a great piece from C. S. Lewis on how we read and understand. It will hopefully make the future of these posts more civil and grace-filled.

"Every age has its own outlook. It is specially good at seeing certain truths and specially liable to make certain mistakes. We all, therefore, need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period. And that means the old books. All contemporary writers share to some extent the contemporary outlook – even those, like myself, who seem most opposed to it. Nothing strikes me more when I read the controversies of past ages than the fact that both sides were usually assuming without question a good deal which we should now absolutely deny. They thought that they were as completely opposed as two sides could be, but in fact they were all the time secretly united – united with each other and against earlier and later ages – by a great mass of common assumptions. We may be sure that the characteristic blindness of the twentieth century – the blindness about which posterity will ask, “But how could they have thought that?” – lies where we have never suspected it, and concerns something about which there is untroubled agreement" -C.S. Lewis

[you can read the entire piece here]

Peace,
Ross

The Civil Wars (Live in St Louis)

On Saturday night I caught The Civil Wars in St Louis at The Old Rock House. It was an incredibly intimate show, and The Civil Wars put on a mesmerizing performance. I've never heard vocals blend and move and dance like these 2!

Here's a couple quick videos I was able to get from the show. Enjoy!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

Peace,
Ross

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Easter!
-Ross

Good Friday

I Am Judas

That's right. I said it. I am Judas.

I have betrayed Jesus. Maybe daily.

I have sold Him out for comfort, personal gain, laziness, you name it.

I read this, this morning (and in light of it being Holy Week) I found it very appropriate to blog:

Here's what the Bible says about Judas:

"He was personally chosen to be an apostle by Jesus.
He spent 3 1/2 years traveling with Jesus.
He saw all the miracles of Christ in person.
He watched as Christ healed the sick, raised the dead and cast out demons.

In terms of experience with Jesus, whatever you can say about Peter, James and John, you can say about Judas.

On top of all this, he handled the money, which is most of the time the most trusted one in the bunch. No one suspected that Judas would betray Jesus, which tells me he was a believer.

His life was changed.
He knew Jesus personally.

In a dark moment of his life, he made a mistake. A big one. He sold Jesus out for 30 silver coins or so. The moment he knew what he had done, he felt remorse, and he killed himself...What is interesting to me is that in the upper room where Jesus and his disciples shared their last supper together, the 12 disciples all talked about how they were so great. Peter left the room and denied Jesus three times. Judas left the room and sold Jesus out for 30 coins.

One committed suicide, and one went on to build the church as we know it today.
Both Peter and Judas committed the same sin."

READ THE ENTIRE PIECE HERE


So, from 1 Judas to another, feel free to discuss, debate, and reflect. Its the right time to do that!

Peace,
Ross

VLOG-O-TRON

Peace,
Ross

"Is this Jesus music?"

That's the question Cora asked a couple days ago as I was surfing through the radio to find something to listen to. I didn't spend more than 2 seconds on any channel, she didn't hear anything other than a quick mix. She promptly asked, "Daddy, is this Jesus music?"

Why does "Christian" music stand out like a sore thumb (maybe even gangrenous)? The mixes are all so perfect and tidy. Anyway, I thought that was worth sharing.

And let's not forget this little gem...


Peace,
Ross

p.s. there is NO SUCH THING as "Christian music" or "secular music" for that matter. There's music, plain and simple.

Taylor K22-CE (KOA)

I'm selling my Talyor K22-CE (Koa) acoustic guitar. I've recorded 5 of my own albums with it, and many others I have produced, and have toured with it for the past few years. I think its time to try out a new sound.

So here's what I'm selling:

It retails for over $5K and sells for $3,900 brand new...
I'm selling for only $3,000 (great shape!)

The Taylor K22ce acoustic/electric guitar brings the great sound of koa back to the Taylor line! This Grand Concert-style guitar features a single Venetian cutaway, with beautiful and amazing-sounding Hawaiian Koa wood making up its top, back and sides. This gorgeous wood is accentuated by breathtaking binding and abalone appointments. The K22ce's tropical mahogany neck is topped with a quality ebony fingerboard, and the neck inlays are specific to Taylor's Koa Series. You'll love the excellent midrange projection you get out of the great-playing K22ce.

Taylor K22ce Grand Concert Acoustic/Electric Guitar with Cutaway Features:

Color: Natural
Type/shape: 6-String Grand Concert
Back and sides: Hawaiian koa
Top: Hawaiian koa
Soundhole rosette: Abalone
Neck: Tropical American mahogany
Fretboard: Ebony with Binding
Fretboard inlay: Abalone Koa Series
Headstock overlay: Ebony
Binding: Maple
Bridge: Ebony
Nut and saddle: Tusq
Tuning machines: Taylor slot-head
Strings: Elixir medium gauge strings with NANOWEB coating
Scale length: 24-7/8"
Truss rod: Adjustable
Neck width at nut: 1-3/4"
Number of frets: 20
Fretboard radius: 15"
Bracing: Standard II (forward shifted pattern w/relief rout)
Finish: Gloss
Cutaway: Venetian
Electronics : Taylor Prefix Stereo Blender
Case: Taylor Deluxe Hardshell


Peace,
Ross

The River Child [CLIP] from Chicago

Here's a recent CLIP of The River Child, from a show in Chicago a month ago.



Me (vox/guitar)
Sam Wade (rhodes)
Jimmy Britton (drums)

Peace,
Ross

Book Excerpt #18

Here's a quick peek at Outsourcing God, my upcoming book.


...We make no distinction between faith and consumerism. And if we’re not careful, we wind up treating our leadership positions as if they were telemarketing firms or IT consultants.

But this doesn’t happen over night. It’s a culmination of culture, movement, laziness, vision, and pace, all working in tandem over time to affect every single aspect of how people see and follow God. Because God is inextricably linked to the way the Church behaves, it ineffectually becomes the same.

This is a conundrum of the Church.



Peace,
Ross

Urgency [CLIP] - live in Chicago

Here's a recent [CLIP] from a show in Chicago at The Underground Lounge.



Thanks to Sam Wade (rhodes) and Jimmy Britton (drums)!

Peace,
Ross

Broken Glass

I never know what will bring about lyrics, but yesterday Olive knocked over a glass the kitchen, which shattered on the floor. The idea of broken glass prompted this chorus...

Broken Glass

© 2011 Ross Christopher

We've got broken glass

Razor wire for a lesser class

We've got hidden places

Secret cases

And forgotten faces

Peace,
Ross

I Am Second

This is an AMAZING video of my tattoo artist, Whispering Danny. I think the video speaks for itself!



Enjoy,
Ross

Weekend at the Lodge

The family spent the weekend at Trout Lodge. We had a great time paddle boating, fishing, and campfire-ing it up!
Hope you had a great one too...

Peace,
Ross

Progress

Here's the next stage of our bathroom project...last night Kate's dad was in town and did some masterful work with me! We managed to get up all of the concrete board.



More to come...

-Ross

LOVE WINS - great PARODY video

I found this great LOVE WINS parody video and needed to share it.

Robbed Hell - C.A.S.T. Pearls Presents from Canon Wired on Vimeo.

Laughter is medicine!

Peace,
Ross

Producer

Being a producer is fun work! I get to work with artists and bands on a creative level that's a lot different than doing your own recording project.

I get to interpret, refine, and recreate.

This past year I produced Dear Genre's album, and its been stirring quite a buzz here in St Louis. Here's a recent video from LO-FI STL. Enjoy!



Peace,
Ross

LOVE WINS. (Chapter 3)

Chapter 3 - HELL

Chapter 3 is much like chapter 2. Its full of definitions, translations, scriptural references, and stories. Again, to properly dissect this chapter, I think the reader must first determine if what Bell is defining and translating is correct. If so, then lets move forward and discuss the concepts he proposes.

[I also will add that 3 weeks into this discussion, no one has argued that Bell's historical facts, translations, and scriptures have been faulty or stretch the truth. Most commentary has been more focused on the broader implications of him writing this book, being a universalist, etc. But in order for accurate and healthy debate to take place, I think the chapter-by-chapter approach is necessary and vital.]

So, lets answer my first questions...are Bell's definitions, translations, historical analysis, and scriptural references correct, or lies?

Next, he doesn't say what most thought he was going to say, that hell doesn't exist. In fact, Bell writes, "There is hell now, and there is hell later, and Jesus teaches us to take both seriously" (79).

He is of course referring to the biblical posturing(s) of hell, not necessarily the Left Behind (dispensationalist) versions.

Bell discusses the usage of "eternal," "forever," and "eternity," again; calling to question our Western/English understanding versus what "aion" and "olam" really meant. Foul?

This chapter is all about how we've been taught to read things and re-learning original meaning and intent..."So when we read "eternal punishment," its important that we don't read categories and concepts into a phrase that aren't there" (92).

Please discuss and debate, but please try and keep it focused on Chapter 3, hell.

Peace,
Ross

LiveFMG - Album Review

Here's a recent review of the new album, from LiveFMG:

As I quest the realm of the internet prospecting for music to fill my show, I occasionally stumble upon something shiny and sparkly. Ross Christopher’s sixth studio album Boxes And Human Fog caught me quite by surprise. Mr. Christopher, the acclaimed musician that has sold thousands of albums internationally, unleashes soaring vocals that proclaims this music ROCKS without ever pushing the boundary of getting screechy.

Without being self indulgent, “Urgency” transports the listener from a catchy riff into a jam reminiscent of a dark tunnel and then back out on the other side - a musical journey well worth taking. The acoustic beginning of “Doubt Brings Hope” suggests that the music is going to slow down, but the songs crescendo highlighted by a U2-esque machine gun drum line begs to differ.

The song “War on War” sums up the entire album for this reviewer. The song combines Mr. Christopher’s powerful vocals along with an almost anthem like beat that builds throughout the song. In addition, the artist flexes his lyrical writing muscle with this infectious chant, “I'm declaring a war on war / Cause war's a dirty dirty whore / Who soliders on to break and bleed / And kills all humanity.”

The six months Mr. Christopher spent writing and recording Boxes And Human Fog at Silo Tree Studios and Ardent Records was obviously time well spent. Records like Boxes And Human Fog are why I mine the internet. In this reviewer’s humble opinion Ross Christopher’s Boxes And Human Fog is very shiny gold nugget.

(Sean Robertson - LiveFMG)


Thanks for reading!
-Ross

p.s. BUY 'BOXES & HUMAN FOG' HERE!

Demo.

If there's 1 thing I am NOT, it's a handyman. So what are we doing remodeling our main bathroom? Great question!

Here's the demo work from tonight...

More to come once we begin to dry rock and tile.

Peace,
Ross

3.5 Hrs.

Its been a long while since I've played a L O N G set like I did on Thursday, but if felt great to return to one of those marathon sets!

Thursday night I played a 3.5 hr set of music...I was the only artist performing and wanted to make the night 100% seamless. So that's exactly what I did.

Also over the past couple of days, Brandon Schultz redesigned my website! Check it out HERE...

Peace & have a wonderful weekend!

-Ross