Live Life Loud Cover

For those that were not yet aware... we have a new record coming out, and the cover for it was released this week!

This is Jason's dog Murphy, and he is SUCH an adorable little guy. I've gotta say, this is my favorite cover image of any we've had so far. Very 90's I think.

The 3D glasses aren't just for show, either. The album will be coming with a pair of 3D glasses, which you use to view the artwork, which is in 3d! I'm actually really anxious to view and enjoy the artwork myself - and I'm even MORE anxious to share it with all of you wonderful people!

I know I haven't written a lot on here recently - We've been flying all over the country, and getting very little sleep the past few weeks. Ugh. I've reached the "I don't feel human anymore" point on numerous occasions. Rest assured, when I get some rest, I'll be blogging nearly daily again.... and certainly when we get on the Skillet tour this fall, I'll be updating constantly!

j.

p.s. in the meantime, why don't you follow me on twitter?

Live Life Loud Video Shoot

We shot a video for our new single, Live Life Loud, yesterday..... And we had so much fun! Here are some good moments from the day... Moments which give you absolutely no idea what the video will look like, since I couldn't take photos of any scenes I was in!























































Jonathan

-- Post From My iPhone

Who Puts a K Between Two W's?!

As a band, HN is good at 1 or 2 things, and AWKWARD is one of them.

Case in point, when Jas called David Crowder up on stage to free-style rap with him last week at Sonshine Festival in Minnesota. I don't think poor David knew what he was getting into.....

C.S. Lewis

For those of you that do not know.... C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors of all time... his books Mere Christianity and The Great Divorce were both life changing for me, on two completely different levels. Mere Christianity gave me an incredible sense of hope.... It helped me understand that I'm not the only skeptical believer out there. The Great Divorce impacted me on a much more personal level. I felt as if it gave me a glimpse (or maybe a confirmation of previous glimpses) into the personality of God. I felt as though I had really understood more about God's character after reading it.

I've just finished reading Till We Have Faces, the last novel Lewis ever wrote. As I expected, I loved it. I twittered this quote earlier, but I found it powerful....

"Today I will meet cruel men, cowards and liars, the envious and the drunken. They will be like that because they do not know what is good from what is bad. This is an evil which has fallen upon them, and not me."

There was also a moment in the story when Psyche, the beautiful youngest daughter was about to be sent up the mountain to be sacrificed to the gods.... She told her sister that at times, she had longed for death...

"It was when I was happiest that I longed most...The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing...to find the place where all the beauty came from."

I am yet to find a writing of C.S. Lewis that I didn't find intriguing.... and while I've read nearly everything he's written (and often wish there was more), I continue to find new things about his stories and musings when I re-read books I've read many times.

The Meaning of Life

Our new ac/chr single, Meaning of Life was released on iTunes today.... Go check it out!


Jonathan

-- Post From My iPhone

The Woods

I'm out in the woods of Oregon. It's so remote out here. So beautul. It's wonderful to have a break.

We spent last weekend flying around the country, playing shows in Minnesota, Louisiana, and Oregon. That meant long flights, little sleep, and LOTS of coffee!

Tomorrow we're at Creation West.... One of the most beautiful locations we visit every year. There will be pictures!

Jonathan

-- Post From My iPhone

Lifest

I always think it's funny to go out and play shows on a weekend, and then watch clips of those shows on youtube when I get home... It's crazy how fast that stuff gets on there. I found this clip of us playing Live Life Loud at Lifest this weekend. (Say that 5 times fast.... Live Life Loud at Lifest...)

Oh, and yes, I did fall over at the end. And yes, I meant to do that. Sorta.

j.

Bloggerbreak!

Ok, so I'm sorry I've missed an entire week of blogs. Crazy. It's been an insane week.

We had 4 shows last weekend.... in Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, and D.C. It was a whirlwind of travel and it left very little time for anything but playing, signing, and getting to the next show! Our first two shows were with Switchfoot and Skillet.... and I've gotta say.... I never get tired of watching either of these bands play their live shows.

Skillet's show is a spectacle. When they have all their tricks, there's giant columns of flame, explosions, mechanical lifts hoisting people 30 feet in the air.... it's a sight to see. Add to that the fact that their music is both really high-energy, and incredibly sing-able... and you've got one fantastic show. Plus, Ben is a monster guitar player, and I always enjoy when he solos with one hand. :)

Switchfoot's show is completely different. No explosions or mechanical lifts.... Just 60 minutes of great melodies, incredible lyrics, and heart-stopping moments. Jon has a way of captivating an audience.... Everyone is hanging off his every word. You get the sense that you won't be quite the same when you walk away from that show. It's inspiring. Plus, the band is SO tasteful. Every single note and rhythm is beyond tasty. It's so fun to observe.

I've had a couple days off back at home now, before we head west to hit the West Coast festivals. Today Jess and I are going to see the new Harry Potter film... Yes!

Jonathan

Do You Wanna Get Frosty With Me?!

Jay-Z vs Wendy's : It seems I've stumbled upon an interesting celebrity showdown...

This commercial is HILARIOUS.... but touches on a dark trend in the music business. ;)

Alright, so if you haven't already figured this out.... all the controversy is about Auto-tune. If you're not familiar with Auto-Tune, it's a studio tool that corrects a singer's voice, and makes it "in tune". If you set Auto-Tune a certain way, it creates this Auto-Tune effect that you hear so much. Guys like T-Pain, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Jamie Foxx, Akon, and so many others in their genres use this effect on nearly every part they sing.

***

Now, the first question many people ask is this... "If someone needs auto-tune to be a singer, should they really be singing?!" The reality is that most of today's music has tuned vocals, and that's not really the issue in question here. The issue under the microscope here is the use of the "Auto-Tune Effect".

***

When Jay-Z saw this commercial, it probably didn't make him laugh like it did for me. He was saddened and disappointed, because he saw a brand like Wendy's clowning around with the state of hip-hop music today. Jay-Z thought about this pragmatically (one of the reasons I have a deep respect for Jay-Z, and how he thinks about music), and didn't blame Wendy's.... he blamed the state of hip-hop, for becoming something so easily mocked.

He then penned the song "D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)" decrying the use (and over-use) of the vocal effect in hip-hop music today. He said this....

"I just think in hip-hop, when a trend becomes a gimmick, it's time to move on," Jay said in an interview with Chicago radio station WGCI on Tuesday. "I saw a Wendy's commercial and they're using Auto-Tune. They're joking on it. It's like, OK, enough of that ... It was a trend, it was cool in the beginning. Some people made great music with it, now it's time to move on."

So what do you think about the Auto-Tune Effect?

Is it fun and playful, or just plain annoying?

Personally, I don't mind it on certain parts of specific types of songs.... If the song calls for something with that electronic kind of feel, then fine.... But entire records full of songs that, stylistically, could have just been sung normally? I don't know about that.

In the wake of Michael Jackson's death, the King of Pop, I wonder if music listeners are going to rediscover their desire for real talent.... I wonder if they're going to get bored of gimmicks like this, and start to wonder if Jamie Foxx really can sing underneath that auto-tune effect. I wonder if music listeners are going to demand more from artists....

The one thing I know for sure is this... if music listeners are willing to buy crap music, the music business is certainly willing to create it for them.

Jonathan

The World of PC

I had the most ridiculous experience buying a PC today!

So if you don't know this about me already.... I'm an Apple guy. Macbook, iPhone, iPod.... I've bought into the whole thing. Haha.... Well, today, I violated my Apple-ethics and bought a PC... and in doing so - had a bizarre experience....

See, Jess needed a laptop for internet and email at home.... and she doesn't use the computer much, so it didn't have to be a powerhouse... A PC seemed just fine for her, and she found a Dell she liked. While I felt a certain pain inside when I started considering buying a PC instead of an Apple, it was SO incredibly cheap, it was hard for me to argue. (Especially when the specs on it out-flanked my macbook, for less than 1/3 of the cost!)

Well, we went to Best Buy, and had quite an adventure buying this thing. As we perused the computer section (we already knew roughly which one we wanted), I experienced all my PC stereotypes come to life: A young asian salesman came over and started talking with us. This was too funny... he looked like the young asian kid from Indiana Jones....

This was our exchange:

(I'm in red, the salesman is in blue.)

Hey, um is - Uh - wha -Hey, is there anything I can help you with today?

Yeah, we're considering buying one of these two computers. What are the biggest differences between these two?

Well, here's how I look at it.... They're both computers, so they're both trash.

Uhhhhhh..... ok, well which one has a faster CPU? None of these labels seem to show the processor speed?

Oh, it doesn't matter really, they're all fast.

Uh huh......

You see, no computer is perfect. You're never gonna have a computer that works all the time, and you're never gonna have a computer that doesn't work at all. Well, maybe you could... uhhh.... (his voice trails off.....)

Well, we're gonna need a few more minutes to think about it.

Sure.... well we're not on commission here, so if you need me you can grab me, or if you really hate me, go get somebody else.

Uhhh ok.

(Jess and I take a minute to decide, and then grab him and talk to him some more...)

Ok, we'd like this one.....

That one? Ok, would you like us to optimize it for you?

What does that mean?

It means that we basically go through it, and make sure everything is working properly.... and get it all set up and running it's best. It will run....... um.... 20% faster.

Really. How much is that?

$39.99

Hmm... well, it's brand new, shouldn't it be working properly anyways? It's got a one-year warranty, right?

Yeah. Would you like to purchase the extended warrant-

No, thanks.

Ok, well let me see if we have any non-optimized computers in stock.... if we don't, I can give you an optimized one for only $19.99 instead of $39.99...

Um..... ok, can you check if you've just got a regular one?

(He finds one, and we head over to ring it up.)

Ok, if I can't get the scanner to work in three tries, you get the computer for free.

Um. Ok?

(He tries three times.... fails, and THROWS the scanner in the trash.)

Does that mean I get it for free?

Well, I'm gonna type the number in, if I don't get it right, THEN you get it for free.

Ok.....

(He rings it up, and it works.)

Ok, that'll be...... uh.. six hundre - (voice trails off again)

Jess pipes up, "You mean four hundred and sixty?"

Yeah, haha....

So can I put $400 on this card, and the rest on another card?

No, but you can put $400.01 on one card.

What?!

I'm just kidding.

Ok......................

(He rings it up... I put in my PIN.... he starts laughing.)

I'd be screwed right now, cuz I can never remember my PIN. I'd have to call my friend and ask him!

You don't know your PIN, but your friend does?

Haha, yeah.

Ok.... well have a good day....

Jess and I walked out thinking.. "What in the world just happened?!"

I couldn't help but mention that this experience is EXACTLY what I think of when I think "PC". Apple store employees know a heck of a lot more about what they're selling, and they're WAY less awkward! Gosh!

So.... final verdict? Fast computer. Great price. A hilarious story.

Not a bad day. :)

Last Michael Jackson Rehearsal Footage

I spotted a familiar figure in the last known rehearsal footage of Michael Jackson....

Orianthi!

She's a fantastic guitar player, and a fellow PRS player!





Jonathan

Re-Views

So I don't normally read a lot of reviews of our music.... but I came across a review of the single "Live Life Loud" that fascinated me on so many levels - here it is:

Horrible.
by Soldier of Christ

What left is there to complain about the hypocrisy here? The lyrics make no sense. They are not Christian. All your basically saying is dance and scream. How does that praise Jesus? Also, as I've noticed before some people give negative feedback for me (and others) saying stuff like this is unacceptable. If so, you are just being ignorant of the fact that is unacceptable and living in denial. Go ahead but I don't think Jesus will agree with your poor decision making. I'd also advise you stop listening "I Can Only Imagine" and songs similar 'cause it won't be easy to get to that.


Now, I almost don't even know where to start here.

First off, this guy (and I'm assuming it's a guy from the tone of his writing... could be wrong) has every right to his opinion. If he wants to say we're the ugliest, most awful, unoriginal band in the world, that's fine with me. Sticks and stones, and all that.

That being said.... What on earth is his point? I mean, I can understand him expressing that "dance and shout" lyrics aren't spiritual enough for him... no problem there.... but what the heck is that last sentence about? What does "I Can Only Imagine" have to do with this.... and is he telling people not to listen to that song either? That's about the most spiritual song I can imagine (forgive the pun - I couldn't help myself).

Maybe it doesn't help that he's at about a 5/10 rating on the my-sentences-make-sense-o-meter. I would probably take him more seriously if he didn't seem so intent on destroying the english language along with our song's iTunes rating. Haha.

All that aside....... the stone throwing... the complete disregard for grammar..... it brings back the familiar question -

"What is Christian Music?"

There seem to be so many different ways to approach this question... Because up until just a couple decades ago, Christian Music meant hymns, and songs for the church. Somewhere in the last 40 years or so, Christians started taking their music outside the walls of the church....

Artists like Larry Norman (one of my heroes, and I'm proud to say I've shaken his hand) wrote songs like "Why Should the Devil Have All The Good Music?" What a profound statement! He was into rock n' roll, and wondered why there weren't any believers making music that was exciting like that.... so he decided to make some himself. Now THAT is stepping out in faith!

Since then, though, I will admit the lines have been blurred. Bands have flirted with the idea of "We're not a Christian band, we're Christians in a band", and clearly non-Christian bands have been expected to act Christian because of their label, management, or other business affiliations (The Juliana Theory is one example). Many bands have grown uncomfortable with the terms "Christian Band" or "Christian Music". I can understand that..... it puts preconceived notions into someone's mind when they hear that.... but these terms aren't easily avoided...

A man I respect greatly, Jon Foreman, once said... "Christianity is not a genre, it's a lifestyle." I admire his point of view, but if the rest of the world sees Christian Music as a genre, then that's exactly what it is, isn't it? Even if ideally, it shouldn't be?

These are all thoughts I wrestle with, and I admit that I have more questions than answers.

I recognize that I play guitar in a band that is primarily a fun, let's-have-a-party type band.... And while we certainly strive to have more depth and meaning to what we do (partnering with Toms shoes, Hands & Feet Project, talking to kids at shows, talking about Jesus on stage), we are, and will always be a "fun" band (although I think those who know us and really investigate our music can clearly see there is more than "dancing and shouting").

Personally, I think that's far from "unacceptable". I think God is big enough to have more than one way of doing things. I know he can simultaneously use the Baptists, the Lutherans, the Pentecostals, and the unchurched believers..... So I wholeheartedly believe that he can simultaneously use bands like Hillsong United, Jeremy Camp, Hawk Nelson, and Flyleaf.

My God is BIG.... Bigger than prejudice and pretense. He sees straight to the heart... and that is both terrifying and heartbreaking and redeeming. In my life, I've seen him use the most unexpected things to bring about his kingdom.... The big and small. The intentional and the accidental. The glorious and the tragic.

That's the kind of God we both serve, and know on a personal level. That is staggering.

That is also why reviews like this can only make me chuckle.