I heard yesterday, by word-of-mouth (which was later confirmed by the evening news) that The Crocodile Cafe closed suddenly closed with no explanation. Check out the Seattle Times article here. A photographer buddy of mine unknowingly took photos at the last show ever featuring Dave Bazan (of Pedro the Lion fame) and J. Tillman. I have personally rocked and been rocked at the Crocodile many a time since ‘93, just a couple years after it opened. I have a whole lot of good time memories of that place and it’s a venue that will be sorely missed.

I have a particular stand-out memory of the Crocodile which can be read here. Anyone else have any stories?

Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) was an American poet and hymn writer who was so prolific over the course of her life that it’s believed she’s written over eight thousand hymns.

When Crosby was just a baby, she became blind due to a botched hot-poultice meant to cure an eye infection. Later in life Crosby was never bitter about her physical inability but instead was quoted as saying “Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind? [The reason is] because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!”

Shortly after her accident Fanny’s father became ill and died. Fanny’s mother hired a maid and her Grandmother Eunice taught Fanny to pray and read bible stories to her.
The Crosby family’s landlady-Mrs. Hawley-also played an important role in young Fanny’s life. Mrs. Hawley helped Fanny memorize the Bible, and it’s said that she learned five chapters per week and had entire books committed to memory.

In 1834 Fanny continued her education at the New York Institute for the Blind where she later served as a teacher for twenty-three years. On March 5, 1858, Fanny married a fellow teaching professor and famous New Yorker organist named Alexander van Alystyne.

After she married, Fanny left the Institute and began the vocation of writing hymns. She had an agreement with the publishers Bigelow and Main to write three hymns a week for use in their Sunday school publications. Fanny frequently surpassed her quota by writing up to six to seven hymns a day. Today Fanny’s hymns still enjoy a contemporary popularity including: ” Blessed Assurance,” “To God be the Glory” and “All the Way My Savior Leads Me.”

Fanny was inspired to write “All the Way My Savior Leads Me” after having some money issues which left her unable to pay her rent. As was common, Fanny began to pray and a few minutes later, an unknown man approached her and gave her the exact amount of money that she needed. As both a songwriter and a woman of faith, Fanny Crosby is an example to all that are living in adversity or disability.

Its funny that one of the most anti-Christian, atheistic songs I have ever heard come not from the dark metal lands in the recesses of Scandinavia, but rather from a popular British pop band in the 1980’s.  XTC became popular for their catchy pop-hooks with songs like “Making Plans for Nigel”, “King for a Day”, and “Mayor of Simpleton”, but their single “Dear God” off their 1986 record “Skylarking” (which incidentally garnished an almost unheard of 5 out of 5 stars on All Music Guide) stands out from the others in notoriety.  The song is basically a tongue-in-cheek open letter to God, pointing out many of the injustices and evils in the world and therefore concluding, “if there’s one thing I can’t believe in.it’s you.”

This basically boils down to the whole “there are so many bad things in the world that I refuse to believe in God” argument.  For me personally it was probably good to listen to this song that I once identified with to see both how far God has brought me, but also to stay fresh and remember how to always be ready to give an answer for the hope that’s in me (1 Peter 3:15) to people who raise such objections.
 Someone recently sent me this clip of John Piper that is about as opposite to the above sentiment as possible. 

There really isn’t much more for to ad to that.the difference it apparent.  One stands and shouts from bitterness on a tiny pretend throne, the other in reverence before the throne of God.

Charles Welsey was the 3rd son and 18th child of a faithful preacher named Samuel Wesley.  As a preacher, Samuel was not popular.  In fact, his wife’s bible studies were known to have more attendees than Saumel’s church.  Nonetheless, Samuel loved Jesus and raised his sons to be pastors.  (more…)

Just wanted to let all of you know that our Christmas CD Silent Night is available at the book store for $7 or 4 CDs for $20. AND its also available at iTunes as a download for $5.99. Tis the season!

It’s hard to believe but 2008 is almost upon us. And that means the leadership team for the music department is hosting another Making the Band event on January 28 in the Paradox. Make sure to save the date! (more…)

For my weekly Netfix I decided to check out Danielson: A Family Movie

I’ve been loosely following Daniel Smith’s output for years since the ‘96 Tooth and Nail release of A Prayer for Every Hour. I’ll admit that I’ve never been one to make Danielson as a part of my regular liesurely listening. But I’ve always really appreciated that Daniel brings together faith/music/homespun art/costume/family into one package (and the live show is great!) While there’s a sort of funny, ha-ha element to what Danielson does, it’s sincear and I think thoughtful people–Christian or not–pick up on that.

When Daniel discusses mixing music with faith with Steve Albini, I can’t help but completely agree with the notion that if there were such a thing as “Christian Music”, CDs would be made available cheaply and there would be more creatively uncatagorizable Danielson Familie-ish bands out there. Instead, there’s a whole lot of cookie cutter Hardcore….for the Lord, Ska….for the Lord, pop punk….for the Lord which always seems kind of forced doesn’t it?

It’s been about ten years or more, but my old band, Roadside Monuement played a CMJ festival in NYC with Danielson at a label showcase. At the end of the show, the family picked up their instruments, marched through the crowd and into the street as they played. Great times. A few days after the festival we crashed at Daniel’s house while en-route to another tour date and Daniel turned me onto Magnetic Fields which I should probably formally thank him for since the wife and I have gotten hours of listening enjoyment out of his suggestion ever since.

Anyway, like Danielson or hate ‘em, I think there is really something compelling here and it’s worth seeing/hearing.