Tonight...

Come out tonight to The Gramophone, and you'll experience this:

Music starts at 8PM.
I go on at 10PM.

Peace,
Ross

So, How Much Do You Make?

That's a question I get a lot..."how much do you make?" I think a lot of people assume that an artist with several albums available on iTunes (and one that has been touring A LOT - about 2000 shows) is just raking in the money (cue laughter)...I KNOW people assume that if you're "signed" that you're living large (cue even more laughter).

I saw this last week and thought it was brilliant! Here's the amount of sales an artist needs to sell in order to make a MONTHLY MINIMUM WAGE...


Peace,
Ross

p.s. SUPPORT YOUR MUSICIAN FRIENDS - BUY CD's, GO TO SHOWS, TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

Shock City Studio

Last night I was in the studio working with Todd Sarvies on string arrangements for an upcoming single. It was a fun night of experimenting and recording. Here's a quick clip...

Peace,
Ross

CSA

Kate and I joined a local CSA this year and have really enjoyed it! Now, we're regularly eating local veggies and meals via Yellow Tree Farms. Its a mid-week highlight when we head out to Schlafly Bottleworks to pick up our small harvest.

Tonight, Kate cooked up an amazing dish from the bounty: Roasted Summer Vegetable with Polenta. As Cora would say, "It was yum."

Peace,
Ross

hello.

Have a wonderful weekend!
-Ross

Looping

Here's a video from a recent show...lots of people ask about how the looping works. Its essentially being able to record a sequence on the spot, the layering on top of the initial sequence. Here I lay down a chord progression, add percussive hits by hitting my guitar in various places, adding a bass line by dropping the octave of my guitar, then adding a symphony of violin sounds...the looping starts at 1:22ish...



Peace,
Ross

ODD SOUL

If you read the blog, you'll know that I'm a big MUTEMATH fan. I had the amazing opportunity to play with Darren King (drummer) this past year, and I'm continually impressed with the creativity! Here's their newest video and single, ODD SOUL.



I'm currently working on a remix of this for MM and will post it once I have something for y'all...

Peace,
Ross

A Culture of War.

Last night, Kate and I were talking, and it occurred to me that the US has been at constant war every year that we've been married. We've been at war every year our kids have been alive. And what's worse (because we know no one specifically engaged in the war or affected by the loss of war), is that we've never really stopped to think about it much past when we first invaded.

It seems as though war is downplayed so much so, that (unless your loved ones are involved) its an afterthought, a blockbuster movie, a documentary, but surely not real. Sadly though, war is real. War is horrific. And we gloss over it as though its just a part of our national fabric.

I wasn't around for the Vietnam war, but it seems as though the nightly images from imbedded journalists kept the horrific reality of things more in the forefront. Now however, with a 24 hour news cycle, we've somehow lost that brutal and honest reporting and exposure. That's dangerous!

Because if we begin to forget that war is happening - even more so, that we are waging said war(s), we'll become drunk on the idea of war. My kids will grow up not knowing what its like to live in peace. War will become normalcy, and the violent nature of war will become sterile.

I pray for shalom. I hope you do too.

Peace,
Ross

U2

Wow. What can I say about the U2 concert last night?

Spiritual.
Mesmerizing.
Life-changing.
Worship.

It was like nothing I've witnessed before (and I'm sure that's the intent with the huge 360 claw-stage-design, media, etc.) It was such a movement of awe that in 115 degree heat index, sardine-canned together on an aluminum floor, I was still able to get chills song after song after song.

I can't say enough, that's for sure. So here's some pics from the show (not bad from about 20-30 ft from stage!)


Peace,
Ross

An Evangelical Social Gospel?

I'm reading an excellent book right now, written by my first record producer, Tim Suttle. Tim's an awesome and transparent guy from Kansas that I was fortunate enough to work with back in 2001 on an album, Waiting for the Sun.

His book is very much an outpouring of who Tim is. Its titled, An Evangelical Social Gospel?

He discusses the rampant individualized faith of Western (American) Christianity, and how it distorts much of what the Gospel is.

He writes: "the story of individualism is not synonymous with the story of Christianity. When the story of individualism and the story of God are conflated, the gospel ceases to be good news to everyone...In fact individualism distorts the gospel and renders it powerless in many situations...It concerns our real and present spiritual, physical, and social slavery to all kinds of things. It is not merely about the sweet by and by, but also the here and now."

The book is important. Pick it up and be challenged. Thanks Tim!

Happy reading,
Ross

Hit

Hey ya'll...its been a while, but I'm back and promise to be so daily! I saw this yesterday and thought it was interesting. I'm not 100% sold, but I get the gist. Enjoy!



Peace,
Ross

THE LOST NARRATIVE > ST. LOUIS, MO

Here's 3 short video snippets from Thursday's show in St. Louis...







Have an AMAZING 4th of July!!!

Peace,
Ross

Thursday.

Yesterday, my sis came to town to rehearse for our The Lost Narrative show last night. It went great! We made lots of new friends and fans. We shot some video too, so stay tuned for some quick snippets in the very near future...

Peace,
Ross